2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Nissan Rogue presented a bold redesign that gave it a muscular and imposing presence. Its squared-off nose featured a deeper interpretation of Nissan’s V-Motion grille design, 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 SUV's boxier proportions. The exterior colour palette was limited to a few options, with two-tone configurations available on the Platinum grade. Inside, seating surfaces varied from cloth to semi-aniline quilted Nappa leather, depending on the trim level, with the Platinum model offering the most luxurious interior.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Kia Soul and the larger Kia Sportage, offering a stylish and practical small SUV option. The Seltos boasted a good sense of style with exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents, although the abundance of shiny hard plastic detracted from its overall appeal. The controls were logically arranged, with knobs and buttons for commonly adjusted features. However, the purple accent colour for the infotainment system was not to everyone's taste. Despite some interior quirks, the Seltos was larger, more refined, and more powerful than many of its direct rivals, making it a compelling choice in its segment.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was powered by a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque available at 3,600 rpm. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which, while not offering alternate powertrains, provided a standard level of performance across the lineup. The Rogue's handling was significantly improved, with a 27% increase in torsional rigidity and a revamped multi-link rear suspension. Fuel efficiency was respectable, with figures of 8.9 L/100 km in the city and 7.0 L/100 km on the highway for the front-wheel-drive model.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The turbo engine, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), provided a more engaging driving experience. The Seltos featured Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The AWD system included a Lock function for power distribution, and the Seltos achieved a fuel consumption rating of 8.7 L/100 km in combined driving. However, the suspension tuning was less appealing, with noticeable body motion and limited bump isolation.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered functional updates across all price points, including a quieter cabin and a new shift-by-wire system. The second-row doors opened to 85 degrees, improving access, and headroom was increased. Standard features included heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The SV trim added a 360-degree Around View Monitor and a panoramic sunroof, while the Platinum grade included a redesigned Divide and Hide cargo system, offering 1,028 litres of cargo space with the seats upright and 2,064 litres with them folded.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, with a roomy interior and easy access due to its ride height and large door openings. The front seats were comfortable, with heated seats standard on most trims. The rear seat offered ample legroom and footroom, although the seatback angle was slightly reclined. Storage space was decent, with a smartphone shelf and 752 litres of cargo space behind the back seat, expanding to 1,778 litres with the rear seat folded down. However, the use of hard plastic in some areas detracted from the overall comfort.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with 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. The Platinum grade upgraded to a 9-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay, 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 Kia Seltos offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system starting at the EX Premium grade, paired with a Bose premium sound system on the SX trim. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, and satellite radio, with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The standard 8-inch touchscreen in lower trims offered wireless smartphone connectivity. The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical controls for primary functions, but lacked a native conversational voice recognition system.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came standard with the Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. 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 versions.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped with numerous driving assistance systems, including blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward-collision avoidance. The SX trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and Highway Driving Assist. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top marks for crashworthiness and crash-avoidance tech.