2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Cadillac XT6

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured handsome new styling and a more technical appearance, making it look more like an SUV than a car. It had dark gray plastic cladding covering its lower perimeter, bold simulated skid plates, and lower door protection for a rugged appeal. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning gave the Rogue a modern aesthetic. Aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter were standard across all trim levels, and optional two-tone paint with a black roof added a custom look.

The Rogue SL, our test vehicle, included Almond color leather interior and a standard panoramic glass sunroof, emphasizing its improved roominess. With abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars, the cabin felt high-quality. For a more luxurious look, the Platinum trim featured quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting.

In contrast, the 2022 Cadillac XT6, our Premium Luxury test vehicle, arrived with polished 20-inch alloy wheels, Stellar Black paint, and a Jet Black semi-aniline premium leather interior. It exuded a formal vibe reminiscent of a high-end transport vehicle. The Cadillac XT6 presented a conservatively tailored image, attractive but in a bland, inoffensive way. The towering front running lights made the XT6 look too tall and narrow, while the rear taillights, similar to what GMC uses, didn't extend into the liftgate, maintaining a simple look.

The XT6’s interior featured rich materials, including bronze-tinted carbon fiber dashboard trim. However, the controls, displays, and overall layout closely mirrored those found in less expensive GM crossover SUVs. The analog gauges disappointed, and the 8-inch touchscreen display ran the same software as less luxurious models. Despite being decadently trimmed, the XT6 Premium Luxury’s interior lacked the special ambiance typical of luxury SUVs in its price range.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. Despite weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, this output was adequate for daily driving, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) did a decent job of utilizing the torque. The CVT provided smooth driving dynamics, feeling more like a traditional automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

The Rogue's all-wheel-drive (AWD) version featured up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, enhancing its off-road abilities. Fuel economy for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) Rogue SL was 27.5 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 29 mpg. The suspension system and the new Vehicle Motion Control improved ride and handling satisfaction, while the electric steering assist moved to the steering rack for better steering feel.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, on the other hand, had two engine options. The base Luxury model featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, less powerful than its segment rivals. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims got a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. AWD was available with either engine, and our test vehicle featured AWD with Tour and Sport driving modes.

The V6 was sufficiently powerful, and in FWD mode, it could easily break the front wheels loose, experiencing some torque steer. The adaptive-damping performance suspension, along with 20-inch wheels, provided a remarkably athletic feel on twisty roads while maintaining comfort over speed bumps. The XT6 V6 with AWD returned 19.5 mpg in combined driving, below its EPA rating of 21 mpg.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was known for its comfort, featuring Nissan's Zero Gravity seat designs. The Rogue’s seats varied by trim level, offering cloth upholstery and manual adjustments in the S, leatherette in the SV, leather in the SL, and premium leather in the Platinum. Heated seats and a heated steering wheel were available, but ventilated seats were notably absent.

The rear seats offered generous headroom and legroom, with rear doors that opened almost 90 degrees for easy access. The new Rogue could accommodate three child safety seats across its rear bench and reduced interior noise levels for a quieter driving experience. Cargo capacity was 31.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up, expanding to 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide system in the SL and Platinum trims. Total cargo capacity reached 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, among the largest in the compact crossover segment.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, expected to be larger, was surprisingly cramped inside. The three-row SUV offered comfortable front seats with heating and ventilation but no massage function. The sliding second-row captain’s chairs provided good legroom, but the third-row seat was tight for adults, requiring a nimble effort to access.

The XT6 supplied 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, extending to 43.1 cubic feet with the third row folded. The maximum cargo volume was 78.7 cubic feet, only slightly larger than the Rogue’s capacity. However, its storage solutions, such as the dashboard cubby and center console tray, were smaller and less accessible than desirable.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment system. The base S trim included an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim featured a larger 9-inch touchscreen, door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, upgraded voice recognition, and a Bose audio system. The Platinum trim further included wireless charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

In comparison, the 2022 Cadillac XT6 had a narrow advantage in certain tech features but lagged in others. The analog gauges were less sophisticated than digital ones in competitors. The 8-inch touchscreen displayed excellent software, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a user-friendly voice recognition system. However, usability issues, touch-sensing buttons, and counterintuitive design elements detracted from the experience.

The XT6 also offered a Bose Performance Series audio system, a digital rearview camera for better rear visibility, and an Eight-inch head-up display that was less impressive than those in sister GM vehicles. The lack of physical dashboard knobs for storage and ease of use was a detractor despite otherwise satisfactory technology.

Nissan emphasized safety in the 2021 Rogue, equipping it with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. Key features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety features included ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and rear-seat reminder. The ProPilot Assist driving aid, including lane-centering assistance, was standard from the SV trim and above, with the Platinum trim adding a front-center airbag and improved ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 impressed with the optional Platinum Package, which included comprehensive driving-assistance and collision-avoidance systems. Besides standard features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring, the XT6 introduced Teen Driver, Night Vision, and Super Cruise—a highway driving-assist system. Super Cruise allowed hands-free steering on approved highways but had limitations in certain conditions. The XT6 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).