2022 Cadillac XT6 vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury test vehicle arrived with polished 20-inch alloy wheels, Stellar Black paint, and a Jet Black semi-aniline premium leather interior. It exuded a sense of sophistication, making us feel like we should be dressed in formal attire, ready to chauffeur someone important. The XT6's design was attractive but somewhat bland, with towering front running lights that made it look too tall and narrow. The rear taillights were reminiscent of GMC's design, and while the XT6's proportions and details conveyed a conservatively tailored image, it didn't stand out in the luxury SUV market.

Cadillac offered the XT6 in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trim levels, with prices starting just under $50,000. Our test vehicle, loaded with options like Super Cruise and Night Vision technologies, had an MSRP of $73,565. Despite the rich materials and sophisticated driving assistance technology, the interior didn't look or feel as luxurious as expected for its price. The analog gauges and 8-inch touchscreen display felt outdated, and the overall layout was similar to other GM crossovers. The XT6's interior felt narrow due to its relationship with the GMC Acadia, and it reminded us of the Cadillac Cimarron.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, redesigned in 2021, continued to impress with its grownup look and several exterior design features shared with other Nissan vehicles. The V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and floating roof design added to its sleek appearance. The Rogue's cabin featured a layered dash with distinct horizontal layers, an electronic gear selector lever, and ample storage space. The 9-inch center infotainment display and 12.3-inch digital instrument panel in upper trims were highlights, along with Nissan's comfortable Zero Gravity front seats and roomy second row.

The Rogue's fit and finish were exemplary, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model. The new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, significantly improved performance. The Rogue's fuel economy was impressive, with an EPA estimate of 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined. The new CVT transmission provided better acceleration and responsiveness, and the chassis and suspension delivered a smooth, controlled ride with minimal body roll.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 employed the same engines as the GMC Acadia. The standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivered 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, which was less than the base versions of the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, but it lacked the turbocharging found in competitors' upgrade powertrains. All-wheel drive (AWD) was available with both engines, and our test vehicle had it, along with Tour and Sport driving modes.

The V6 engine provided sufficient power, and the XT6's adaptive-damping performance suspension and 20-inch wheels made it remarkably athletic on twisty roads. However, the XT6's driving experience leaned towards serenity rather than excitement. The official EPA fuel economy rating for the XT6 V6 with AWD was 21 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle returned 19.5 mpg.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue's new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, with 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, significantly improved performance over the previous 2.5-liter engine. The Rogue's fuel economy was impressive, with an EPA estimate of 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined. The new CVT transmission provided better acceleration and responsiveness, and the Rogue's chassis and suspension delivered a smooth, controlled ride with minimal body roll. The electric power-assisted steering had good feel, and the 35.4-foot turning diameter was tight.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6's interior felt narrower than expected, with comfortable power-adjustable seats wrapped in semi-aniline leather. The second-row captain's chairs offered good legroom, but the third-row seat was cramped and difficult to access. The XT6's storage space was decent but unremarkable, with a small cubby on the dashboard and a bin under the center armrest. The cargo area provided 12.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 43.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 78.7 cubic feet.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue offered ample storage options, including bottle holders, cupholders, a glove compartment, a center console bin, a tray beneath the center console, and cubbies in the dash. 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's cargo area could accommodate 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of luggage, depending on configuration, and 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 featured impressive technologies like a digital rearview mirror, Night Vision system, and Super Cruise hands-free highway driving-assistance system. However, it lacked digital gauges, and the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system felt outdated. The software powering the infotainment system was excellent, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, and an available embedded navigation system. The intuitive natural voice recognition technology was a highlight, but there were usability issues with the touch-sensing buttons and steering wheel controls. The available Bose Performance Series premium audio system sounded great, but the head-up display was small and unimpressive.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue's technology upgrade included a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display on upper trim levels. The Rogue used Google Maps and Waze with voice commands when equipped with navigation, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard features. ProPilot Assist, Nissan's hands-on driver-assist technology, was available and integrated with the navigation system on models with ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link. This allowed the Rogue to adjust speed proactively based on road conditions ahead.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, equipped with the optional Platinum Package, had a comprehensive list of driving-assistance and collision-avoidance systems. Standard features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The available Super Cruise system allowed for hands-free highway driving on approved roads. The XT6 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings in every crash-test evaluation from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of safety technologies across all trim levels. Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. ProPilot Assist, available on upper trims, combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control for a Level 2 advanced driver-assist system. The Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2021 model.