2021 Hyundai Venue vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was a stylish little crossover that seemed to defy the passage of time with its design. Its upright stance, nearly horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a robust appearance that belied its compact size. The grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the overall design. The Venue's exterior updates from the 2020 model were minimal, with the most notable change being the replacement of 15-inch steel wheels with alloys on the base SE trim. The top-line Denim trim, with its distinctive white roof and unique paint job, was particularly appealing to those drawn to the Venue's fashion-forward style.

Inside, the Venue offered a modern look despite its budget-friendly build. While the interior was dominated by plastic, the design allowed for plenty of natural light, thanks to thin A-pillars and large windows. The SEL trim provided heated seats and a selection of advanced driver-assistance systems as standard, enhancing the overall value. Although the materials were inexpensive, the Venue managed to avoid feeling spartan, offering a comfortable and practical cabin for its price point.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue continued to build on its reputation as a top seller with a mature and sophisticated design. The exterior featured Nissan's V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a floating roof illusion created by dark supporting pillars. The Rogue's design was sleek and modern, with active grille shutters and underbody covers to improve airflow. The interior followed a layered dash design trend, offering a sophisticated and detailed look. The center console was a highlight, featuring an electronic gear selector lever that freed up space for additional storage.

The Rogue's cabin was designed with comfort and practicality in mind, featuring Nissan's Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats and a roomy second row. The fit and finish were exemplary, with high-quality materials, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model. The Rogue's design and build quality made it a strong contender in the compact crossover segment, appealing to those seeking a stylish and comfortable vehicle.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This small, economical engine was designed to provide adequate power for the Venue's lightweight frame, which weighed in at 2,612 pounds. The Venue's performance was comparable to competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Ford EcoSport, and Toyota C-HR, although it lacked options for more powerful engines or all-wheel drive. The Venue's front-wheel-drive setup and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) offered a smooth driving experience, particularly in lower-speed areas.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Rogue received a significant performance boost with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This represented an 11 percent increase in horsepower and a 24 percent increase in torque compared to the previous model. The Rogue's new engine delivered impressive fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The updated CVT provided a wider range of gear ratios, enhancing the Rogue's acceleration and responsiveness. The Rogue's chassis and suspension handled the new engine's power with ease, offering a smooth and controlled ride.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered a compact yet practical interior, with ample headroom and legroom in the front seats. Storage options included a tray ahead of the gear selector and a small center console bin. The Venue's back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults on longer drives. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Venue's cargo capacity lagged behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Toyota C-HR, and Ford EcoSport.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior space and storage options, with numerous places to stash items throughout the cabin. The Rogue's second-row seat offered a 60/40 split reclining bench, providing flexibility for passengers and cargo. The Rogue's cargo area was generous, with 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. This made the Rogue a practical choice for families and those needing ample cargo space.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high resolution and responsive swipe functionality. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features, with the ability to set up driver profiles for customized radio presets. The Venue's interface was designed for simplicity and ease of use, with physical buttons for quick access to media and settings.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue boasted a comprehensive technology suite, with 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's infotainment system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on higher trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan's hands-on driver-assist technology, was available, offering advanced features like adaptive cruise control and steering assist.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue came equipped with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue received four out of five stars in NHTSA's front collision and rollover tests.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Rogue also offered ProPilot Assist, enhancing safety features with adaptive cruise control and steering assist. The Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS for the 2021 model.