2022 Ford Edge vs Nissan Rogue

As you shop around for a new small SUV to add to your garage, you might be somewhat surprised to find out just how inundated the market is with these vehicles right now. This is indeed an incredibly competitive segment, and all of these small SUVs are attempting best one another in terms of power, fuel economy, and included technological features. Two such rivals that will probably end up on your to-best-test-driven list are the 2022 Ford Edge and the 2022 Nissan Rogue, and boy, do they compete well with one another.

The 2022 Ford Edge is characterized by plushily padded seats and enough space in the cabin for all passengers - not to mention the amount of luggage you can stack up in the cargo area. You can take your pick from several performance-based yet fuel-efficient engines. And, even when you get up to speed on the highway, this cabin remains tranquil.

You will have to put up with the Edge's outdated interior design and controls layout. Also, the Edge's thick roof pillars spell diminished rear visibility and massive blind spots. With bumps making it into the cabin and the transmission's unrefined nature, the ride isn't always as smooth as you might like.

Given that it was recently redesigned for its current generation, the 2022 Nissan Rogue excels at blending both engine power and fuel economy. With an EPA rated 33 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving on the front-wheel drive (FWD) equipped base Rogue, there is little doubt that the Rogue appeals to buyers on stricter budgets.

When Nissan redesigned the Rogue for the 2021 model year, they went all out with giving the vehicle their latest and greatest tech features. Although the Rogue comes with a slightly higher price tag than its rivals, this SUV provides its owners with a plethora of standard tech features and driver aids. Adding to that, the Rogue has a comfy and smooth ride quality enhanced by the well sculpted front seats. Also, the Rogue's cargo area is spacious and designed for maximum versatility. Then there's the lengthy list of user-oriented advanced driver aids.

Owning the Nissan Rogue has a few pitfalls, especially when it comes to outside noise coming into the cabin. It does let in a fair bit of road and wind noise when cruising along at highway speeds. On top of that, the faulty voice recognition system and less-than-spacious back seats take away from the Rogue's value.

Which one of these two small SUVs is going to hit the sweet spot? Does one offer more all-around value than the other? Which price tag best fits your budget? Read through this comparison review to find out.

The Powertrain

A strong powertrain can make owning a small SUV a fantastic experience. You won't need to spend a lot of time planning how you're going to merge onto or pass another vehicle on the highway. On the flip side, an under-powered powertrain can leave you feeling as though you're being left in the dust by every other vehicle on the road with you.

The 2022 Ford Edge's trims (except for the ST) come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (which generates 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque) matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. On the ST, there's a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine that makes 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired to a seven-speed automatic. All-wheel-drive is standard across the board.

The turbo 4-cyl can cruise from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, which is good enough for this segment. Steering, braking, and handling are predictable and well-mannered although lacking in sport. You might want to engage Sport mode since every other mode leads to the transmission pausing too long to search for gears. The accelerator is also slow to respond.

When you equip the turbo 4-cyl, you can get a good return on fuel It gets an EPA estimated 23 mpg in combined driving. Real-world tests show that this number is achievable in everyday driving.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue is powered by a brand new - and standard - 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that generates a higher power output (of 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque) than the outgoing engine, which was horrendously under-powered and lacked any sense of enjoyment in its performance. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is paired with this freshly designed engine. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the standard drivetrain, but all-wheel drive (AWD) can be swapped in on any of the Rogue's trim levels. Just bear in mind that you cannot choose from any other powertrain on the Rogue; this is as good as it gets.

This fresher rendition of the Nissan Rogue is much more refined and smooth in regards to how it handles turns even though it is still not nearly so sporty as the Mazda CX-5. There is at least sufficient bulk in the Rogue's steering system to keep the steering and handling from feeling overly drifty. The powertrain could stand to see some improvements, sure, but the outgoing Rogue engine was definitely more sluggish.

