2019 Nissan Rogue vs Hyundai Tucson

Compact SUVs have evolved considerably over the past decade or so, with Nissan and Hyundai being at the forefront of this. With their Rouge and Tucson ranges, the manufacturers have continually aimed to push the boundaries of what’s possible with the class.

This is especially true with the 2019 Nissan Rouge and 2019 Hyundai Tucson, both of which have a considerable number of features to boast. The two vehicles both offer a substantial amount of interior space and comfort, while also bragging affordable starting prices and a significant amount of mileage per gallon.

Alongside this is that both compact SUV offer a considerable amount of style and a variety of trim options. While the Nissan Rouge and Hyundai Tucson offer a large amount of luxury and reliability, they do so in different ways.

It’s these differences that potential buyers will need to focus on when choosing between the two SUVs. Alongside this is the engine power that both offer; while there isn’t much of a difference in terms of raw horsepower, it could be notable for many drivers.

Though many people may expect a large difference in the technology and entertainment features with the 2019 Rouge and 2019 Tucson, there are surprisingly few. While this could mean that the choice between the two will be more difficult, this doesn’t need to be the case.

Instead, it means that a buyer should be able to focus on other areas without worrying about compromising on crucial factors. Because of these similarities, however, many potential buyers will need an in-depth look at what the compact SUVs have to offer.

While both manage to outperform many other vehicles in the class, they go toe-to-toe in a variety of ways. As such, many of us might need to lean on personal preferences when choosing between the 2019 Hyundai Tucson and 2019 Nissan Rouge.

This is primarily due to the sacrifices you might have to make when deciding. For example, while one might have a more powerful engine, it could have a worse fuel consumption. As such, the decision is driven by which factors you put more importance on.

The Powertrain

While there isn’t a considerable number of differences between the 2019 Tucson and 2019 Rouge, the ones that do exist can be crucial. Though both offer 175 pounds in torque and operate on four cylinders, there’s a notable gap in horsepower between the two.

The Nissan Rouge, for example, generates a respectable 170 hp, the Hyundai Tucson manages to take the lead with 181 hp. While this isn’t the most significant difference, it could be the extra kick many people look for in their compact SUVs.

Both vehicles offer an AWD as standard with each of their trims, which could make it a win-win for buyers, regardless of which one they choose. Outside of horsepower, the only significant difference between the 2019 Hyundai Tucson and 2019 Nissan Rouge is their respective transmissions.

While the Tucson features an automatic six-speed while the Rouge’s transmission is continuously variable. Though this may not be quite a substantial difference, it can play quite a role in handling and a few other factors.

When it comes to vehicles as large as SUVs, regardless of whether or not they’re compact, braking power is essential. While both the Nissan Rouge and Hyundai Tucson offer a considerable amount of stopping power, there is a notable difference between them.

As the Tucson has slightly larger brake rotors in the front and rear, it stops faster than the Rouge, with the difference being quite noticeable. While this may not be the most important issue for many people, it can play a crucial role when coupled with the horsepower than both of the SUVs offer.

There’s a large difference in the fuel economy between both of the vehicles. As you might expect, it’s the less powerful 2019 Rouge that offers more miles per gallon than the 2019 Tucson. While the Tucson generates up to 21 city mpg and 26 highway miles, the Rouge takes the win home with 25 and 32 mpg, respectively.

One significant difference between the two SUVs comes in the form of their warranties, with the Hyundai Tucson getting a much better deal in this regard. With a five-year, or 60,000-mile, warranty, this lasts much longer than The Nissan Rouge’s three-year, or 36,000-mile warranty.

It should also be noted that the 2019 Hyundai Tucson also gets roadside assistance with this, which can’t be said for the 2019 Nissan Rouge. Many potential buyers will also want to look at the powertrain’s warranty. The Hyundai again takes the lead here with a guarantee that lasts five years longer than the Nissan.

All of this could be a nod to the Hyundai Tucson range’s reputation for reliability. For quite a considerable number of years, the range has consistently been near the top of many lists in this regard. This is something that’s highlighted in the 2019 model.

While the Nissan Rouge isn’t unreliable, it has been noted that the range has had more problems per 100 vehicles than the industry average. Though not an abnormality, it may be something that potential buyers may want to factor into their decision beforehand.

While there’s a certain amount of compromise to be made when picking one of these SUVs, there’s a clear winner in many aspects. With a more powerful engine and a better performance, the 2019 Tucson is the better choice for many of us.

Drivability

There’s quite a significant amount of space inside both the 2019 Hyundai Tucson and 2019 Nissan Rouge, with much of this being due to their class. From the outside, it looks as though there might be a large difference in the space that the compact SUVs offer, although this isn’t as great as you might expect.

The Tucson manages to scrape ahead with the lead, although not by much. Both of the vehicles offer a surprisingly similar amount of comfort, with much of this stemming from the use of cloth as standard across the interior. This is seen across each of the trims, so there may not be much extra luxury in upgrading.

Both the 2019 Hyundai Tucson and 2019 Nissan Rouge offer a variety of similar tech features. The overlap of elements between them includes power windows and locks, as well as a range of other benefits.

