2022 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front featured a parametric grille that hid standard LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. The headlights and daytime running lights formed a unique shape resembling the wings of the Aztec Spirit Bird when illuminated. The side profile mirrored the Hyundai Elantra's design, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. The rear showcased toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, helping the Tucson stand out among compact SUVs.

The Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, depending on the trim level. High-end trims featured premium fascias, front and rear skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard features included roof rails (except on the SE trim), body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Upgrading beyond the base model added heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist indicators, turn signals, front aero wipers, and an optional sunroof. The cabin was well-appointed with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, sport combination, and leather-trimmed seats available on higher trims. Horizontal lines across the dashboard and an uncluttered aesthetic gave the interior a sense of spaciousness.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, redesigned in 2021, carried over its mature look into 2022. It featured a V-motion grille flanked by multi-level LED headlights and daytime running lights above the main headlight. SL and Platinum trims included LED fog lamps. Active grille shutters, underbody covers, and an "air curtain" improved airflow. The floating roof illusion, created by dark supporting pillars, added to the sleek look, while the slightly bulging liftgate completed the design.

Inside, the Rogue had a layered dash with distinct horizontal layers, offering a sophisticated and detailed look. The center console featured an electronic gear selector lever, freeing up space beneath for storage. The 9-inch center infotainment display was positioned near the driver's eye line, and the instrument panel varied from a 7-inch center display on lower trims to a full 12.3-inch digital screen on upper trims. The Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats were comfortable, and the second row offered good legroom and ample space for two adults or three in a pinch. Fit and finish were exemplary, especially on the top-of-the-line Platinum model.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came in two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain offered 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid engine made the Tucson more powerful and fun to drive, especially during testing on a 7,000-foot elevation change.

The Tucson offered all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard on the hybrid and optional on ICE models. Front-wheel drive models were the most fuel-efficient, with the ICE engine achieving an EPA-estimated 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. AWD models saw a slight decrease in fuel economy. The hybrid models were more fuel-efficient, achieving 37 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 37 mpg combined. The forthcoming plug-in hybrid version was expected to offer around 25 miles of all-electric range and a total system output of 261 horsepower.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured a new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine with three cylinders arranged inline, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This was an 11 percent increase in horsepower and a 24 percent increase in torque over the 2021 model's 2.5-liter engine. The new engine improved the Rogue's performance and fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined.

The Rogue's new CVT transmission had wider gear ratios, providing better acceleration and responsiveness. The chassis and suspension handled the new engine's lively character well, delivering 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 Hyundai Tucson offered a spacious and well-appointed interior, comparable to top competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated front seats, ventilated front seats, memory for the driver's seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat were also available. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel was standard, with leather-wrapped and heated options on higher trims.

The new Tucson platform provided more room for passengers and cargo, with rear seats offering two inches more legroom than the RAV4. The cabin had ample space for a family of four, with more passenger volume than the CR-V, RAV4, and Escape. The 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area was comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V, and bested the Escape. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor on ICE models. A hands-free liftgate was available on mid-grade models and up.

The Nissan Rogue's interior was designed with smart storage solutions, including bottle holders in the doors, cupholders in the console, a glove compartment, a center console bin, a tray beneath the center console, and cubbies in the dash. USB-A, USB-C, and 12-volt outlets were available in the center stack, along with a wireless charging pad. Rear-seat passengers had storage options in the doors, seatbacks, and center armrest, with USB-A and USB-C charge-only ports.

The Rogue's cargo area offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, depending on configuration. Folding the second row flat provided 74.1 cubic feet of cargo space, making it a versatile option for carrying luggage or thrift store finds.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with a strong set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was in front of the driver. Moving up to the SEL/Blue trim added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, two additional USB outlets in the rear, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control with ionizer functionality. A fully digital instrument cluster was available on higher trims.

A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen was available, but required plugging in Apple and Android devices for CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit that included climate control and radio/media functionality. The touchpoints were responsive, but the narrow steering wheel controls were less user-friendly.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue's 2021 makeover included a technology upgrade, which carried over to the 2022 model. 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. Navigation used Google Maps and Waze with voice commands. 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 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. Nissan's Intelligent Key allowed unlocking of the rear doors by tapping twice on the rear door handle, a convenient feature for families.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. The Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite included standard features like forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Additional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, parking collision avoidance assist, ultrasonic rear occupant alert, and remote parking assist. Hyundai offered a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and a 7-year anti-perforation warranty, along with 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite across all trim levels, including automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Rogue had ten supplemental airbags and extended crumple zones. ProPilot Assist combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control for Level 2 advanced driver-assist capabilities. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and the 2021 model received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.