2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2021 Nissan Rogue donned a handsome new styling, showcasing a more technical appearance, which made it resemble an SUV more than a car. It sported dark gray plastic cladding covering its lower perimeter, and bold, simulated skid plates and lower door protection contributed to its rugged demeanor. Notably, the back bumper perhaps conveyed ruggedness too audaciously.

The model featured clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and well-proportioned dimensions, giving it a modern aesthetic. All trim levels of the Rogue came with aluminum wheels, ranging up to 19 inches. Opting for the two-tone paint with a black roof treatment allowed the Rogue to adopt a custom appearance.

Nissan offered four trim levels in the 2021 Rogue lineup: the Rogue S priced at $25,650, the Rogue SV at $27,340, the Rogue SL at $32,000, and the new-for-2021 Rogue Platinum at $35,430, each price excluding the $1,095 destination charge. All-wheel drive was priced at an additional $1,400, and Premium packages were available for the SV ($2,660) and SL ($1,320). Our test vehicle was a Rogue SL equipped with the Premium Package, extra-cost paint, floor mats, and a cargo area protection package totaling $35,195, inclusive of destination charges.

The interior of our test vehicle highlighted an Almond-colored leather and a standard panoramic glass sunroof, emphasizing enhanced roominess and abundant soft-touch surfaces. Appealing simulated wood trim and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars elevated the cabin's sense of quality. The controls were clean and logically arranged. Especially luxurious was the Platinum trim, which boasted quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting.

One quirky aspect of the Rogue's interior was the climate control panel's number display, reminiscent of an old-school digital clock from the 1980s. A CD player was present, yet the Rogue remained technologically modern, offering wireless Apple CarPlay among its features.

Conversely, the 2022 Hyundai Kona, while far from a total redesign, underwent a significant makeover. The new model was 1.6 inches longer than its predecessor, with revised front and rear fascias, enhanced LED lighting, and sporty new character lines adding sophistication. The sharp new body lines were complemented by lower body cladding as a crossover staple. New alloy wheel designs completed the external upgrades.

Inside, Hyundai separated the instrument panel and center console, creating a horizontal layout that enhanced the vehicle's spacious feel. Ambient lighting adorned the front cupholders and footwells, adding class, and a rear USB port enhanced practicality for back-seat passengers.

While the updates were commendable, the introduction of the sporty N Line and even sportier Kona N trims was particularly exciting. These trims featured unique styling elements, including body-color cladding, rocker panels, and exclusive wheel designs, adding to the Kona's athletic appearance. Inside the N Line, there were exclusive black seats with red stitching, a black headliner, and alloy sport pedals. The seats, steering wheel, and shift lever bore N logos.

The top-tier Kona N took sportiness a notch higher with wider fenders, 19-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli P-Zero summer tires, a front lip spoiler, red accents along the lower edge, double-wing roof spoiler, and side valance. The cockpit featured N sport bucket seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and shift knob.

Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line in Blue Wave with a black interior, featured impressive proportions, making it more streamlined than previous models. The Blue Wave exterior and N Line-exclusive 18-inch wheels were particularly appealing. Overall, the fit and finish were commendable, with the red accent stitching on the seats and gear shift lever, alongside the "N" logos and alloy pedals, exuding sportiness.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue had only one engine choice, a direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder, producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. Despite its nearly 3,500-pound weight, this output was adequate for daily driving needs. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) performed decently, making good use of the available torque and offering an experience similar to a traditional automatic transmission with simulated gears and paddle shifters.

For those seeking adventure, the Rogue offered available all-wheel drive (AWD), up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes. While Nissan didn't commit to future turbocharging, hinting at the possibility of introducing a variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, the current powertrain left some performance desires wanting. On a varied driving loop, the front-wheel-drive Rogue SL achieved 27.5 mpg, which fell short of the EPA rating by 1.5 mpg.

The Rogue boasted improved ride and handling thanks to its 35% high-strength steel robust architecture, a strut front, and a multi-link rear suspension. New Brake-induced Intelligent Trace Control, Active Ride Control systems, and Vehicle Motion Control also contributed to a more enjoyable and controlled driving experience. The new steering in the Rogue, with electric assist moved to the steering rack and a quickened ratio, significantly enhanced steering feel from its predecessor.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a diverse range of engines and transmissions tailored to varying performance preferences. The base SE and SEL trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a CVT, producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque.

For those craving more power, the sporty N Line and Kona Limited featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), offering a spirited 195 hp and 195 pound-feet of torque.

