The Weekly Driver test drives about 40 vehicles per year, and none more often than sport utility vehicles. BMW to Volvo, Ford to Volkswagen, Honda to Toyota, nearly every manufacturer has an SUV. Some carmakers have too many SUVs, while others’  offerings seem nearly identical.Take the 2010 Hyundai Tucson and 2010 Nissan Rogue. There are some differences, but there are more similarities. The side-by-side comparison chart on Edmunds.com reveals nearly the same vehicles.

The Tucson has received a lot praise with its all new design and estimated 31 mpg highway mileage (I got 23.5 mpg in mostly freeway mileage during my weekly test.) The Nissan Rogue is rated at 27 mpg on the highway and that’s closer to my average during my week with the car.

The Nissan Rogue I tested had an exterior color of Venom Red; The Hyundai Tucson exterior I drove for a week had an exterior of color of Garnet Red. Put the SUVs side by side, and they’re the same color.

Here’s what Car and Driver said about the Nissan Rogue, which it ranked 16th of 22 in the compact SUV market

“On its first try, Nissan has produced a good-looking and spirited small SUV. It doesn’t have a third row or optional V-6 power, but there are plenty of small-SUV buyers who desire neither feature. The Rogue has the rest of the small-sport-ute checklist covered.”

Here’s what Car and Driver said about the Hyundai Tucson, which rated it 12th of 22 in the compact SUV market

“The Tucson makes strides in some areas and needs minor fixes in others to be a truly stand-out product in a hotly contested class.”

Neither the Rogue or Tucson is the best vehicle for their respective manufacturers. I liked the Tucson extended sunroof that continues above the second seat. I liked the Rogue’s interior feel and intuitive, efficient controls.

Both vehicles have several trims, but the the two SUV’s bases prices are within $1,000 of each other, another one of many similarities of two very similar vehicles . . . . not there’s anything wrong with that.

For more information on the 2010 Nissan Rogue, visit: Nissan Rogue

For more information on the 2010 Hyundai Tucson, visit: Hyundai Tucson

And here are videos on each vehicle, which I’m now even more convinced are close siblings.

2010 Hyundai Tucson

2010 Nissan Rogue