It will take this new engine about 9 seconds to get the Rogue from 0 to 60 miles per hour, but this amount of time hovers around the average for a small crossover SUV. It is important to note that things can feel a bit draining when you have to drive the Rogue every day of the week. You will simply need to push down on the accelerator so that you can receive a more supple power response for merging or passing other vehicles when you are on the highway. Plan your actions ahead of time. Still, the engine could be - and once was - much, much worse.

When you equip AWD, the Rogue gets an EPA estimated 28 mpg in combined city and highway driving. These estimates place the Rogue approximately 2 mpg above what most of its top rivals in this segment are able to obtain. Real-world tests reflect these EPA estimates, which, with fuel costs on the rise, should appeal to a diverse array of buyers - especially those who are not quite sure about buying a hybrid or all-electric vehicle (EV).

Drivability

Drivability is an all-encompassing term that we use to describe how well-rounded a vehicle is as a daily driver. How comfortable is a vehicle to ride around in? Is the ride quality cozy and plush enough without being floaty? Are the interior materials of a high enough quality? Are the cabin's controls logically laid out? Are the tech features easy to use and able to work as described? How much cargo space is available, and how easy is it to use? These are some of the major factors we talk about when discussing a vehicle's drivability.

The 2022 Ford Edge has cozy front seats with plenty of bolstering. Although the rear seats are flat and uncomfortable, the seatback does have a reclining ability that helps. Moderately sized bumps are dampened just fine, but smaller bumps make for a rough ride. The cabin is insulated against exterior sound, and the climate control system works well save for a few odd clicking sounds that you can hear if you don't have the sound system on.

The Edge's cabin is spacious enough for all occupants, and the primary controls are straightforward. Secondary controls are a little more awkward, and the layout looks rather outdated. Getting in and out is easy thanks to the wide door sills, and you get a lot of adjustability from the steering wheel and driver's seat.

The new Sync infotainment system includes a 12-inch touchscreen display, and the navigation display is so responsive and sharp that it is truly one of the best models out there. 4G LTE WIFI hot-spot connectivity and smartphone app integration are standard. Two front USB ports, several 12-volt outlets, and an optional 110-volt household-style outlet can help you stay connected and charged.

Given the 39.2 cubic feet behind the second row, you get a lot of cargo space. When the 60/40-split folding rear seats are taken down, you get more pass-through room, although the seats don't fully fold flat. While the LATCH system has some accessible anchors, those rear-facing car seats might be a squeeze to fit in the back.

Moving onto the Nissan Rogue. What makes the 2022 Nissan Rogue such a comfy SUV to ride in? First, the front seats are amply padded for support. Avid road-trippers will find that these seats offer plenty of comfort. There rear seats have two reclining positions and are sculpted with supple lumbar support. The comfort-tuned suspension provides a smooth ride quality and can rapidly dispatch all manner of road imperfections. Even when the optional 19-inch wheels are equipped, the suspension gets rid of all sizes of bumps and ruts in the road.

But, like any vehicle, the 2022 Rogue has its share of pitfalls when it comes to the ride. There is a moderate amount of wind and road noise that seeps inside of the cabin when cruising along on the highway. However, the tri-zone climate control system on the SL and above trim levels is a rarity for any non-luxury small SUV. It also happens to work quite well. Airflow is evenly distributed to occupants sitting both fore and aft.

As the Rogue has wide door openings, getting in and out of it feels simple enough for most people. The Rogue's spacious cabin feels airy and open, coming off as being even bigger than it really is. You can clearly see in front of the Rogue from your seat behind the wheel due to the wide glass panes all around, but the thick rear roof pillars in the rear will require you to use the advanced driver aids to see out the back and blind spots. The Rogue's cabin has a modern and clean design that utilizes high quality materials. What's more, the Rogue's layout is straightforward for efficient and easy use. Space is generous up front, but rear seat leg room is tighter than it is the likes of the Honda CR-V.

