2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Nissan Rogue

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep round headlights, 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It had a purposeful yet expressive design, available in various trims like Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with special editions ranging from the affordable Jeepster to the pricey High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport started at $25,210, while the High Altitude trim, loaded with extras, reached an MSRP of $36,515. The High Altitude trim featured extra-cost paint, dark gray 19-inch wheels, and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, giving it a surprisingly grown-up look. However, the interior, dominated by hard plastic and an all-black color scheme, looked inexpensive despite the fancy details.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue sported handsome new styling with a more technical appearance, featuring dark gray plastic cladding, bold simulated skid plates, and clean LED lighting elements. The prominent V-Motion grille and proper proportioning lent the Rogue a modern aesthetic, with aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter. The Rogue was available in four trims: S, SV, SL, and the new Platinum, with prices starting at $25,650 for the base S trim and reaching $35,430 for the Platinum trim. The test vehicle, a Rogue SL, included a Premium Package, extra-cost paint, and a cargo area protection package, totaling $35,195. The interior featured an Almond color leather, a panoramic glass sunroof, and abundant soft-touch surfaces, creating a sense of quality and roominess. The Rogue's interior was further enhanced with appealing simulated wood trim and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. The test vehicle had the turbocharged engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Renegade featured front-wheel drive on base models and all-wheel drive on higher trims, with two AWD systems available. The test vehicle had the Active Drive setup, which disconnected the rear wheels to save fuel and activated when the front wheels slipped. The turbocharged engine provided peak torque at 1,750 rpm, but turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy resulted in uneven power delivery. The Renegade averaged 23.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 26 mpg, and had a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank. The driving dynamics were marred by a flinty ride, sloppy steering, and a loud cabin, making highway driving a chore. The Trailhawk trim was the best version for off-roading, delivering on the Jeep brand's promise.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was powered by a direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) did a decent job of leveraging the available torque, with programmed ratios making it feel more like a traditional automatic. The Rogue offered available all-wheel drive, up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes. The test vehicle, a Rogue SL with front-wheel drive, achieved 27.5 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating. The Rogue's ride and handling were smooth and athletic, thanks to a new architecture composed of 35% high-strength steel, a strut front, multi-link rear suspension, and various control systems. The new steering system, with electric assist moved to the steering rack and a quickened ratio, provided dramatically improved steering feel.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's interior felt larger than many competitors due to its boxy design, distant windshield, thick pillars, and vertical side glass. The panoramic glass roof added to the sense of space. The driver's seat was comfortable with eight-way power adjustment, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, with no air conditioning vents for rear occupants. The Renegade had limited practical interior storage and modest cargo volume, measuring 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured improved Zero Gravity seats, available in cloth, leatherette, leather, and premium leather, depending on the trim. The Rogue offered heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats on higher trims. The SV trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, while the SL and Platinum trims featured a triple-zone system. Rear-seat headroom and legroom were more generous than the previous model, with rear doors opening to a nearly 90-degree angle for easy loading. The Rogue could accommodate up to three child safety seats and included a rear-seat reminder system. Nissan reduced interior noise with aerodynamic improvements, acoustic front glass, and a thicker dashboard insulator. The Rogue's storage was usefully sized, with a new electronic shifter freeing up space under the center console. Cargo capacity was 31.6 cubic feet in the S and SV trims, and 36.5 cubic feet in the SL and Platinum trims, with a maximum volume of 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade featured the Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with volume and tuning knobs and logically arranged menu buttons. The Renegade also offered a Kenwood premium audio system, a comprehensive driver information center, and a parking assist system for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment package with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto on the S trim. The SV and SL trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim featured a 9-inch touchscreen display, door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, an upgraded voice recognition system, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim also included wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and commendable scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it did not carry forward its Top Safety Pick rating from 2019.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came equipped with a comprehensive collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. The Rogue also featured ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The SV trim added ProPilot Assist with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, while the SL Premium Package and Platinum trim included an upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology. The Rogue's new architecture, composed of high-strength steel, aimed to better deflect crash energy away from the passenger compartment.