2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2021 Nissan Rogue embraced a new styling that made it appear more robust, embodying the quintessential SUV look rather than that of a car. Its exterior showcased a blend of dark gray plastic cladding along the lower perimeter and bold, simulated skid plates, enhancing its rugged aesthetic, especially at the rear bumper. Stylish elements like clean LED lighting, the prominent V-Motion grille, and aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter contributed to its modern appeal. The two-tone paint option with a black roof treatment added a custom touch, making it stand out. Four trim levels were available: the base Rogue S, the mid-tier Rogue SV, the slightly more luxurious Rogue SL, and the top-of-the-line Rogue Platinum. The SL trim was particularly luxurious, featuring semi-aniline quilted leather in the Platinum edition. Our test model was the Rogue SL, loaded with the Premium Package, extra-cost paint, and additional features totaling $35,195 including destination charges. Inside, the test vehicle's Almond color leather interior felt bright and spacious, largely due to the standard panoramic glass sunroof. The interior design featured abundant soft-touch surfaces, simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars, all contributing to a sense of quality. The layout was clean and logical, adding to the cabin's luxurious feel. However, the numbers on the climate control panel appeared somewhat outdated, resembling an old-school digital clock. And, despite the modern tech features, the Rogue still included a CD player. Meanwhile, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid presented a completely different approach with its sharp, futuristic design. The new Tucson grew longer and wider compared to its predecessor and featured angular elements and sharp creases along its profile. This gave it a distinct look that set it apart from the competition. Its grille design integrated seamlessly with LED headlights and running lights, especially eye-catching in the Limited trim with a dark chrome finish. The Tucson Hybrid came in three trims: Blue, SEL Convenience, and Limited. The Blue trim featured 17-inch wheels, while the SEL Convenience and Limited sported 19-inch wheels. The SEL Convenience also boasted a panoramic sunroof and hands-free smart tailgate. Unique design choices included a cutout in the rear glass for the brand's logo, which some might find awkward. Inside, the Tucson Hybrid offered a spacious and airy cabin with impressive legroom for both front and rear occupants. The design was clean and modern, but the center console felt bulkier than necessary. The touchscreen infotainment display was integrated into the dash, providing a nearly unobstructed view. The test vehicle, a Limited trim model, featured ambient lighting in 64 colors, adding an upscale flair. However, the Tucson's cabin could heat up quickly due to the expansive windshield and sunroof, though the ventilated front seats and quick air conditioning offered relief.

Critics noted that the 2021 Nissan Rogue could benefit from more power. It featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. This power was adequate for daily driving, with the continuously variable transmission (CVT) effectively managing the available torque. The CVT was praised for its smooth performance, programmed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission and even included paddle shifters. The Rogue excelled in off-road capability with available all-wheel drive (AWD), up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes. However, at higher altitudes or under heavy load, the 2.5-liter engine could feel strained. Nissan hinted at the possibility of a future turbocharged engine, likely the same variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter found in the Altima and Infiniti QX50. As tested, the Rogue SL achieved 27.5 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 29 mpg combined. The vehicle's new architecture, composed of 35% high-strength steel, provided a robust foundation for excellent ride and handling. The Rogue's suspension combined strut front and multi-link rear setups with advanced systems like Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control to deliver a smooth and athletic driving experience. The relocation of the electric assist from the steering column to the steering rack significantly improved the steering feel. The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, on the other hand, was impressive with its 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This setup made the Tucson Hybrid noticeably quicker and more responsive than its gas-powered counterpart. The AWD system and the six-speed automatic transmission contributed to a smooth and engaging drive. Paddle shifters were also included on all trims, although they added little to the excitement. The Tucson Hybrid's suspension was outstanding, effectively absorbing road imperfections without feeling bouncy. It maintained balance through corners, contributing to a pleasant driving experience. The Tucson Hybrid's fuel economy was commendable, achieving 37 mpg combined, just shy of its EPA rating. For even better efficiency, a plug-in hybrid version with a 13.8 kWh battery promising 80 MPGe and 33 miles of all-electric range was on the horizon.

