2021 Nissan Rogue

There are a total of four trims offered on the Nissan Rogue where the Platinum trim has been added as a new top-tier trim in the lineup. The base price of the 2021 Rogue starts with $25,650 and it stretches up to $38,890 for the topmost trim. The 2.5L engine is the only engine available on the entire trim range that is married to a CVT and punches out 181 hp. The 2021 Nissan Rogue has a cut-throat competition with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Mazda CX-5.

There are a total of four trims available on the 2021 Rogue lineup where the Platinum trim has been added as the topmost trim. The base ‘S’ trim has a starting price of $25,850 while the topmost Platinum trim can cost about $35,630. No matter which trims you pick, the 2.5L naturally aspirated engine is shared by all of them which gushes out 181 hp. Every trim has the FWD as the standard but with an extra $1400, you can enjoy the AWD as well.

The Nissan Rogue S is the base trim and is loaded with all the necessary features and tech while as you climb the trim ladder, the level of luxury and convenience will increase as well. The list of standard features is huge as it includes cloth seats, 60/40-split folding rear seat, manual, Tilt and telescoping steering column, LED headlights, 17-inch Aluminum-alloy wheels, remote keyless entry and Push Button starts, Rear spoiler, Rear Automatic Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, blind-spot monitoring, and cruise control.

Base S and Platinum trim don’t get any optional packages but the same can’t be said for the other two trims. The SV trim Premium package comes at $2,660 that adds features like a Power liftgate, Heated front seats and steering wheel, and Dual Panel Panoramic Moonroof. The SL trim Premium Package cost about $1,320 and includes ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link, 9-inch touch-screen display, and Bose premium audio system including dual-driver woofer.

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Our pick for you is the second level SV trim which is not only easy on your pockets but adds a plethora of features including 18-inch wheels, power driver seat, leatherette upholstery, and nearly all the safety features offered on the Rogue trim range plus ProPILOT Assist which includes intelligent Cruise Control and Steering Assist. That said, as there is only one engine option available on the entire trim range, the performance of the SV trim won’t be any different from the rest.

Just like its peers, the 2021 Rogue also has only one engine available throughout the lineup. The Nissan Rogue has a 2.5L inline-4 engine under the hood that is mated to a CVT and transfers power to the front wheels as standard whereas you do have an option to choose AWD. The 2.5L engine has received a slight power pump, as it churns out 181hp and 181 lb-ft of torque which is 11 hp and 6 lb-ft of torque more than last year’s engine output.

This whole setup allows Rogue to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds which is decent considering the power output. The 2021 Rogue takes about 16.3 seconds to cover the quarter-mile distance. That said, the towing capacity of the 2021 Rogue is 1,350 pounds which is the lowest in the competition.

Except for the CR-V, all the other cars in this comparison have the same 2.5-liter four-banger under the hood while the CR-V gets a 1.5-liter turbo-four. The Nissan Rogue is still behind the rivals in terms of horsepower. However, it is not the slowest in the competition as RAV4 takes 0.9 seconds more than Rogue to cross the 0-60mph mark, in spite of having the leading horsepower. The fastest in the segment is CR-V which is the only sedan with a turbocharger and it clears the 0-60mph limit in just 7.8 seconds. 

2021 Nissan Rogue Ride and Handling:

The unimpressive acceleration and poor handlings were the main subjects of criticism in last year’s Nissan Rogue but this newly redesigned and tweaked 2019 Rogue has improved in those areas. The acceleration is decent now and the CVT is in good sync with the engine. This arrangement is not gonna help you win a drag race but it certainly is enough for your daily commute. There are three modes: Sport, Eco, and Standard on the 2021 Rogue. With the sport mode, you do get an extra kick while the Eco mode gives better throttle sensitivity.

The steering wheel feels light in the hands, you can sense good feedback from it and new paddle shifters make life much easier. Overall ride is smooth and Rogue has great stability on the road. The A-pillars have a good distance between them which results in better visibility. Even though the overall performance of the Rogue has improved, it still has a long way to go. It also needs to add a more powerful engine option or at least a turbocharger.

2021 Nissan Rogue Braking:

Even with a weight of over 3000 lb, the Nissan Rogue is pretty easy to stop. It has 11.7 inches front brake rotor and 11.5 inches rear brake rotors. The brakes have a good response and pressure gets firmly built up after the first bite. That said, Rogue stops smoothly from 60mph to 0 in about 114 feet. However, real-world panic stops can be noisy as brakes can get slightly loud. 

