2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2020 Toyota Sienna

The 2020 Toyota Sienna won praise for its practicality but also highlighted some age-related drawbacks in its design. As a third-generation model introduced back in 2011 and last updated in 2018, the 2020 Sienna carried an outdated feel compared to its competitors. The occasional upscale touch couldn't mask its dated overall design. The hollow sound emitted by slamming the front doors suggested a lack of refinement that other automakers typically address. Additionally, the instrument panel gave off an old-school vibe reminiscent of Toyota's 2010 lineup, although its simplicity made it user-friendly.

The Sienna's trims ranged from L to Limited Premium, with each offering increasing levels of equipment. The base L trim featured 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, three-zone climate control, five USB ports, three 12-volt outlets, Bluetooth, WiFi hotspot, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay. For families, the LE trim added dual power sliding doors, black roof rails, a rear bumper protector, and easy-clean upholstery. The SE trim, recommended by CarGurus, sported 19-inch alloy wheels, a mesh grille, fog lights, sport instrumentation, and leather upholstery, with the significant addition of a power rear liftgate.

Higher trims like the SE Premium offered luxury touches such as chrome-accented door handles with touch-sensor auto-locking, a power moonroof, 19-inch gunmetal alloy wheels, a DVD entertainment system, and the EasySpeak intercom system. XLE trims introduced upgraded side rocker panels, leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats, and more refined instrument panels. The Limited trim brought leather seating, heated steering, premium audio and navigation systems, and safety features like rain-sensing windshield wipers and HID headlights.

For those desiring a cool factor, the Nightshade Edition offered dark accents and 19-inch wheels, available on SE and SE Premium trims.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Rogue exhibited a handsome new look with a more technical and modern aesthetic. The SUV’s exterior featured dark gray plastic cladding, bold simulated skid plates, and lower door protection. Clean LED lighting, a prominent V-Motion grille, and optional two-tone paint added to its sleek appearance. All trims sported aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter, further enhancing its visual appeal.

The Rogue came in four versions: S, SV, SL, and the new Platinum trim. Each trim emphasized a blend of style and substance, with the Platinum trim offering high-end touches like semi-aniline quilted leather and ambient lighting. Nissan also made a few factory options available, including all-wheel drive and premium packages for select trims.

Our test Rogue SL came with a light and bright interior featuring an Almond color leather finish and a panoramic glass sunroof. The interior comfort was elevated by Zero Gravity seat designs that effectively reduced stress on the bones and muscles. Trim levels varied in seat material and adjustability, with higher trims offering heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and premium leather upholstery. The vehicle emphasized spaciousness, with rear seats providing ample headroom and legroom, and rear doors opening to nearly 90-degree angles for easy access.

The Rogue's cabin was designed for noise reduction with improved aerodynamics, acoustic front glass, and a thicker dashboard insulator. Storage solutions were plentiful, with clever use of space under the center console and oversized door-panel pockets. Higher trims offered a hands-free power rear liftgate, with cargo capacity ranging from 31.6 to 36.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, extending to a generous 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna relied on a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This power was channeled through an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Sienna allowed drivers to switch to Sport mode for increased throttle and shift responsiveness, while a manual mode, though seldom used, offered a bit more control. The FWD Sienna provided strong acceleration, clocking a respectable 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The AWD variants, available except on the base trim, achieved slightly lower fuel economy figures of 18/24 mpg.

Handling-wise, the Sienna’s broad base and low center of gravity contributed to surprisingly decent cornering dynamics. While it wouldn't compete with a sports car, it offered confidence in urban, highway, and road trip settings. The major handling drawback was twitchy steering at higher speeds, necessitating constant driver attention to keep the van straight. Nevertheless, the Sienna’s ride comfort and cornering abilities stood out favorably in comparison to some SUVs.

Conversely, the 2021 Nissan Rogue's performance left more to be desired, primarily due to its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. The engine, paired with a CVT, was adequate for daily driving but felt underpowered under more demanding conditions, especially when carrying heavy loads or driving at higher altitudes. The CVT did a commendable job of mimicking traditional automatic shifts and included paddle shifters for manual control, though these were rarely needed.

The Rogue's real strength lay in its ride quality and handling. Built on a new, robust architecture, it featured a strut front and multi-link rear suspension, enhanced by Brake-induced Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control systems for better handling. The 19-inch wheels and 235/55 all-season tires contributed to a smooth, athletic ride. The new steering setup, with the electric assist moved to the steering rack and a quicker ratio, provided improved steering feel over the previous model.

Fuel economy for the front-wheel-drive Rogue SL was recorded at 27.5 mpg, slightly below the EPA-rated 29 mpg combined.

When it came to interior space, the 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled with a class-leading 150 cubic feet of cargo space. This figure surpassed competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica (140.5 cubic feet) and Honda Odyssey (144.9 cubic feet). However, accessing the maximum cargo space required removing the second-row seats, unlike the Pacifica’s more convenient Stow-N-Go seats. The third-row seats in the Sienna folded seamlessly into the floor, but accessing the back seats was less user-friendly, especially with the second-row bench configuration.

Toyota offered a built-in rotating lift seat for mobility access, making the Sienna a practical choice for those needing this feature at an affordable price.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue’s interior space provided comfortable and flexible seating, with improved Zero Gravity seats across trims enhancing overall comfort. The SUV offered generous rear-seat headroom and legroom, and the nearly 90-degree opening rear doors facilitated easier access. The Rogue could accommodate three child safety seats, thanks to the new centrally-located LATCH anchors. A rear-seat reminder system helped prevent leaving children behind accidentally.

Nissan worked to reduce interior noise with aerodynamic improvements and sound insulation. Storage solutions were thoughtful, with a new electronic shifter creating more center console space and convenient door-panel pockets. Cargo capacity for the Rogue ranged from 31.6 to 36.5 cubic feet depending on the trim, extending to a maximum of 74.1 cubic feet, making it competitive in the compact SUV segment.

The base 2020 Toyota Sienna came equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Toyota’s proprietary infotainment system, supporting Amazon Alexa and, finally, Apple CarPlay. Additional standard tech included Bluetooth, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot with a 6-month trial. Higher trims added features like navigation and a premium JBL audio system. The Driver Easy Speak intercom system allowed the driver to communicate with rear passengers easily, a useful feature for families.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment system starting with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base trim, including Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trims featured a larger 9-inch touchscreen with door-to-door navigation, real-time traffic, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose premium audio system.

For tech enthusiasts, the Platinum trim also boasted wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

Safety was a strong suit for both vehicles. The 2020 Toyota Sienna offered standard features like lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, dynamic cruise control, and automatic high beams, all part of the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) suite. Higher trims added standard blind-spot monitoring. The Sienna earned top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, with a five-star rating and a Superior rating for its standard safety tech.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue prioritized safety with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. This included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and notably, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control and ProPilot Assist driving aid were standard starting with the SV trim, and enhanced in higher trims with Navi-link technology for speed adjustments based on navigation data. Platinum trims added an airbag between the driver and passenger for added protection.

Although crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review, the Rogue’s use of high-strength steel and engineering improvements suggested strong protective capabilities in a collision.