Nissan aimed to replicate a neutral spine position with its Zero Gravity seat design in the 2021 Rogue, enhancing comfort by reducing stress on bones and joints. The previous Rogue's seats felt undersized, but the new model's improved seats added to the overall comfort. The Rogue S offered cloth seats with manual height adjustment, whereas the higher trims progressed to Premium leather. The Rogue Platinum trim featured luxurious quilted semi-aniline leather. Heating elements were available across various trims, but surprisingly, ventilation was not an option even in the top trim, despite Nissan's North American headquarters being in humid Nashville. The Rogue's air conditioning system was robust, with dual-zone automatic climate control available from the SV trim upward and a triple-zone system in the SL and Platinum trims. Rear-seat headroom and legroom were generous, and the rear doors opened almost 90 degrees for easy access. The Rogue provided ample storage, including a new electronic shifter that freed up space under the center console, large door-panel pockets, and a split butterfly-style center armrest. Depending on the trim, the cargo capacity ranged from 31.6 to 36.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up, and up to 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered a different set of advantages. Despite its larger dimensions, it managed to maintain a sleek look. It boasted a voluminous 38.8 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 74.5 cubic feet with the rear seats down, making it one of the most spacious vehicles in its class. The dual-level cargo floor provided flexibility, allowing for a flat loading floor or maximum space utilization. Legroom in both the front and rear was impressive, with over 41 inches available in both areas. Storage solutions were well thought out, with decent bottle holders in all doors, two cupholders in the front center console, and another pair in the rear seat's fold-down armrest. The Limited trim's ambient lighting added flair to the interior, while a plethora of USB ports ensured connectivity for all passengers.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came equipped with a comprehensive infotainment setup. The base S model featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, along with a free trial to Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant. Physical knobs for power/volume and tuning were included, although their design made them somewhat hard to use. Shortcut buttons for commonly used functions helped mitigate this issue. Moving up to the SV or SL trim added NissanConnect Services with remote engine starting, automatic collision notification, vehicle speed, and boundary alerts, as well as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package and Rogue Platinum included a larger 9-inch touchscreen with a door-to-door navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay, an upgraded voice recognition system, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim also offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.8-inch head-up display. In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid's technology was solid but sometimes frustrating. The Limited trim's 10.25-inch touchscreen looked great with native software but only utilized 8 inches for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, requiring a wired connection. The smaller 8-inch screen on lower trims offered wireless connectivity for these systems. The capacitive touch buttons for infotainment and HVAC controls were another source of frustration, as they lacked the tactile feedback of physical buttons. However, steering-wheel controls helped mitigate this. The Tucson also provided plenty of USB ports, a beautiful touchscreen display, and a Bose premium stereo for enhanced audio quality.

Nissan prioritized safety in the 2021 Rogue, equipping it with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) packaged under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. This included features such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Rogue also came with ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Adaptive cruise control was standard from the SV trim upward, included as part of the improved ProPilot Assist driving aid with lane-centering assistance. This system's enhanced radar and camera units delivered smoother and more accurate performance. The SL Premium Package and Rogue Platinum featured an upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology, utilizing navigation data to adjust speed for curves and freeway junctions. Crash-test results for the new Rogue were not available at the time of review, but the increased use of high-strength steel and improved crash energy deflection engineering boded well for its safety performance. The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid also prioritized safety, offering a comprehensive suite of features across all trims. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitor, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, safe-exit warning, and rear occupant alert. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist with adaptive cruise control, and unique features like a blind-spot view monitor that displayed live video feeds of the blind spots on the driver information display. The Limited also offered remote smart park assist, allowing the vehicle to be maneuvered remotely using the key fob. The NHTSA had not tested the 2022 Tucson yet, but the IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+, indicating a high level of safety.