2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Porsche Macan

The 2021 Nissan Rogue sported a new, handsome style with a distinctive technical appearance. It looked more like an SUV with dark gray plastic cladding covering its lower perimeter. Bold, simulated skid plates and lower door protection added an element of ruggedness, although the effect on the back bumper was a bit audacious. The clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and well-proportioned design lent the Rogue a modern vibe. Aluminum wheels, sized up to 19 inches in diameter, came standard across all trim levels. Optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment gave it a custom look.

The Rogue was available in four trim levels: the base Rogue S with a starting price of $25,650, the more popular Rogue SV at $27,340, the slightly luxurious Rogue SL for $32,000, and the top-tier Rogue Platinum at $35,430. Adding all-wheel drive cost an additional $1,400, while premium option packages were also available for the SV and SL trims. The test vehicle was a Rogue SL packed with the Premium Package and additional options, bringing the total to $35,195, including destination charges.

Its interior boasted an Almond color leather with plenty of soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars, imparting a sense of quality. The panoramic glass sunroof added to the light and spacious feel. Nissan's arrangement of controls was clean and logical. For a more luxurious aesthetic, the Platinum trim offered quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. Nevertheless, the climate control panel's numbers had an old-school digital clock appearance, creating a nostalgic touch. Despite having a CD player, the Rogue included modern tech features like wireless Apple CarPlay.

Conversely, the 2022 Porsche Macan maintained a sleek and graceful appearance, consistent with its original 2015 model. The 2022 version received a styling refresh, larger standard wheels, seven new wheel designs, and a revamped center console with haptic touch controls, increasing storage space. This model came with more power and standard equipment across its three trims: the base Macan, Macan S, and Macan GTS.

The test vehicle, a Macan S, was priced at $87,670, including the $1,450 destination charge. It featured Volcano Gray paint, 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, and nearly $20,000 worth of extras. The car’s taut, athletic look was embodied in its sloping clamshell hood, swollen haunches, and rakish roofline, signaling its mission for delivering maximum on-pavement performance.

Inside, the Macan’s cabin drew inspiration from Porsche’s other high-end models. Its ignition switch was located to the left of the steering wheel, with a large tachometer centered in the gauge cluster, a flat and wide dashboard, and a center console holding most secondary controls. The red leather, gloss black trim, and metallic accents created an undeniably upscale, sporty, and purposeful setting.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue needed more power, especially considering that it weighed nearly 3,500 pounds. Its only engine was a direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivering 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. This output sufficed for daily driving, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) was decent in managing the available torque. With programmed ratios, the CVT sounded and felt more like a traditional automatic gearbox, even featuring paddle shifters.

However, for SUVs designed for adventures, the Rogue's power fell short. Equipped with available all-wheel drive, up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, the Rogue demonstrated some off-road prowess but felt underpowered in mountainous terrain. During a media drive, Nissan hinted at a possible future turbocharged version, potentially borrowing from the Altima sedan's variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

Fuel economy was respectable, with the front-wheel-drive Rogue SL achieving 27.5 mpg, slightly under the EPA rating of 29 mpg. The SUV’s new architecture, composed of 35% high-strength steel, provided a sturdy base for its strut front and multi-link rear suspension. Advanced systems like Intelligent Trace Control, Active Ride Control, and Vehicle Motion Control worked together enhancing ride quality and handling satisfaction. The standout feature was its revamped steering system, resulting in dramatically improved steering feel over the previous-generation Rogue.

The 2022 Porsche Macan, on the other hand, was a high-performance powerhouse. Base models came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque—improvements from the previous year's output. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the old Macan Turbo, delivering 434 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque.

Our test vehicle, the Macan S, featured a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. The Macan’s PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and fully variable all-wheel-drive system were optimized for rear-wheel power.

Porsche re-tuned the steering and suspension for 2022, adding a standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive damping system for enhanced ride and handling. The Macan S also featured 20-inch wheels, optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+), and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB). This SUV demonstrated exceptional handling and fun-to-drive characteristics, adeptly tackling twisty roads and offering immense power and precision. However, the fuel economy was less impressive, returning 18.1 mpg, close to the EPA estimate of 19 mpg.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue focused on comfort and practicality. Its Zero Gravity seat designs aimed to reduce fatigue and muscle strain. Cloth seats with manual adjustment came standard in the base S trim, while higher trims offered power-adjustable and leather upholstery. Quick Comfort heated seats and a heated steering wheel were available in higher trims, although ventilated seats were not an option.

Standard air conditioning was offered across the board, with dual-zone automatic climate control in the SV and triple-zone in SL and Platinum trims. Rear-seat accommodations improved with increased headroom and legroom, and rear doors that opened nearly 90 degrees for easier access. Safety features included a rear-seat reminder system to prevent leaving a child in the car.

Storage was cleverly designed, with large door-panel pockets, a split butterfly-opening armrest, and a spacious cargo area. The power rear liftgate featured hands-free access in SL and Platinum trims. Cargo capacity measured 31.6 cubic feet in S and SV models and up to 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide system in SL and Platinum. Maximum cargo volume was 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Porsche Macan, while emphasizing performance, did not compromise on front-seat comfort. Its optional Premium Package included 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, although Adaptive Sports Seats Plus were recommended for spirited driving. The rear seats, however, were cramped, particularly for taller passengers when the front seats were adjusted for long-legged drivers. Getting in and out of the back seat was relatively easy, and the seats were comfortable nonetheless.

The Macan’s new 911-inspired steering wheel felt somewhat uncomfortable over long drives due to its thin rim and sharp edges. The redesigned center console with haptic touch controls looked modern but was sometimes difficult to use without diverting attention from the road. Although it offered more storage space, it wasn’t ample enough for multiple smartphones and beverages.

Cargo capacity was significantly less than the Rogue, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a maximum of 53 cubic feet with the seats folded down. This made it less ideal for carrying larger loads compared to the Rogue.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was equipped with a competitive infotainment system. 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 NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim boasted a 9-inch touchscreen, real-time traffic navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose premium audio system. The test vehicle’s system worked well overall, despite some minor usability issues with the knobs and small buttons. The Platinum trim also came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

Alternatively, the 2022 Porsche Macan featured a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Porsche Communication Management (PCM), including wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services. It offered a 10-speaker sound system, upgradeable to a premium Bose or high-end Burmester audio system. The intuitive interface was smartphone-friendly, although some icons were confusing. Voice recognition performance was mixed, but essential functions could be managed through physical controls below the screen, enhancing user-friendliness.

Safety was a top priority for the 2021 Nissan Rogue. The Rogue came with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control with ProPilot Assist, offering lane-centering assistance. The upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology in the SL Premium Package and Platinum trim used navigation data to adjust speed for curves and junctions. While effective, it had some nuances that could be bothersome.

Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of evaluation, but Nissan's increased use of high-strength steel and improved engineering aimed at better crash energy deflection suggested promising protection capabilities.

For the 2022 Porsche Macan, standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a reversing camera. Blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist were optional. The test vehicle included blind-spot monitoring but not lane-keeping assist. These technologies performed well without issues. Advanced features like Park Assist, which could steer into parking spaces, were also available. However, neither the NHTSA nor IIHS had published safety ratings for the Macan.