2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2021 Nissan Rogue presented a bold redesign that gave this compact SUV a more muscular and commanding presence. Its squared-off nose featured a deeper interpretation of Nissan’s V-Motion grille, flanked by narrow, angled LED headlamps and separate LED daytime running lights. Functional forward air vents and active grille shutters contributed to a lower coefficient of drag, despite the Rogue's boxier proportions. The exterior colour options were streamlined to a few basic shades, with additional two-tone configurations available on the Platinum grade. Inside, the Rogue offered cloth seating surfaces in most trims, with leatherette and semi-aniline quilted Nappa leather available in higher trims, enhancing the interior's appeal.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a striking first impression with its unapologetically massive size. Its front end, reminiscent of a diesel locomotive, featured a tall hood, vertical running lights, and horizontal headlights. The Escalade's design elements emphasized its bulk, with 22-inch wheels appearing small against the vast sheet metal. The SUV offered different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models, with bright or darkened exterior trims. Sharing its body-on-frame architecture with other GM full-size SUVs, the Escalade's interior boasted luxury features like leather upholstery and wood trim, though it lacked a cohesive design theme. Despite its size, the Escalade's interior included some cheap-looking plastic bits, detracting from its overall luxury feel.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was powered by a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. This engine improved performance and fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor. The Rogue's curb weight ranged from 1,536 kg for the front-wheel-drive S grade to 1,653 kg for the all-wheel-drive Platinum model. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) was less droning than expected, and the Rogue's handling was enhanced by a 27% improvement in torsional rigidity and a revamped multi-link rear suspension. Fuel efficiency was respectable, with the front-wheel-drive model achieving 8.9 L/100 km in the city and 7.0 on the highway, while the all-wheel-drive version recorded 9.2 city and 7.2 highway.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain choices: a standard 6.2-litre gasoline V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six diesel engine producing 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive in Canada. The diesel engine impressed with its smooth power delivery and low torque peak, although the brake pedal felt hard. The gasoline engine had a maximum towing capacity of 3,629 kg, slightly less than the Lincoln Navigator. Despite its independent rear suspension, the Escalade's ride was unsettled, with vibrations from pavement imperfections affecting comfort. The Escalade lacked off-road capability compared to its GM cousins, making it less suitable for rugged adventures.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured functional updates across all trims, including a quieter cabin and a shift-by-wire system that added storage space under the centre stack. The rear doors opened to 85 degrees, improving access, and second-row headroom was enhanced. Standard features included heated front seats, steering wheel, and exterior mirrors, with upgrades like a 360-degree Around View Monitor and panoramic sunroof available on higher trims. The Platinum grade offered a redesigned Divide and Hide cargo system, providing 1,028 litres of cargo space with the second row upright and 2,064 litres with them folded.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with other GM full-size SUVs, resulting in a spacious cabin. It offered the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, with standard second-row captain’s chairs and a power split-folding third-row bench seat. The Escalade excelled in cargo space, with 722 litres with all seats in place, 2,064 litres with the third-row seats folded, and 3,426 litres with all rear seats folded. However, the raised centre console lacked storage space, and the front seats felt similar to those in GM's other SUVs. Cadillac included dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation, enhancing convenience.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The SV grade added an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot and additional USB ports, while the Platinum grade upgraded to a 9-inch screen with wireless phone charging and Apple CarPlay. The Platinum also introduced a 10.8-inch head-up display and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. However, the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster had readability issues due to low contrast.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade boasted a 38-inch curved OLED display, comprising three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch screen for trip-computer functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot were standard. The display integrated seamlessly into the dashboard, with functional icons and physical toggles for climate control. The Escalade's 360-degree camera system offered unparalleled resolution, and the rearview camera mirror eliminated blind spots. Additional tech features included a head-up display, night vision, and an augmented-reality navigation system. The 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system, though standard, was challenging to tune properly.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured the Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward emergency braking, rear emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and high beam assist. The SV model introduced ProPILOT Assist, a hands-on highway driving assist feature. The Rogue received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a four-star safety rating from the NHTSA, with improvements in frontal crash testing for later models.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver-assistance features like cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trims. Super Cruise, a sophisticated hands-free driving system, was available on most trims. While the Escalade could avoid some crashes, it lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA for this model year.