2022 Hyundai Tucson vs Nissan Rogue

Loaded with options, the compact SUV market is somewhat overwhelming. Many drivers have decided that this is the ideal vehicle type due to the balance of practicality with efficiency. As a result, some automakers have multiple compact SUVs available. This is true of both Hyundai and Nissan.

Both the 2022 Hyundai Tucson and the 2022 Nissan Rogue are well-rounded options that are popular with a variety of drivers. They both offer plenty of features for the price, making either a relatively smart buy. Since the two vehicles seem quite similar on the surface, buyers will want to look closer at their options before making a decision. The guide below is designed to help.

The Powertrain

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson has been completely redesigned. Buyers now have three powertrain options to consider, all of which are efficient. A 2.5L four-cylinder comes standard, allowing the SUV to create 187-horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can also choose to go with a hybrid based on a turbo 1.6L four-cylinder engine that creates 227-horsepower. A plug-in hybrid version of this engine also exists, and it makes 261-horsepower.

Gas-powered Tucson models get an eight-speed automatic transmission. They can be equipped with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Hybrid models come exclusively with all-wheel drive and go with a six-speed automatic transmission instead.

There is only one powertrain available for the 2022 Nissan Rogue. It is a turbocharged 1.5L three-cylinder that creates 201-horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. A continuously variable transmission is standard, and all models are available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Nissan did offer the Rogue as a hybrid a few years ago, but that version was discontinued.

With its gas-powered engine, the Tucson is estimated to get 26mpg in the city and 33mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive. These numbers are pretty good, but all-wheel-drive versions go down to 24mpg city and 29mpg highway. The Nissan Rogue is the more efficient, giving buyers 30mpg in the city and 37mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive Rogue models get 28mpg city and 35mpg highway, which is still very impressive.

As a hybrid, the Tucson gets 37mpg in the city and 36mpg on the highway. While these are considerably better than the gas-powered variation, they are on the weak side for a hybrid compact SUV. The plug-in hybrid version of the Tucson gets 80 MPGe, and it has an all-electric range of 33 miles.

Although its fuel economy numbers are not as impressive as they could be, the Tucson has an undeniably spectacular warranty. Buyers will be covered for ten years or 100,000 miles for their powertrain, plus get five years or 60,000 miles for the limited comprehensive coverage. The Nissan Rogue gives drivers three years or 36,000 miles for the basic warranty and five years or 60,000 miles for the powertrain warranty.

Everyone wants assurance that the vehicle they are buying will be reliable. While no one can predict the future, J.D. Power does its best to offer an estimate of how reliable a new vehicle will be. On a scale that ranges from zero to 100, the Rogue was given a score of 82. The Tucson, on the other hand, has a slightly higher score of 88.

Drivability

Both the 2022 Tucson and the 2022 Rogue are enjoyable to drive. Neither is the sportiest option in the compact SUV market, but they are not the dullest either. Both of the SUVs are pretty smooth, too. The Tucson does an especially good job of preventing bumps in the road from being felt in the cabin.

When it comes to cargo space, the Tucson and Rogue are class leaders. The Hyundai SUV has 38.7 cubic feet behind its second row, and it can open up to 74.8 cubic feet. How much cargo space the Rogue has depends on the trim level. Most models have 36.1 cubic feet behind the second row, but top trims have a configurable cargo floor that increases that number to 36.5 cubic feet. The maximum cargo capacity is 74.1 cubic feet.

These SUVs offer a respectable amount of passenger space for the class. The Tucson has supportive seats in both rows, and adults should feel comfortable riding in the backseat. That said, the Rogue is equipped with Nissan's Zero Gravity front seats, making it extremely enjoyable to sit in. The second row also reclines, ensuring that everyone stays comfortable in this vehicle.

Moving on to the infotainment setup, both the 2022 Tucson and the 2022 Rogue come standard with an 8-inch touchscreen and two USB ports. From there, however, the Tucson has an edge. It has the wireless versions of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus a six-speaker sound system. Meanwhile, the Rogue has wired smartphone integration and only four speakers for its standard stereo system. The Tucson comes standard with HD radio, while the Rogue comes standard with satellite radio.

The available touchscreen upgrade for the Tucson is 10.25-inches, and this SUV can also gain a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Rogue models can go up to a 9-inch touchscreen, but the available digital instrument gauge measures in at 12.3-inches. Both of these SUVs offer wireless device charging and rear USB ports. The Rogue is also available with a Wi-Fi hotspot.

