Nissan Rogue vs Hyundai Tucson: Which Redesign Is Better?
Aaron Turpen is an automotive writer and reviewer living in Wyoming, USA. A life-long off-road and mechanical enthusiast, Aaron has had a varied career in vehicles. Aaron grew up with home mechanics and maintenance on tractors, trucks, and cars as well as small engines and devices. At any one time, he’s worked as an automotive disassembler (aka “junk yard parts puller”), shade tree mechanic, over-the-road truck driver, and more. Aaron’s interests include family-oriented vehicles, off-roading, and anything fun involving tires and steering. With most of his life having been in rural America, Aaron understands pickup trucks and SUVs, winter weather hazards, and what life is like where phrases like “Just down the road” mean “within 100 miles.” Aaron’s automotive writing career has included outlets such as Carfax, CarTalk, NewAtlas.com, and many others. He’s appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, on various YouTube channels, and on several podcasts.
The Nissan Rogue and the Hyundai Tucson are direct competitors in one of the most contentious markets in the automotive industry. The small-but-not-quite-compact sport-utility market is outsized, and when it comes to crossover sales, this segment is where it’s happening fastest.
The Tucson and Rogue recently underwent redesigns to make them more competitive to buyers.
The greatest differences between the two are a matter of style. Both are priced about the same at their commensurate trim points, both offer about the same amount of space and cargo, and both are fuel sippers.
Table of Contents
Nissan Rogue vs. Hyundai Tucson Comparison
Nissan Rogue | Hyundai Tucson |
|
| Base Price | ||
| HWY MPG | ||
| Cargo Space | ||
| Horsepower | ||
| Warranty |
Trim and Price Comparison
The Nissan Rogue and Hyundai Tucson have similar trim levels and pricing, though some differences could affect a buying decision. The greatest difference is in the availability of a hybrid model for the Tucson (not reflected in the above chart). However, the fuel economy gains may not be enough to convince buyers at just 38 mpg city and highway.
In both the Rogue and the Tucson, most other trim point differences are cosmetic and technological. However, it’s worth noting that besides the hybrid, the Tucson also has an efficient and more powerful turbocharged engine choice above its naturally-aspirated base engine. The Rogue has only one engine and powertrain choice.
The Nissan Rogue and the Hyundai Tucson come with the same basic technologies on board as standard, including 17-inch alloy wheels, a small touchscreen infotainment system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Most onboard safety systems are standard, including forward collision warning and mitigation, lane-keeping assistance, etc. The Rogue includes rear automatic braking and cross-traffic alerts as standard, whereas the Tucson does not.
Tale of the Tape
The Hyundai Tucson and the Nissan Rogue are nearly exactly the same size.
The Tucson is about an inch wider, while the Rogue is about an inch longer. The Rogue has slightly more front legroom, but the Tucson has slightly more rear legroom.
Headroom is almost identical in both models up front, but the Tucson has over an inch more in the rear seats.
Performance and Economy
Comparatively, the Nissan Rogue and the Hyundai Tucson are very similar in performance and economy metrics as well. The Tucson has a few more horsepower at 227 (turbo four) and a higher towing capacity (2,000 pounds) to go with that. Inline four-cylinder engines power both vehicles with automated transmissions. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive an option.
The fuel economy is very similar, with the Tucson achieving 24-26 mpg in the city and 29-33 mpg on the highway, depending on engine choice (not including the aforementioned hybrid). The Rogue is rated at 25-27 mpg city and 32-35 highway, depending on front-wheel or all-wheel drive choice. Thanks to the Rogue’s slightly larger fuel tank, both vehicles have about the same overall range between fillups.
The greatest difference in performance between the Tucson and the Rogue is with the former’s turbocharged engine option. The standard 2.5-liter engine in the Tucson outputs more HP than the 2.5L in the Rogue, but the Tucson has a 1.6-liter turbocharged option that pushes the 187 of the base engine to 227 HP. As a result, the turbocharged engine is faster to engage, more lively, and sacrifices little fuel economy to get those things.
Safety and Warranty
Both the Rogue and the Tucson come with solid credentials in basic safety technology and crash test ratings. The Rogue did slip a bit in frontal crash ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but scored well on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests.
Warranties are a good indicator of quality. The Tucson’s 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty is a big jump from the Rogue’s 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. The Nissan warranty is standard for the industry, while the Hyundai warranty is segment-leading.
Exterior and Interior Design
Both the Nissan Rogue and the Hyundai Tucson underwent recent, extensive redesigns in their current renditions. The Rogue became more muscular in appearance with a flatter front grille, more square-bodied design, and taller look. The Tucson gained sporty lines, a faster-paced look, and bold styling. The two vehicles are night and day different in exterior looks.
Inside, the two crossovers are much more similar. The Rogue has a more luxurious appearance, but the Tucson carries subtler and more fluid lines for its dashboard. Comfort and controls layout is comparable in both. A few differences, such as Nissan’s “Zero Gravity Seating” in the Rogue versus the more gadget-centric interior in the Hyundai Tucson, are worth noting. We prefer the more traditional shifter in the Tucson, for example, versus the less intuitive shift handle in the Rogue. Conversely, the comfort levels in the front and back seats of the Rogue are a little more comfortable than are those in the Tucson.
Price and Value
In price comparison, the Hyundai Tucson is consistently cheaper than the Nissan Rogue, but the differences are small. At the base level, it’s a matter of a few hundred dollars, and that difference remains throughout the trim points when equipment is compared closely.
Most of the value comparison, therefore, is going to come from resale expectations and reliability. On these fronts, the Tucson wins out with a longer warranty and slightly higher resale value after three years of ownership.
Current Nissan Rogue Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Nissan | Rogue | ||||
| 2023 | Nissan | Rogue | 0.00% | $299/month for 36 months, $3,969 due at signing | 5/31/23 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Nissan deals and average prices paid.
Current Hyundai Tucson Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Hyundai | Tucson | ||||
| 2023 | Hyundai | Tucson | $750 | 0.90% | $271/month for 36 months, $4,011 due at signing | 5/31/23 |
| 2023 | Hyundai | Tucson Hybrid | 5.99% | $417/month for 36 months, $3,999 due at signing | 5/31/23 | |
| 2023 | Hyundai | Tucson Plug-in Hybrid | 5.99% | $548/month for 36 months, $3,999 due at signing | 5/31/23 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Hyundai deals and average prices paid.
Which Is Better, the Nissan Rogue or Hyundai Tucson?
Our overall assessment is in favor of the Hyundai Tucson.
However, shoppers are advised to check both models since the Nissan Rogue and its latest improvements are very competitive. Especially if a more comfortable interior for the long term is your focus.
