2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 INFINITI QX80

The 2021 Nissan Rogue sported a handsome new styling with a more technical appearance, making it look more like an SUV than a car. Dark gray plastic cladding covered the Rogue's lower perimeter, and bold, simulated skid plates and lower door protection conveyed a ruggedness that was perhaps too audacious on the SUV's back bumper. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning lent the new Rogue a modern aesthetic, with all trim levels featuring aluminum wheels sized up to 19 inches in diameter. The optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment gave the SUV a custom look.

Four versions of the new Rogue were available, starting with the Rogue S at $25,650 and moving up to the Rogue Platinum at $35,430, which featured semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities. Our test vehicle, a Rogue SL, included the Premium Package and extra-cost paint, totaling $35,195. The interior, featuring an Almond color leather and a standard panoramic glass sunroof, emphasized improved roominess with abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars. The controls were arranged in a clean and logical fashion, and the Platinum trim offered a luxurious look with quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 shared a platform, mechanicals, and general layout with the Nissan Armada, giving it a family resemblance. The QX80's front-end styling was unique, primarily due to the familial Infiniti grille, which was distinctive and prominent without being overdone. LED lighting was tastefully integrated at the front and back, and the conservative use of chrome added a tasteful, upscale look. The stylish 22-inch dark chrome alloy wheels, standard on Premium Select and above, further dressed up the Infiniti's exterior.

Inside, the QX80's cabin featured unique and more upscale materials compared to the Armada, with tasteful wood trim and nicely stitched, supple, and attractive quilted semi-aniline Saddle Brown leather seats in the Sensory-trim test vehicle. However, despite the fancy clothes and accessories, the QX80's style was steadily going out of fashion. The cabin was upscale, attractive, and comfortable, but the premium full-size SUV market segment had exceptionally high standards, and the QX80's interior fell below that collective bar.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue needed more power, as its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. This output was adequate for typical daily-driver use, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) did a decent job of leveraging the available torque. The CVT was programmed to feel more like a traditional automatic, and paddle shifters were provided on the steering wheel, though they were rarely used.

The Rogue offered available all-wheel drive (AWD), up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, making it more adept at getting off the beaten path. The tested Rogue SL with front-wheel drive (FWD) achieved 27.5 mpg on a driving loop, slightly below the official EPA rating. The Rogue's ride and handling were well-tuned, with a new, more robust architecture composed of 35% high-strength steel. The suspension, combined with Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control systems, provided a smooth and athletic driving experience. The new steering system, with electric assist moved to the steering rack and a quickened ratio, resulted in dramatically improved steering feel.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 featured a robust 400-horsepower, 5.6-liter V8 engine with 413 lb-ft of torque. The engine delivered strong performance and a pleasing exhaust note, though it was thirsty and required premium fuel. The seven-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control and manual mode provided seamless and smooth shifts, distributing the QX80's ample power effectively. The transmission did not hunt for gears when climbing grades and moderated speed and engine rpm on steep downhills in manual mode.

Based on the global Nissan Patrol, the QX80 offered more capability than most owners would need, with 2WD standard and 4WD available for $3,100. The 4WD system included a computer-controlled transfer case with settings for Automatic, 4Hi, and 4Lo. The QX80 had 9.2 inches of ground clearance, making it capable of traversing challenging terrain. The maximum towing capacity was 8,500 pounds. The QX80 managed to control excessive body lean during cornering or quick maneuvers well, thanks to the Hydraulic Body Motion Control system, which distributed pressure to either side of the suspension.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured Zero Gravity seat designs, which aimed to replicate a neutral spine position for comfort. The new Rogue had improved Zero Gravity seats, with cloth upholstery and manual driver's height adjuster in S trim, eight-way power adjustment and leatherette upholstery in SV trim, standard leather in SL trim, and premium leather in Platinum trim. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats were available, though ventilated seats were not offered.

The Rogue's interior was quieter due to aerodynamic improvements, acoustic front glass, and a thicker dashboard insulator. Storage was well-sized and located, with a new electronic shifter freeing up space under the center console. The Rogue offered a power rear liftgate, with hands-free design in SL and Platinum trims. Cargo capacity was 31.6 cubic feet in S and SV trims, and 36.5 cubic feet in SL and Platinum trims, with a maximum volume of 74.1 cubic feet when the rear seat was folded.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 required climbing into due to its tall ride height, with a step-in height of nearly two feet. The spacious greenhouse provided an open and airy feel, with good front-seat head- and legroom. Forward visibility was commendable, though the sideview mirrors were small. The power-sliding moonroof was smaller compared to panoramic designs on other Infiniti models.

The QX80 could hold up to eight passengers with the optional second-row bench-seat package, or seven passengers with second-row captain's chairs. The third-row seating was cramped, especially for adults or taller tweens. The split-fold third-row seats could be powered down, but the process was slow. Cargo space measured 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.6 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 95.1 cubic feet with all seats folded. The test vehicle included illuminated kick plates, cargo scuff plate, and radiant exterior welcome lighting.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment package, with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto in S trim. The system included knobs for power/volume and station tuning, though they were small and glossy plastic finishes made them harder to use. Menu shortcut buttons provided easy access to commonly used functions.

SV and SL trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package and Rogue Platinum featured a 9-inch touchscreen display, door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, an upgraded voice recognition system, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim also included wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 featured a new 12.3-inch Infiniti InTouch display with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The display also included navigation with lane guidance, voice recognition, and Infiniti InTouch connected services. A Bose 13-speaker premium sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Performance Series Bose system in the Sensory trim. The QX80 also included multiple USB ports, illuminated steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and a wireless smartphone charger.

The test vehicle had a dual-screen rear entertainment system with screens in the front-seat headrests and two wireless headsets, though HDMI adapters were missing. The QX80 did not include Infiniti's ProPilot Assist advanced driving-assistance system due to its older vehicle systems architecture.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came equipped with a comprehensive collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Rogue also featured ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Platinum trim added an airbag between the driver and front passenger.

Adaptive cruise control was standard starting with the Rogue SV, part of an improved ProPilot Assist driving aid with lane-centering assistance. The SL Premium Package and Rogue Platinum offered an upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology, which used navigation map data and GPS coordinates to adjust speed for curves and freeway junctions. Crash-test results were unavailable, but the use of high-strength steel and engineering aimed to deflect crash energy away from the passenger compartment.

The 2022 Infiniti QX80 came equipped with standard safety features, including forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with lane-departure prevention, forward-collision warning, backup collision intervention, a smart rearview mirror, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety items included driver attention alert, front knee airbags, and seat belt pre-tensioners for second-row outboard passengers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2022 QX80 three out of five stars for rollover resistance. The structurally similar 2021 QX80 received four stars for overall crash protection, with three stars for front crash protection and five stars in side crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not rated the QX80 for safety.