The CX-5 has the biggest rear brake rotor and second-biggest front brake rotor in the segment but it has the largest stopping distance per se. The RAV4 has the biggest front rotor and a stopping distance of 124 feet which is just one foot less than the CX-5. As for the CR-V, it has the smallest brake rotor pair but it stops just one foot longer than the Rogue. 

Despite having to pull over 3,000 lbs weight with a 2.4L engine, Rogue still manages to impress with its high fuel efficiency. As per the EPA evaluation, the Nissan Rogue with FWD gives a fuel economy of 27 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined. However, when you equip the AWD, there is a slight decrease in the fuel economy. It offers a fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined when AWD is chosen.

Rogue is the most fuel-efficient with the highest mileage in the bunch but this spot is also shared by the RAV4, as both SUVs have the same fuel economy figures and fuel capacity. That said, with a fuel economy of 27/32/29 mpg in city/highway/combined, CR-V is ahead of CX-5 in terms of fuel efficiency but due to the smaller fuel tank, it offers less mileage on the highway. That said, even though the CX-5 has the thirstiest engine but it has the biggest fuel tank.

Encompassing all the good aspects which classy interior desires, Nissan Rogue after its redesign is really defining the new standards. From cloth upholstery on base trim to Quilted Semi-Aniline leather on the Platinum trim, Rogue is sensitive towards everyone’s budget and needs. When you enter the cabin, you notice milk chocolate-colored trim on the top section of the door panel, the armrest has soft-touch material with contrast stitching, the dash is covered in soft material, and has a silver trim which is arranged in the shape of a hockey stick. One thing which disappointed us was the small door pockets. However, if you are worried about space, Rogue has the center bridge between front seats which has the wood type of trim on it and beneath you can store more than a dozen choco-fills. 

You have only a charcoal black interior on base trim but as you go up in trim level, grey and tan interior are also available. The zero-gravity front seats are comfortable and give nice back support. The driver seat comes with the 6-way manual adjustment as standard but 8-way power adjustment and 2-way power lumbar support is also available. The passenger seat has adjustment in 4-ways manually and 4-way power as optional. The rear seats can fold down in a 40/60 pattern which increases the cargo space from 36.8 cu-ft to 72 cu-ft. Some standard features offered on the base trim are manual air conditioning, rear door alerts, keyless entry, and push-button ignition, manual tilt and telescopic steering column, two 12-volt power outlets, day-night rearview mirror, four cup holders, Four cargo tie-down hooks, and rear privacy glass.

In competition, CR-V has the most spacious front and second row while the next in line is the Rogue. The most cramped cabin belongs to the RAV4 which has a passenger volume of 98.9 cu-ft while the CR-V, Rogue, and CX-5 have a passenger volume of 105.9, 105.5, and 103.6 cu-ft respectively. Meanwhile, even though RAV4 has the least spacious front and second row, it comes with the second biggest trunk while CR-V has the biggest trunk of all. Rogue does not fall behind and has a cargo capacity that is just 2.4 cu-ft less than the CR-V. Meanwhile, RAV4 has a cargo capacity of 37.6 cu-ft while CX-5 has the worst cargo capacity of all. The standout interior features are:

• Cloth upholstery
• Synthetic leather or leather upholstery (optional)
• Heated front seats (optional)
• Flat bottom leather-wrapped heated steering wheel (optional)
• Dual or Tri-zone automatic climate control (optional)
• One-touch automatic driver side power window 
• Nissan intelligent key system (optional)
• Interior accent lighting (optional)
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror (optional)

2021 Nissan Rogue Infotainment System:

The Nissan Rogue is equipped with a NissanConnect infotainment system. The S trim has an 8-inch touch-screen while you can upgrade it to a 9-inch touchscreen on the SL and Platinum trim. The 4-speaker audio system is standard on the base trim whereas the 6-speaker audio system is offered on SV and higher trims get a 10-speaker Bose Premium audio system. Going further, the base trim comes with other standard features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, hands-free texting, SiriusXM, Voice Recognition, Speed-sensitive volume control, two USB ports, AUX jack, Bluetooth, and Radio Data System.

