2022 Hyundai Tucson vs. 2021 Nissan Rogue

2021 Nissan Rogue ・ Photo by Nissan

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson and 2021 Nissan Rogue are both five-passenger crossovers, and they’re both all-new. Each received a thorough facelift that includes a new look inside and out, updated infotainment, and a wide range of safety features. These two vehicles compete head-to-head in a crowded segment, so how do you decide which one is right for you?

We breakdown the differences between each of these crossovers from features to cargo to comfort so you can decide which is best choice for your needs. Here’s how the 2022 Hyundai Tucson and the 2021 Nissan Rogue compare.

Four Affordable Trims in Each

The Nissan Rogue is available in a range of four trims, all with a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The base S starts at $25,750 with the SV coming in at $27,440. The SL is priced from $32,100 and the top Platinum is $35,530. All-wheel drive adds $1,400 to any trim.

The Hyundai Tucson also comes in four trims with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The base SE is $24,950 with the SEL priced at $26,500. The N Line starts at $30,600 and the Limited sits at the top of the lineup with a price of $34,700. All-wheel drive once again is $1,400. While pricing is quite competitive, the Tucson comes out as the more affordable choice.

: 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Photo by Hyundai

Comparable Powertrains

The 2021 Nissan Rogue is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. It delivers 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque and offers a choice of either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. This powertrain easily gets the Rogue up to speed without feeling strained or becoming overly loud.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It delivers 187 horsepower with 178 lb-ft of torque with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. More horsepower, but less torque makes these two evenly matched, but our pick is the Tucson for its smoother, quieter automatic transmission.

Winner: 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Photo by Hyundai

Budget-Friendly Fuel Economy

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson gets 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. The numbers drop slightly to 24 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined for all-wheel drive models.

The 2021 Nissan Rouge gets fuel economy that varies slightly between trims. It achieves up to 27 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, 29 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. Whether you choose front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the Nissan Rogue offers better fuel economy.

: 2021 Nissan Rogue

Photo by Nissan

One Hybrid Option

In addition to a gas powertrain, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson is available as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. Both are powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Standard hybrids have 226 horsepower with 195 lb-ft of torque while plug-ins have 261 horsepower with 224 lb-ft of torque. Both are all-wheel drive only.

Plug-in hybrid figures have yet to be released, but the standard hybrid delivers up to 38 mpg city, highway, and combined depending on the trim. It’s a great choice for high-mileage drivers. If you want the most fuel-efficient option possible, then the Hyundai Tucson is the clear winner since the Nissan Rogue is only available with a gas powertrain.

: 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Photo by Hyundai

A Quiet, Smooth Ride

The Nissan Rogue has a responsive engine that easily gets this crossover up to speed; however, its continuously variable automatic transmission is loud under hard acceleration. If you need to quickly get up to highway speeds, you’ll hear it working. Handling is smooth and composed with a suspension system that soaks up the bulk of the bumps and dips in the road, so passengers stay comfortable.

The Hyundai Tucson has comparable power but gets up to speed with less noise thanks to its eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers power smoothly without the harshness of a CVT. Handling is likewise controlled and relaxed, but the overall ride is smoother. Fewer road imperfections will be noticed by passengers and they’ll enjoy a quieter ride.

: 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Photo by Hyundai

One Has a Bit More Room

Both of these crossovers are close to the same size inside, but when it comes to rear seat room, one offers a bit more room to spread out and relax. The Nissan Rogue has up to 39.2 inches of headroom in the rear seats with 38.5 inches of legroom. Equipped with the panoramic sunroof, rear headroom drops to 37.8 inches.

The Hyundai Tucson delivers 39.5 inches of headroom for rear passengers with 41.3 inches of legroom. Headroom drops to 39.0 inches with the panoramic sunroof. While headroom figures are close, there’s a big difference when it comes to legroom. Those extra few inches make the Tucson roomier and more comfortable for rear passengers, especially those who are tall.

: 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Photo by Hyundai

A Clear Difference in Cargo Room

The 2021 Nissan Rogue has 31.6 cubic feet behind the second row on the S and SV trims. The SL and Platinum have 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide cargo system set to low. There’s a total of 74.1 cubic feet behind the front seats and it can tow up to 1,350 pounds properly equipped.

The Hyundai Tucson has 38.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats with 74.8 cubic feet behind the front seats. Overall it’s close, but behind the second row it comes out way ahead. It also has a higher tow rating with the ability to tow 2,000 pounds properly equipped. If cargo is a priority, the Tucson is a better pick.

: 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Photo by Hyundai

Infotainment Touchscreen Options

The infotainment system in the Nissan Rogue includes an 8-inch color touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Audio, and 4-speaker audio. Midgrade trims get an upgrade to a 6-speaker audio system while the top Platinum features a 9-inch touchscreen, navigation, and a 10-speaker Bose audio system standard.

The Hyundai Tucson also has an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but a 6-speaker audio system for its base trim. The N-Line gets an upgrade to an 8-speaker Bose audio system while the Limited gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation. While it’s close, the Tucson comes out ahead for its better standard audio and larger maximum screen size.

: 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Photo by Hyundai

Lots of Standard Safety Features

The Nissan Rogue has standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and driver attention warning across all trims.

The Hyundai Tucson has forward collision warning with only pedestrian detection on base trims with higher trims adding cyclist detection. Additional standard safety includes lane keeping assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert. A wide range of additional safety features are available on both as you move up through the trim range, but the Rogue is better equipped from the start.

: 2021 Nissan Rogue

Photo by Nissan

And the Winner Is…

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson and the 2021 Nissan Rogue are both strong offerings, but the Tucson comes out way ahead. It has a wider range of trims with lower prices and offers two hybrid options, which aren’t available at all with the Rogue. The Tucson also has a smoother, quieter ride with more room for cargo and passengers; although infotainment systems are comparable, the Tucson offers larger screens.

The Rogue comes out ahead with better fuel economy when comparing gas powertrains and for a better range of standard safety features. However, overall, the Tucson is a better choice.

: 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Photo by Hyundai