2021 Toyota Venza vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2021 Toyota Venza, when it was revealed, was noted for its striking resemblance to a Lexus, particularly the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. Critics highlighted its sleek grille and elongated profile, which blurred the lines between the Toyota and Lexus brands. The Venza was available in three trim levels—LE, XLE, and Limited—and offered seven paint colors, though not all were available across every trim. Standard features included dual chrome-tipped exhausts, LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, puddle lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior boasted a wireless charging pad, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, among other amenities.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, redesigned in 2021, continued to impress with its mature and sophisticated styling. It featured Nissan’s V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a floating roof design. The interior showcased a layered dash with contrasting colors and surfaces, an electronic gear selector lever, and ample storage options. The Rogue’s cabin was spacious, with Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats and a roomy second row. The 9-inch center infotainment display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel in upper trims added to its modern appeal. The fit and finish were exemplary, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, delivering a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) provided smooth acceleration, though it was not particularly rapid. The Venza’s handling was confident, and its all-wheel-drive system performed reliably. The standout feature was its fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. Toyota backed its hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a significant boost in performance with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This was an 11 percent increase in horsepower and a 24 percent increase in torque compared to the previous model. The new engine, combined with a wider-ratio CVT, improved the Rogue’s acceleration and responsiveness. The Rogue also boasted impressive fuel economy, with an EPA estimate of 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The chassis and suspension provided a smooth and controlled ride, with minimal body roll and good steering feel.

The 2021 Toyota Venza offered a practical and comfortable interior, with premium appointments in the center stack and a deep center console featuring resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, and various control buttons. The front seats were accommodating, and the rear seats provided ample comfort for two adults. The Venza had more headroom than the RAV4, slightly less legroom up front, and nearly equal shoulder and hip room. It offered 55.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row folded, which was less than some competitors but sufficient for daily use. The quick-flip releases on the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks made arranging the cargo space easy.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior space and storage options. The front cabin featured numerous storage compartments, including bottle holders, cupholders, a glove compartment, a center console bin, and a tray beneath the center console. Rear-seat passengers had storage options in the doors, seatbacks, and center armrest, along with USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports. The Rogue offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of cargo space, depending on configuration, and a generous 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat, making it highly versatile for various cargo needs.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured an 8-inch infotainment system in the LE and XLE trims, while the Limited trim had a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune infotainment system, though improved, was not the most user-friendly. Standard technology included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a six-speaker audio system. The Venza Limited offered a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system and dynamic navigation. Toyota connected services, such as Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Service Connect, were also standard.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue carried over the technology upgrades from its 2021 redesign. Upper trim levels featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. The Rogue supported Google Maps, Waze, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on higher trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan’s hands-on driver-assist technology, was available and integrated with the navigation system for predictive speed control. The Intelligent Key allowed for easy access to both front and rear doors.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Additional safety features included eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, and tire pressure monitoring. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available in the XLE and Limited trims. The Venza had two full sets of LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Rogue also had ten supplemental airbags, extended crumple zones, Intelligent Driver Alertness technology, and rear door alert. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control for advanced driver assistance. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was expected to maintain the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating from the 2021 model.