However, the Tucson manages to take the lead here with the addition of power seats, which are available in both the rear and front seats. The Rouge lacks both of these. Both SUVs also come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard, as well as a seven-inch infotainment screen.

With the extra power that the Tucson has, it should be noted that it also results in somewhat more noise and vibrations while driving. This is something that many people may be keen to avoid. While the Rouge does offer slightly less horsepower, there’s a considerable reduction in this noise level.

As both of the SUVs come with many of the same features, the differences stand out much more. When it comes to being able to take advantage of extra tech and comfort, the Hyundai Tucson is the better option. This is especially true when it comes to the price, as you’re getting much more value for your money with these features coming with the basic package.

Safety

Safety is something that Hyundai and Nissan both spent a significant amount of time on with both the Tucson and Rouge. This is something that’s been seen across the majority of the range’s editions, although it’s especially true with the 2019 models.

While a certain number of these safety features will be dependent on the trim level that you choose, there is a variety that comes with the base models as standard. It should be noted, however, that there are a variety of similarities between the 2019 Tucson and 2019 Rouge.

Some of the more obvious include the same number of airbags, which also appear to be in much the same locations. Alongside this are ABS brakes as standard, plus a few other minor features. The 2019 Hyundai Tucson does stand out here, as there are a few extras here that don't apply to the 2019 Nissan Rouge.

One of the most notable of these is a warning system for lane departure, with this being activated should the vehicle start crossing a lane without signaling beforehand. Though this is a common feature across many compact SUVs, the 2019 Rouge is notable for lacking in this aspect.

A rear-mounted camera to help with reversing and other areas also comes with the 2019 Tucson while not being included with the Rouge. There are also a variety of optional safety features for both vehicles, although the Nissan Rouge has fewer than the Hyundai Tucson.

Prominent features that the Tucson has that don’t seem to appear with the 2019 Rouge include HID headlights that can also bend somewhat alongside your steering to offer more visibility. Alongside this is an emergency brake that kicks in automatically whenever necessary.

While both of the compact SUVs offer notable safety features, it’s the 2019 Hyundai Tucson that’s the clear favorite here. Not only does it include more of these as standard, but there’s much more choice in terms of additional extras.

These optional upgrades also seem to be much more cost-effective than those offered by the 2019 Nissan Rouge, which further enhances the attractiveness of the Tucson.

Which Has the Best Value?

There’s quite a noticeable gap in price between the 2019 Hyundai Tucson and 2019 Nissan Rouge, especially when it comes to the base trim. The recommended MSRP for the Tucson’s basic model is $23,200 while the retail price of the Rouge comes in at $25,020.

This price difference isn’t as large with the highest trims, with both coming in at $31,550 and $32,840 for the Hyundai and Nissan, respectively. Both vehicles offer a similar amount of choice in trims, although the 2019 Tucson does outnumber the 2019 Rouge six to five in this regard.

The Tucson, for example, has the Limited, Sport, SEL, SE, Ultimate and Value trims, while the Rouge offers the basic S, as well as an SV and SL, and Hybrid versions of both.

Based on the features on offer, many people would expect the Hyundai Tucson to be much more expensive than it is. However, it’s proven to be the more cost-effective option available, even when compared to many other models.

This translates to the 2019 Tucson offering the most value for what you’re paying, with this being especially true for the lower-end models. For the more high-end models, this mightn’t be the case, as the price seems to even out when compared to many other compact SUVs, especially the 2019 Rouge.

What many of us will also need to consider is whether the extra features and design changes that come with the higher trims is worth the extra money. While this may be the case with the 2019 Nissan Rouge, it doesn’t appear to be for the 2019 Hyundai Tucson. Much of this is also affected by the amount of extra power that the Rouge’s upgraded engines can offer.

Alongside this is how much you may end up needing to spend when you own the SUV, especially long-term. While the Tucson does offer a much longer warranty for much of this, the overall cost of maintenance is much lower with the Rouge, although this will naturally only affect buyers if they let the warranty lapse.

If you’re looking for an affordable compact SUV that offers a decent amount of horsepower, then the Hyundai Tucson is the better decision. Similar to many other vehicles, however, the value has its limits, and you’ll end up having to choose between cost and a larger amount of power.

Which Is Better?

Personal preferences play quite a significant role in determining which of these is the better car. Both of the compact SUVs stand out in unique ways, so you’ll need to know what the more important traits of the vehicles are for you.

The 2019 Hyundai Tucson is the much more family-focused SUV, with this being seen in the variety of tech features that come as standard. Alongside this is the fact that it’s much more budget-friendly for a family, so you shouldn’t need to go to great lengths to afford it.

It should be noted, however, that the 2019 Nissan Rouge does have some family-friendly features, with the most notable of these being extra legroom in the rear. While this does mean a certain amount of comfort, the advantage is somewhat counteracted by the Hyundai’s inclusion of power seats throughout the vehicle.

When it comes to some better handling, especially around the city, then you might want to consider the 2019 Rouge, however. Though there’s a small reduction in horsepower here, the vehicle more than makes up for this in its ease of driving and a few other notable areas. Alongside this is the savings that you should expect to see with its enhanced fuel economy.

When it comes to ticking more boxes, though, the 2019 Hyundai Tucson has much more pros than cons. As such, it’s the standout among the two compact SUVs.