The Rogue has become a genuine leader in its segment due to how much standard tech it has come to include. When the Rogue was redesigned for the 2021 model year, Nissan equipped a ton of handy new tech gadgetry that is known for being functional and user-friendly. Smartphone app integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on every trim level, as is SiriusXM Satellite Radio compatibility - which you can opt to subscribe to it after the free trial period ends. The base S trim features two USB ports, but upgrading one trim level to the SV adds two charge-only ports to the rear seats. WIFI hot-spot connectivity and a six-speaker audio system are also standard on the SV and above. The SL Premium package adds voice controls, wireless Apple CarPlay (although unfortunately wireless Android Auto is not yet available for the Rogue), a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system, a 9-inch touchscreen display, and an integrated navigation system. Going up to the Platinum trim level adds a wireless charging pad and a sophisticated-looking digital instrumentation panel.

Nissan maximizes space as much as possible on the Rogue, which makes it feel like one of the most spacious cabins in this segment. You will find a nifty space-saving two-tier cargo management system which Nissan calls the Divide-N-Hide in the cargo area. With this worked into the design, the cargo area gets a dual-panel floor that lends to more versatility with a flat load floor that can store bulkier cargo without hindering rear visibility. When these panels are placed into their lowest position, cargo space measures in at 36.5 cubic feet. This is only minutely smaller than average for this segment. Even better, when you fold the rear seats down, cargo space maxes out at 74.1 cubic feet, making this one of the largest cargo areas found in its class.

Safety

Safety is a major concern for basically every driver out there on the road. Auto makers are undeniably aware of the demand for advanced safety features and designs. Both Ford and Nissan are well versed in how to create functional driver aids and include quite a few of them on their vehicles.

The 2022 Ford Edge offers the standard Ford Co-Pilot360. This bundle includes automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, and a lane keep system. Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ adds the nav system, evasive steering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Titanium trim has front parking sensors, and you can opt for the Lux package, which offers Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+, a front-facing camera, and an automated parking system.

Nissan equips the 2022 Rogue with a suite of standard driver aids called Nissan Safety Shield. This bundles together forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, a rear-passenger safe exit system, and rear automatic braking. Starting on the SV trim level, there is lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system. The SL Premium package tacks on front and rear parking sensors, and a handy-dandy head-up display comes along on the Platinum trim level.

Nissan's driver aids all seem to work relatively well since Nissan fine-tuned them for the 2021 overhaul. What really stands out is the fact that Rogue's new lane centering assist and adaptive cruise control are seemingly much less likely to give out false warnings than similar features found on other vehicles. Owners even include in their reviews that these features give them peace of mind while driving. There is one bizarre glitch with how adaptive cruise control fails to communicate with the navigation system to slow the Rogue down to prepare it for oncoming curves.

Which Has the Best Value?

As you finalize your purchasing decisions, consider what lends to a vehicle's value for you. Which vehicle has the most value overall? Test-driving a vehicle can only tell you so much. This is why buyers should always inquire into pricing, warranty coverage, and how current or previous owners rate these vehicles in their online reviews.

Ford imbibes the 2022 Edge with plenty of value. Advanced safety features, technology, and comfort make the Edge a vehicle that appeals to many buyers. Its fuel economy also helps. Its roadside assistance coverage is lengthier than that offered by other manufacturers, but the interior build quality is in serious need of an update.

2022 Nissan Rogue owners will find that there is ample value given how many standard tech features and driver aids come on this vehicle. The massive list of features means that the Rogue is more expensive than some chief contenders, but its available quilted leather and wireless smartphone app integration on the Platinum trim help justify the higher cost. Most buyers do not stick with the Rogue's base trim, so budget accordingly. Warranty coverage is industry standard, but the quality of materials is better than what comes on many of the Rogue's competitors.

Which is Better?

While the 2022 Nissan Rogue has the superior build quality, it is a little more expensive than the 2022 Ford Edge. They have a lot of similar tech features equipped, and both are known for their functionality. Were Ford to update the Edge's outdated interior, it would probably blow the Rogue out of the water. But, for the time being, these two contenders are mostly on par with one another. Which one you choose will depend on which trim level you feel meets your needs with its features and which engine satisfies your need for power the most.