2022 Porsche Macan vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

Porsche introduced the Macan in 2015, aiming to expand its market with a smaller, more affordable SUV positioned below the Cayenne. By 2022, the Macan had retained much of its original design, despite regular updates to its lineup, styling, wheel designs, and paint colors. The 2022 model featured a refreshed look, larger standard wheels, and a new center console with haptic touch controls, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality. The Macan lineup included the base model, Macan S, and Macan GTS, with the Macan Turbo's high-output powertrain now in the GTS. Our test vehicle, a Macan S, came with nearly $20,000 in extras, including performance upgrades and a striking Volcano Gray paint job with 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels.

Inside, the Macan drew inspiration from other Porsche models, featuring an ignition switch to the left of the steering wheel, a large tachometer, and a flat, wide dashboard. The test vehicle's red leather, gloss black interior trim, and silver metallic accents created an upscale, sporty ambiance. The Macan's design, with its sloping clamshell hood, swollen haunches, and rakish roofline, conveyed a taut, athletic look, emphasizing its performance-oriented mission.

The Nissan Rogue, introduced in 2007, underwent a significant redesign in 2013, solidifying its position as a top seller. The 2022 model continued the mature styling introduced in the previous year, featuring design elements common to other current-generation Nissan vehicles, such as the V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a floating roof. The SL and Platinum trims included LED fog lamps, while active grille shutters and underbody covers improved airflow. The Rogue's cabin boasted a layered dash with distinct horizontal layers, an electronic gear selector lever, and ample storage options, including a tray beneath the center console and a large storage cubby below the center armrest.

The Rogue's interior was designed with practicality in mind, offering 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, depending on the trim level. The Rogue's fit and finish were exemplary, with high-quality materials, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered a range of powerful engines. The base model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 261 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the old Macan Turbo, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Our Macan S test car was equipped with a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6, producing 375 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to accelerate to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package.

All Macans came with a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable all-wheel-drive system. The 2022 Macan featured re-tuned steering and suspension for improved ride and handling, with larger 20-inch standard wheels and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive damping suspension. Our test vehicle also included Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB), enhancing its performance on twisty roads and providing excellent grip and stability.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a performance boost with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine featured Variable Compression technology, allowing it to adjust the compression ratio for optimal power and efficiency. The Rogue's new engine improved its fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined.

The Rogue's automatic transmission, still a CVT, had wider gear ratios, providing better acceleration and responsiveness. The chassis and suspension handled the new engine's lively character well, delivering a smooth, controlled ride with minimal body roll. The electric power-assisted steering offered good feel, and the 35.4-foot turning diameter was tight, making the Rogue easy to maneuver.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered a comfortable driving experience, especially with the optional Premium Package, which included 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. However, the rear seats were cramped, making it difficult for taller passengers to sit comfortably. The redesigned center console featured haptic touch controls, which looked clean but required the driver to look away from the road to use them. Cargo space was limited, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the back seat and 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in practicality, offering numerous storage options throughout the cabin. The front cabin featured 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, expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came equipped with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with optional upgrades to a Bose premium surround-sound system or a high-end Burmester audio system. The voice recognition system was less reliable than those in competing brands, but the system's overall user experience was intuitive.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured a technology upgrade with its 2021 makeover, including 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 offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features, 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 on models with ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link, providing predictive speed control based on road conditions.

The 2022 Porsche Macan included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a reversing camera as standard safety features. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist. The Macan also offered front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, and an optional Park Assist system. However, the Macan lacked more advanced driving assistance technologies found in some competitors. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had published safety ratings for the Macan.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue came standard with 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 featured ten supplemental airbags, extended crumple zones, and Nissan's Intelligent Driver Alertness technology. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, combined steering-assist and adaptive cruise control for a Level 2 advanced driver-assist system. The 2022 Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and the 2021 model earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.