2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

The 2021 Nissan Rogue presented a fresh, handsome design with a more technical appearance, making it resemble an SUV rather than a car. Its exterior featured dark gray plastic cladding along the lower perimeter, bold simulated skid plates, and lower door protection, which added a rugged touch, though perhaps a bit too audaciously on the rear bumper. The clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and well-proportioned body gave the Rogue a modern aesthetic. All trim levels came with aluminum wheels, up to 19 inches in diameter, and the optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment added a custom look. The Rogue was available in four versions: S, SV, SL, and the new-for-2021 Platinum, each offering varying levels of luxury and amenities. The interior of the Rogue SL test vehicle was light and bright, featuring an Almond color leather interior and a standard panoramic glass sunroof. It emphasized improved roominess with abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars, lending a sense of quality to the cabin. The controls were arranged in a clean and logical fashion, and the Platinum trim offered quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting for a luxurious feel. Despite the retro appearance of the climate control panel numbers, the Rogue was not technologically outdated, offering wireless Apple CarPlay among its features.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was a testament to Jeep's adherence to time-tested design cues and familiar styling elements that evoked the brand's heritage. The iconic seven-slot grille returned, now with active shutters for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency, and a forward rake reminiscent of the Wagoneer. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, with a trim lineup that included the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The test vehicle, an Overland trim, featured a silver exterior with a contrasting black roof and 20-inch wheels, along with signature surf blue tow hooks. Inside, the Grand Cherokee 4xe felt incredibly comfortable, even in the base trim, with leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats in the Overland trim. However, the interior also had a significant amount of hard plastic materials, particularly below the hip point, which raised concerns about durability and noise over time. Gloss black materials added a sharp look but were prone to fingerprints and glare. Despite these drawbacks, the Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a comfortable and upscale feel, with the Trailhawk trim providing maximum off-road capability.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. While this output was adequate for daily driving, the nearly 3,500-pound SUV felt like it needed more power, especially for adventurous driving. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) did a decent job of leveraging the available torque, with programmed ratios that made it feel more like a traditional automatic. The Rogue offered all-wheel drive, up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, making it more capable off the beaten path. During testing, the Rogue SL with front-wheel drive achieved 27.5 mpg, slightly below the official EPA rating. The Rogue's ride and handling were well-tuned, with a new architecture composed of 35% high-strength steel, a strut front, and multi-link rear suspension. Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control systems enhanced the driving experience, while the new Vehicle Motion Control system anticipated ways to improve the drive. The Rogue's steering was notably improved, with the electric assist moved to the steering rack and a quicker ratio, resulting in better steering feel.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe's standout feature was its plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack. This setup delivered an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the output of Jeep's 5.7-liter V8. The power was managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, achieving 56 MPGe and a total driving range of 470 miles. The Grand Cherokee 4xe offered 25 miles of all-electric driving range, with an electronic front-axle disconnect to save fuel. The E Select powertrain modes included Hybrid, Electric, and eSave, allowing drivers to choose the most efficient driving behavior. Regenerative braking and a Max Regen setting enabled one-pedal driving. The Grand Cherokee 4xe featured two off-road systems: Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, with the latter offering more aggressive capabilities. The Trailhawk trim provided maximum off-road capability with 10.9 inches of ground clearance and a wading depth of 24 inches. However, the 4xe's towing capacity was limited to 6,000 pounds, less than the V6 and V8 models.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured improved Zero Gravity seats, offering enhanced comfort with cloth upholstery in the S trim and leather in the SL and Platinum trims. The Rogue's trim levels added features like heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The SUV offered generous rear-seat headroom and legroom, with rear doors that opened to nearly 90 degrees for easy passenger loading. The Rogue could accommodate up to three child safety seats, thanks to new LATCH anchors. Nissan reduced interior noise with aerodynamic improvements, acoustic front glass, and a thicker dashboard insulator. Storage was well-designed, with a new electronic shifter freeing up space under the center console and door-panel pockets accommodating large water bottles. The Rogue offered a power rear liftgate, with SL and Platinum trims featuring a hands-free design. Cargo capacity was 31.6 cubic feet in the S and SV trims, expanding to 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide cargo management system in the SL and Platinum trims. Folding the rear seat down provided a maximum volume of 74.1 cubic feet, among the largest in the compact crossover SUV segment.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, unlike its gas-powered counterpart, was not available as an L model with a third row of seats. However, it offered ample space for passengers, with cargo space expanding from 37.7 cubic feet to 70.8 cubic feet when the second row was folded down. The Grand Cherokee 4xe provided generous head and legroom for both front and rear passengers, making it a comfortable family vehicle. The available air suspension allowed the vehicle to quickly lower from its off-road height, facilitating loading and unloading. Despite testing in hot conditions, the Grand Cherokee 4xe's standard heated steering wheel promised comfort in colder weather.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment package, starting with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto in the S trim. The system included knobs for power/volume and station tuning, though their design made them somewhat difficult to use. 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, 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options like the My Pages feature. The Grand Cherokee 4xe included multiple screens, such as a 10.25-inch front-passenger display and a frameless 10.25-inch digital driver information display. A wireless charging pad was optional, while four USB ports were standard. Optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens ran Amazon's Fire TV for Auto. The 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, available on higher trims, was highly praised for its audio quality.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came equipped with a comprehensive suite 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 featured ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Adaptive cruise control was standard from the SV trim, with an improved ProPilot Assist driving aid. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim offered an upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review, but the increased use of high-strength steel and engineering improvements suggested good crash protection.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a blend of standard and optional ADAS, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Rear parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, with intersection-collision assist and night vision available on higher trims. Front parking sensors and a 360-degree surround-view camera were optional on most trims. A hands-off driver assistance feature suite was announced but required additional hardware. Crash-test results from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of review.