The 2022 Kona N introduced an even more powerful experience with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering a robust 276 hp and 289 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an N eight-speed wet DCT with paddle shifters. This high-performance powertrain offered exclusive driving modes and performance features like N Grin Shift (turbo over-boost) and N Power Shift.

Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line with the 1.6-liter turbo engine, seven-speed DCT, and AWD, delivered more than adequate power and a pleasant driving experience both in town and on highways. Despite minor turbo lag and some clunkiness in lower gears, the DCT enhanced the Kona's sporty feel. The Kona's 3,300-pound curb weight, low ride height, and ample torque contributed to its nimble, solid, and stable handling.

Overall, the Kona's handling was composed and competitive with higher-priced vehicles, complemented by low cabin noise levels.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered improved comfort with its Zero Gravity seat designs, featuring upgraded seats that varied in materials and adjustability across trims. The Rogue S had cloth seats with manual adjustment, while the SV, SL, and Platinum trims offered increasingly luxurious materials and power adjustments. Heated seats and steering wheel options were available except for ventilated seats, which were missing—a curious omission given Nissan's North American headquarters' hot climate.

Interior flexibility included air conditioning available across trims, with dual-zone automatic climate control in the SV and triple-zone in the SL and Platinum. Rear-seat headroom and legroom were generous, with the rear doors opening nearly 90 degrees for easier passenger access. Accommodating three child safety seats was possible, and a rear-seat reminder system was standard.

Nissan addressed noise reduction with aerodynamic improvements and sound-insulating materials, enhancing the quieter driving experience. Storage solutions included a space-saving electronic shifter, useful door-panel pockets, and a split-opening center armrest.

The Rogue S and SV had 31.6 cubic feet of cargo space, while the SL and Platinum offered up to 36.5 cubic feet with a standard Divide-N-Hide cargo management system. Folding the rear seats down expanded the storage to a maximum of 74.1 cubic feet, generous for its class.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, being a smaller vehicle, achieved commendable front-seat comfort with ample headroom and legroom, even considering taller drivers. However, the rear seats were less accommodating due to small door openings and limited head- and legroom. The compact dimensions hindered rear passenger comfort, making three-across seating impractical.

Hyundai claimed improved rear-seat legroom for 2022, though the difference was subtle. Cargo space was 19.2 cubic feet with the seats up, expandable to 45.8 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded down. However, this compromised passenger capacity, making the Kona effectively a two-seater. Additionally, towing capabilities were non-existent, further limiting cargo versatility.

In the 2021 Nissan Rogue, every trim came equipped with an advanced infotainment package. At the base S trim, the system featured an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A complementary six-month Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant trial was included, though continued service required a subscription. While the system had power/volume and station tuning knobs, their shallow design made them harder to grip.

Upgrading to the SV or SL trim added NissanConnect Services, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant integration, and a WiFi hotspot. These services included remote engine start, automatic collision notification, and more, with subscriptions needed post-trial. Higher trims with the SL Premium Package or Platinum featured a larger 9-inch touchscreen, door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, upgraded voice recognition, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim boosted tech prowess further with wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona ramped up its tech offerings. The base SE trim included an upgraded 8-inch display, with SEL trim adding SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Hyundai Blue Link. The N Line featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and traffic information, available also on Limited and Kona N trims. An eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system was optional on the N Line, standard on Limited and Kona N trims.

The Kona's infotainment system offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with the base 8-inch screen, though larger screens required wired connections. The digital instrument cluster varied from a 4.2-inch display in lower trims to a 10.25-inch display in higher trims. Two front USB ports were standard, while rear ports were available on upper trims. Wireless device charging was standard in N Line and higher trims, and Hyundai Blue Link provided connected services complimentary for three years.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue prioritized safety with an extensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. The package included features such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning. Notably, it featured a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert instead of adaptive cruise control, covering more common needs effectively.

The Rogue incorporated ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Advanced safety features on the Platinum trim included an airbag between the driver and front passenger. Adaptive cruise control with ProPilot Assist was standard from the SV trim onwards, with improved radar and camera units. The ProPilot Assist system also featured Navi-link technology, enhancing driving assistance using navigation data.

In comparison, the 2022 Hyundai Kona packed essential driver aids. Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping, and lane-following assistance, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert. Available technologies comprised adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, Highway Drive Assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning.

The Hyundai Kona received top safety ratings. The NHTSA awarded it five stars for overall crash protection, including front and side protection, and four stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS awarded it "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests, with a "Superior" rating for forward collision-avoidance with pedestrian detection and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-pedestrian front crashes, albeit a "Marginal" rating for child-seat anchors.