2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out by not mimicking its competitors' styles. Instead, it adopted the successful design language of the larger Navigator, resulting in a sharp-looking vehicle with crisp lines and tasteful chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a luxurious cabin featuring soft-touch materials, chrome accents, and a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class and luxury. Trims ranged from Standard to Black Label Grand Touring, each offering progressively more luxurious features, such as upgraded leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, redesigned in 2021, continued to impress with its mature and sophisticated exterior. It featured a V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a floating roof design. Inside, the Rogue boasted a layered dash with contrasting colors and surfaces, an electronic gear selector lever, and ample storage options. The 9-inch center infotainment display and Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats added to the cabin's appeal. The Rogue's fit and finish were exemplary, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in its Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain provided brisk acceleration and a smooth swell of power, though the Aviator's heft resulted in noticeable body roll in corners. The drive mode selector offered options like "Excite" and "Conserve," making the Aviator well-suited for highways and cul-de-sacs but less composed in city driving.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue benefited from a new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This was an 11% increase in horsepower and a 24% increase in torque compared to the 2021 model. The new engine, combined with a wider-ratio CVT, improved the Rogue's performance and fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined. The Rogue's chassis and suspension delivered a smooth, controlled ride with minimal body roll, and the electric power-assisted steering provided good feel and a tight 35.4-foot turning diameter.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring model with captain's chairs and a digital control panel, was the most comfortable. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue provided 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, depending on configuration, and 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. The Rogue's cabin featured numerous storage options, including bottle holders, cupholders, a glove compartment, a center console bin, and more. Rear-seat passengers had storage options and USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports. The second-row seat was a 60/40 split reclining bench, offering good legroom and space for two adults or three in a pinch.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. The landscape format screen provided a natural layout, and the system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with large icons. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue's technology upgrade included a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display on upper trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on higher trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan's hands-on driver-assist technology, was available and integrated with the navigation system for predictive speed control.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. ProPilot Assist combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control for Level 2 advanced driver-assist capabilities. The Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2021 model.