When it comes to user-friendliness, the base setup in the Tucson is a clear winner. The touch commands respond quickly and the menus are easy to navigate. That is less true of the available infotainment upgrade that runs on the 10.25-inch touchscreen. Both versions of the Rogue's infotainment system seem more complicated than necessary.

Entry-level versions of the Rogue and Tucson both come equipped with cloth upholstery and not very many frills. Starting with the second trim on the list, the Tucson comes equipped with dual-zone automatic climate controls and heated front seats. While dual-zone automatic climate control is also added to the second trim of the Rogue, heated front seats are only found on models equipped with the optional SV Premium package.

The top Tucson is known as the Limited. It has heated rear seats, driver's seat memory settings, a panoramic sunroof, and more to increase the luxury level. As for the Rogue Platinum, it also has heated rear seats. This version of the SUV further adds voice controls to make life easier.

Safety

It is worth taking a look at the safety scores of any vehicle being considered. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluated the 2022 Hyundai Tucson and found it worthy of the title "Top Safety Pick+". Official testing has not been conducted for the 2022 Rogue, but the incredibly similar 2021 model also got the "Top Safety Pick+" title.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has tested both the 2022 Tucson and the 2022 Rogue. Both of the SUVs received four out of five stars, which is a bit disappointing. They both received four stars in rollover testing as well as frontal collision testing. On the brightside, they received five stars in the side collision test.

A comparison of the standard driver aids for these two vehicles reveals that they are very similar. Automatic high beams and driver attention monitoring is standard for both. They have forward-collision mitigation and pedestrian detection, but only the Rogue adds standard cyclist detection as well. The Rogue also has rear automatic emergency braking and rear parking sensors on all models, plus blind-spot monitoring.

The Tucson does come standard with a rear seat alert, which is designed specifically to prevent children and pets from being left behind. This is not an available feature for the Rogue. Both of these vehicles offer adaptive cruise control and a highway driving assist feature on select models. Surround-view camera systems are found on upper trim levels of the Tucson and Rogue as well.

Those who choose the new Tucson can get Hyundai's safe exit assist feature. They can also choose a model wtih the remote smart parking assist, which allows the Tucson to be parked while standing outside of it. Meanwhile, only the Rogue can be equipped with a head-up display.

Which Has the Best Value?

Starting at $25,350, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson is considered a very affordable compact SUV. The most fully-loaded trim level starts at $34,700. Comparitively, the 2022 Rogue starts at $26,700. Its top trim level will start out at $36,480. Although it is not much more than the Tucson, the Rogue is on the higher end of average for a compact SUV.

Many factors go into how much it will cost to own a vehicle. Not only will buyers be making their loan payment, but they will also be paying insurance, maintenance, and repair costs. Fuel costs are also a major consideration, as well as the depreciation the vehicle will experience. To help get a better idea of how much to budget, buyers can compare the projected costs of the 2022 Tucson and the 2022 Rogue over the course of five years. All numbers are based on front-wheel-drive versions of the entry-level models because they are the most affordable.

The Hyundai Tucson holds onto its value relatively well. It is expected to lose roughly $8,000 in value in the first five years. Buyers can compare this to the Rogue, which will lose around $9,750 during the same time. Maintenance and repair estimates for these vehicles are very similar. Buyers will spend around $2,100 on the Tucson or about $1,950 on the Rogue.

One way that the Rogue has a definite edge over the standard Tucson is in efficiency. Thanks to its three-cylinder engine, it should only cost drivers around $6,500 in fuel over the course of five years. That is quite a bit less than the Tucson, which will cost approximately $7,400. Of course, buyers who have their heart set on the Hyundai SUV can lower this number by paying extra for a hybrid powertrain.

Which is Better?

Both the 2022 Hyundai Tucson and the 2022 Nissan Rogue are respectable options for anyone seeking a small SUV. They are both reasonably fuel-efficient, and they have impressive cargo capacities for the class. Drivers may struggle to pass on the highway behind the wheel of either of these options.

There are some things that the Tucson does better than the Rogue. For starters, it has a lower price tag. It technically has more cargo space as well. The warranty of the Tucson is also much more reassuring than the one the Rogue comes with. Thanks to its redesign, the Tucson looks and feels more upscale than ever before.

At the same time, the Rogue will likely save drivers money at the pumps if they are not interested in a hybrid SUV. It has incredibly comfortable front seats and reclining rear seats, along with standard blind-spot monitoring and an available head-up display.

Shoppers who are seeking excellent fuel economy will be well-served by the 2022 Rogue, while those who are looking for a more affordable option that offers great value will want to check out the 2022 Tucson.