2022 GMC Yukon vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 GMC Yukon was a chrome lover's dream. Even the base SLE model had enough shiny elements to give it a premium look. As you moved up to the Denali trim, the chrome became even more prominent, with the front of the Denali almost entirely constructed of chrome, dominated by a vast, multi-dimensional grille. This design choice gave the vehicle a unique look and a commanding presence. The Denali's 22-inch bright machined aluminum wheels, part of the optional Ultimate package, stood out against the dark Redwood Metallic paint. The off-road-oriented AT4 trim had its own unique styling, including a dark grille, a skid plate, and horizontal red recovery hooks.

Inside, the Yukon offered a spacious and tastefully crafted cabin with standard seating for eight, or seven with the available second-row captain's chairs. The Denali trim featured four exclusive interior designs, with our test vehicle showcasing the Teak/Light Shale color combo, which added layers and textures for a premium look. The AT4 trim had a Jet Black interior with AT4-exclusive Brandy accents and dark brushed aluminum details. All three rows were comfortable, even for taller passengers, and the Denali came with heated and cooled front seats.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, redesigned in 2021, continued to impress with its mature and sophisticated exterior. It featured Nissan’s V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a floating roof design. The SL and Platinum trims came with LED fog lamps and active grille shutters to improve airflow. The Rogue's cabin followed a layered dash design trend, with contrasting colors and surfaces in some trims. The center console was a highlight, featuring an electronic gear selector lever, a wireless charging pad, and ample storage space, including a big storage cubby below the center armrest.

The Rogue's interior was designed with practicality in mind, offering Nissan’s comfortable Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats and a roomy second row with good legroom. The 9-inch center infotainment display was positioned near the driver’s eye line, and the instrument panel featured either a 7-inch center display or a full 12.3-inch digital screen in upper trims. The Rogue's fit and finish were exemplary, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered three engine choices, including a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, standard on all trims except the Denali. The Denali and AT4 trims came with a 6.2-liter V8 producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. A new 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine, available on all trims except the AT4, delivered 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, offering excellent fuel economy and a range of up to 648 miles on a tank. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and four-wheel drive optional. The AT4 trim was exclusively 4WD.

The Yukon's maximum towing capacity was 8,400 pounds with the 5.3-liter engine and the Max Trailering Package. Our test vehicle, a Yukon Denali with the 6.2-liter V8, had an 8,200-pound tow rating. The independent rear suspension, introduced in the recent redesign, improved handling and ride quality, especially for third-row passengers. The optional air ride adaptive suspension further enhanced the ride, providing a smooth and quiet experience on highways and the ability to raise the vehicle for better ground clearance while off-roading.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a performance boost from its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This was an 11 percent increase in horsepower and a 24 percent increase in torque compared to the previous 2.5-liter engine. The new engine also delivered impressive fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The Rogue's new CVT transmission had wider gear ratios, improving acceleration and responsiveness.

The Rogue's chassis and suspension handled the new engine's power well, providing a smooth and controlled ride with minimal body roll. The electric power-assisted steering had good feel, and the 35.4-foot turning diameter was tight. The Rogue's performance was lively and efficient, making it a strong contender in its class.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered ample space for passengers and cargo. The recent redesign increased third-row legroom by more than 10 inches, making it more comfortable for passengers. Cargo space behind the third row also increased to 25.5 cubic feet. The second-row seats folded flat, and power fold-and-tumble bucket seats were available for easier access to the third row. Our test vehicle featured power-folding second-row buckets and power fold-flat third-row seats. The power-sliding center console revealed additional storage space, and the power-retractable, illuminated assist steps made it easier to get in and out of the vehicle.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior storage and cargo space. The front cabin had numerous 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 second-row seat was a 60/40 split reclining bench. The Rogue offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came standard with a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information center, providing access to phone, audio, and navigation functions. The Denali trim featured a 15-inch multi-color head-up display, the largest in its class, displaying driving speed, speed limit, audio information, and safety aids. The 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system included Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Bose 14-speaker audio system. The rear-seat media system featured dual 12.6-inch LCD HD touchscreens, compatible with various media formats.

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 trims. The infotainment system used Google Maps and Waze with voice commands, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on upper trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan’s hands-on driver-assist technology, was available, integrating with the navigation system for predictive speed control.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came with GMC's Pro Safety suite, including automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, following distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Pro Safety Plus package added lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. The Safety Alert Seat and adjustable rear camera mirror enhanced safety further. The Yukon received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including automatic emergency braking, 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 with Navi-Link added advanced driver-assist features. The Rogue received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2021 model.