The sport utility vehicle is a favorite for today’s drivers. It’s the adventurous yet practical choice for today’s busy families. Available in a variety of sizes, from subcompact and compact to midsize and full-size, SUVs get everything done. More stylish than a minivan and more spacious than a sedan, they are a versatile option for drivers that need to transport their favorite people, pets, and possessions. When you have a brand as popular as Nissan offering tons of different SUV models, we decided it would be helpful to rank our favorites.
Nissan hit it out of the park with popular sedans like the Altima and Maxima, but what about its top-notch SUVs? After looking at the available Nissan SUVs, we did some digging into the lineup and ranked our favorites based on popularity, performance, and features. For 2022, Nissan offers six different SUVs: the Kicks, Rogue Sport, Rogue, Murano, Pathfinder, and Armada. All six offer Nissan customers a lot of bang for their buck, but we narrowed it down to our top four.
#4 – Nissan Armada
Coming in at number four is the 2022 Nissan Armada. This full-size, eight-seater SUV is one of the most luxurious in the Nissan lineup. One of the most underrated vehicles in its class, the Nissan Armada brings a lot to the table. The cabin is outfitted with elegant touches, and the engine is fast and exciting, giving the Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon a run for their money. While upscale touches create a lot of its appeal, the Armada proves to be a well-rounded vehicle.
First, the 2022 Armada is built with a beefy 5.6L V8 that delivers a hair-raising 400 hp. That’s plenty of power for this full-size SUV, getting it from 0-60 mph in around six seconds. The Armada can also be equipped to tow a whopping 8,500 lbs, putting it ahead of the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Easily tow your sporting equipment, small boat, or whatever else you need for a fun, long weekend.
Some of the high-end features throughout the interior really put the Armada on the map. The Platinum trim features quilted leather seats and Birdseye Maple wood-tone trim. The dashboard houses a huge, 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with built-in navigation. Your favorite music and podcasts come through as clear as a bell on the 13-speaker Bose audio system. Plus, the little ones can stay occupied thanks to the available rear seat entertainment system.
#3 – Nissan Murano
Coming in at number three is the 2022 Nissan Murano. The Murano is a two-row midsize SUV. One of the best qualities of the Murano is the elegant lines and overall design on the exterior. The Murano pops out in a parking lot when placed next to similar SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Ford Edge, or the Chevy Blazer. This midsize crossover allows light towing, offers plenty of cargo space, and comes with top-of-the-line suspension.
The 2022 Nissan Murano houses a 3.5L V6 that delivers a capable 260 hp. It can be ordered in front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The high-end suspension system soaks up potholes and uneven pavement and helps create a quiet calm inside the cabin. Thanks to the fine-tuning of the suspension, this SUV feels easy to drive and hard to rattle. It’s ideal for long road trips or sitting in noisy traffic.
Speaking of road trips, the Murano is comfortable and spacious. There are plenty of storage cubby bins and a massive glovebox. The Platinum trim comes with soft leather on the seats, door panels, and armrests. The seats are ergonomic and heavily cushioned, and the rear seats recline with ease. If you need more room to transport things, the Murano can tow up to 1,500 lbs. Plus, you can take comfort knowing the 2022 Murano has a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.
#2 – Nissan Rogue
Our second favorite Nissan SUV is the Nissan Rogue. The Rogue is Nissan’s answer to the compact SUV. It’s lightweight, easy to park and maneuver, and fun to drive. The Rogue happens to be Nissan’s best-selling SUV, competing with other compacts in its class like the Chevy Equinox, the Toyota RAV4, and the Honda CR-V. It takes other compact SUVs to task with its roomy interior, fun engine, and remarkable fuel efficiency.
The 2022 Nissan Rogue is a five-seater. It offers 36.5 cu.ft. of cargo space for items like luggage, groceries, or sporting equipment. But fold down the back seats, and you’ll find a total of 74.1 cu.ft. of cargo space for larger items. The powertrain features a small, but zippy 1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder engine. It has plenty of power for a vehicle of this size, producing 201 hp. But the best quality of the Nissan Rogue has to be the fuel efficiency. The 2022 Rogue ranks high for its EPA-estimated 30 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway.
Another appealing part of the 2022 Nissan Rogue is its interior. It’s obvious a lot of attention went into every detail when Nissan designed the Rogue’s cabin. The four available trim levels offer quality materials that are durable and soft to the touch. Your Rogue can come outfitted with tri-zone automatic temperature control, remote start, a digital dashboard with fully digital controls, heated seats, and leather-appointed seating.
#1 – Nissan Pathfinder
Our favorite Nissan SUV is the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. While it would’ve been easy to go with the best-selling Rogue, the Pathfinder pulled ahead due to its package of comfortable and convenient features. It’s big but not overbearing, fast but efficient, and comfortable but affordable. The Pathfinder merges all our favorite qualities about Nissan in a single SUV.
The Pathfinder makes the perfect road trip companion. It comfortably fits up to eight passengers in its three rows of seats. It offers 16.6 cu.ft. of cargo space in the trunk, but that can be expanded to 80.5 cu.ft. when the second and third rows are folded down. The back rows are 60/40 split-folding and easy to operate. You can easily add accessories to take even more along for the ride. The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder can tow up to 6,000 lbs, which is 1,000 lbs more than many close competitors, including the Kia Telluride, Toyota Highlander, and Chevy Traverse.
Like other Nissans, the Pathfinder has an impressive suite of driver assistance features. It offers a RearView Monitor, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Automatic Emergency Braking, ProPilot Assist, Intelligent Driver Alertness, and Hill Start Assist. The Pathfinder’s ability to mold itself to a driver’s needs makes it our top pick.
Lots of GreatChoices
Overall, Nissan has proven more than proficient at designing SUVs of all sizes for all drivers. Whether going with the popular Rogue, sizing up an Armada or Pathfinder, or checking out the oh-so-comfortable Murano, there’s a Nissan SUV for everyone. These four 2022 models are stacked with performance, entertainment, quality materials, and driver assistance features. Drivers looking for capable powertrains and considerable cargo space have amazing options in the Armada and Pathfinder, while those looking for efficiency and upscale touches will enjoy the clever design of the Murano and Rogue. The SUV segment is looking good with these additions from Nissan.
