2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Lexus RX

In 2021, the Nissan Rogue presented a fresh stylistic leap forward, embracing a more technical appearance that made it look more like an SUV rather than a car. Dark gray plastic cladding surrounded its lower perimeter, with bold, simulated skid plates and lower door protection that conveyed a sense of ruggedness—albeit a bit audaciously on the back bumper. The Rogue's clean LED lighting elements, a pronounced V-Motion grille, and well-proportioned design lent it a modern aesthetic. Aluminum wheels, sized up to 19 inches, were standard across all trim levels, and the optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment gave it a custom look. The 2021 Rogue was available in four versions: the entry-level S, the popular SV, the slightly luxurious SL, and the decked-out Platinum trim, which featured semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities.

Factory options included an all-wheel-drive option and premium packages for the SV and SL trims. Our test vehicle, an SL trim with the Premium Package and extra-cost paint, had a total price of $35,195, including destination charges. The interior featured Almond-colored leather and a standard panoramic glass sunroof, making it light and bright. The cabin was filled with abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars, giving it a sense of quality. The controls were clean and logically arranged. For a luxurious feel, the Platinum trim offered quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX continued the modern and sporty design it adopted during its 2020 facelift. It was available in base 350, F Sport, and L trim levels, plus a hybrid model designated as RX 450h. The RX 350 and F Sport seated five, while the L model had a three-row, 7-passenger configuration. Among its competitors (e.g., Audi Q5, BMW X5, Genesis GV80, Mercedes-Benz GLE), the RX's aggressive styling stood out.

The RX featured razor-sharp character lines and angular features reminiscent of a boomerang, stopping just short of being excessive. Even in a paint as simple as Nebula Gray Pearl, the RX maintained a satisfying design. F Sport models, performance-oriented by name, sported features like 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, dark window trims, F Sport badging, and unique front facias with larger air intakes.

Inside, the RX offered nearly a dozen color combinations for the RX 350 and 450h, except for the F Sport trim, which featured specific badging, Scored Aluminum trim, and NuLuxe synthetic leather in black or dark red. The non-F Sport models could be optioned with a mix of NuLuxe or semi-aniline leather seats and various metal and wood trims. Despite plenty of soft-touch surfaces and a high-quality feel to the hard plastics and knobs, the center stack felt dated, cluttered with buttons, possibly a symptom of the RX's age in its class.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue's performance was criticized for its lack of power. The only engine available was a direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This output, adequate for daily errands, was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Despite common complaints about CVTs, this one worked quite well, and programmed ratios made it resemble a traditional automatic. The availability of all-wheel drive, up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes made the Rogue adept for minor off-road adventures. On a media test drive, it was noted that a future turbocharged version seemed likely, which could provide a more spirited drive.

For fuel economy, the Rogue SL with front-wheel drive achieved 27.5 mpg during a test, slightly below the official EPA rating. Nissan's focus on tuning the SUV's ride and handling was evident, utilizing a robust architecture with 35% high-strength steel, strut front, and multi-link rear suspension systems, and modern braking and ride control technologies. Vehicle Motion Control aimed to make the drive more predictive and enjoyable.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX 350 featured a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h's combined output was 308 hp. Both powertrains used an eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite its performance-focused name, the F Sport model lacked true athleticism. The engine's hum was underwhelming, and acceleration was sluggish. The RX's drive modes, including Sport+ in F Sport trims, failed to noticeably alter driving dynamics.

The F Sport's front and rear performance dampers, adaptive variable suspension, sport steering, and other electronics aimed to improve handling but fell short. The RX excelled in ride comfort and cabin quietness, dampening rough patches and isolating road noise effectively.

Fuel economy for the RX 350 was rated at 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined for FWD models, with AWD models and the three-row L model seeing a slight efficiency drop. The RX 450h hybrid model offered better fuel efficiency with a combined rating of 30 mpg.

Interior space in the 2021 Nissan Rogue saw significant improvements. Zero Gravity seats, designed to mimic the body's neutral spine position in space, offered varying effectiveness but were generally comfortable. The Rogue had a range of seats, from cloth in the base trim to premium leather in the Platinum option. It featured an array of heating options for front and rear seats. Notably, it lacked ventilated seats, an odd omission given Nissan's summer-sweaty Nashville headquarters.

The Rogue provided ample rear-seat headroom and legroom, with a rear-seat design that included nearly 90-degree opening doors, facilitating easy loading of passengers. It included adjustments like rear side window sunshades and a rear-seat reminder system. Nissan also made strides in reducing interior noise through aerodynamic improvements and acoustic features.

Cargo capacity in the Rogue ranged from 31.6 cubic feet in S and SV trims to 36.5 cubic feet in SL and Platinum trims with the Divide-N-Hide cargo system. With the rear seats folded, the maximum cargo volume was 74.1 cubic feet.

In comparison, the 2022 Lexus RX provided 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume in its two-row configuration, fitting four adults comfortably. In the standard RX, cargo space was 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row and 32.6 cubic feet with seats folded. The three-row RX 350L quickly felt cramped with just 7.45 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 58.48 cubic feet with both rear rows down. Importantly, the seats did not fold flat, and the high load-in height made for trickier cargo management.

In 2021, the Nissan Rogue showcased a competitive infotainment package. The base S trim included an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Moving up to SV and SL trims added additional NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package or Platinum trim boasted a larger 9-inch touchscreen, real-time navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose audio system. Noteworthy was the Platinum trim's additional tech including wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Lexus RX standard infotainment featured an 8-inch touchscreen, upgradable to 12.3 inches. Even with touchscreens moved closer to the driver, their placement within a cove atop the center stack created access issues. Icons at the bottom of the screen were partially obscured, requiring downward taps that often missed the intended setting. The alternatives were voice commands, which demanded specific phrases, and a touchpad that was difficult to operate.

Despite these challenges, the RX offered useful tech amenities, such as six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a WiFi hotspot, and more. The Lexus App added personalization and remote features.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue prioritized safety, equipping all models with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. This included features like 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. The SV trim added adaptive cruise control with the ProPilot Assist system, which was further enhanced in the SL Premium Package and Platinum trim with Navi-link technology for predictive speed adjustments.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX came standard with Lexus Safety System 2.0+, comprising adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping and tracing assist, a pre-collision system with cyclist and pedestrian detection, and intelligent high beams. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a head-up display. The RX received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS when equipped with optional triple-beam LED headlights but only managed a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.