The highlights of the infotainment unit include:

• 8-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Four speaker audio system
• Speed-sensitive volume control
• 9-inch touch-screen (optional)
• 10-speaker Bose Premium audio system (optional)
• Heads up display (optional)
• Wireless charging (optional)

No matter which side you look at the Nissan Rogue, you will find the genius of exterior design everywhere. At the front, you have LED headlights and DRL split in two which adds a futuristic look to the SUV. You also have an air curtain in the front and the signature -motion grille which has just the right amount of chrome. The hood flows down smoothly into the grille. If we look at the side profile, there is flat black on the fender treatment and there is a chrome trim above the windows which on the entire side profile adding a unique charm to the Rogue. 

You have a floating roof design that gives a massive headroom. On the backside, you get a well-crafted tailgate, a low roof spoiler, and LED taillights. Heated outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators and LED fog lights are optional on the base trim. You also get UV-ray protection solar glass, roof rails, and optional Dual Panel Panoramic Moonroof. The 2021Rogue stands on the standard 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels but 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels are also available.

Just like cakes with more layers makes one drool the more, the same way Rogue with its layers of positive aspects makes it more alluring. Not only is it the lightest in the competition which has a direct effect on the performance but it also has the second-highest ground clearance. The CX-5 has the smallest overall exterior dimensions, is the heaviest, and offers the least ground clearance of all. CR-V comes with the shortest wheelbase which gives a smaller turning radius and agility. That said, RAV4 fits between the Rogue and CX-5, in terms of exterior dimensions. Key features of the exterior are:

• 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
• Power liftgate (optional)
• Motion-activated liftgate (optional)
• LED taillights 
• Intelligent automatic LED Headlights
• Dual-panel panoramic moonroof (optional)

In the 2021 Rogue Model, Nissan has introduced a new chassis that has 35 percent more ultra high strength steel which is 19 percent more than the outgoing model. This has not only slashed the weight by 90 lbs but also added more rigidity and strength to the chassis. As for the safety ratings, the NHTSA has awarded the 2021 Rogue with an overall 4-star safety rating. However, in IIHS testing, 2021 Rogue not only has the class-leading ‘Good’ and 'Superior' ratings but it has also earned the ‘top safety pick+’ award from the IIHS. Coming to the safety and driving assistance features, there is no shortage of that in the 2019 Rogue. The highlights of the same are given below:

• Cruise control
• ProPILOT Assist
• ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link (optional)
• Lane Departure alerts
• Blind Spot Warning
• Forward collision warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert 
• Front and Rear Sonar System (optional)
• Traffic Sign Recognition (optional)

2021 Nissan Rogue Vs 2021 Mazda CX-5

Though the handling capabilities of the Mazda CX-5 surpass Rogue, in the rest of the comparisons Rogue holds the upper hand. The Rogue has more interior space, better safety ratings, and better fuel economy than the CX-5. Though there is just a few hundred dollars difference between the price of Rogue and CX-5, they share the same engine. However, Rogue produces 6 hp and 5 lb-ft of torque less than the CX-5.

2021 Nissan Rogue Vs Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 has the highest horsepower-producing engine in the competition but acceleration is not impressive at all. Not only it has a significantly lower passenger volume than Rogue but it also has a higher braking distance than the Rogue. On the other hand, it shares the same economic figure as the Rogue and has slightly better cargo capacity than Rogue.

2021 Nissan Rogue Vs Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is the only rival of Rogue which has an engine with a turbocharger and the toughest contender of the Rogue. On one hand, CR-V displays a class-leading performance and has the biggest trunk in the competition, on the other hand, Rogue tries to pull odds in its favor with better safety ratings and a slightly higher fuel economy. So which one to choose is the dilemma worth pondering upon. 

With the crowded market of compact crossovers, every SUV is trying to gain the spotlight and Nissan Rogue is certainly someone that sticks out in the crowd. Its smooth driving experience, freshly redesigned interior and exterior, and high safety standards, make it hard for competitors to breathe. However, when it comes to the sportiness, it is not as impressive as you would expect but it has enough punch to take on daily rides without any hassle. That said, even after having most of the boxes checked CR-V still manages to beat the Rogue. Therefore, it’s up to you to decide whether you wanna pick a fresh model which is a good overall package or an old SUV which is leading its classmates with a slightly higher price.