2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Buick Envision

The 2021 Nissan Rogue exhibited a new and bolder styling more akin to an SUV than a car. Dark gray plastic cladding adorned its lower perimeter along with bold, simulated skid plates, and door protection that added a rugged appearance, albeit a bit audaciously on the rear bumper. Complete with a prominent V-Motion grille and clean LED lighting elements, the Rogue had a modern aesthetic touch, particularly with optional two-tone paint and a black roof treatment that gave it a custom look. The model was offered in four trims – S, SV, SL, and Platinum, each adding more features and luxury to the package. The interior, notably in the Almond color leather with a panoramic sunroof, offered a bright and roomier feel, emphasizing soft-touch surfaces, simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars. Despite an outdated climate control panel aesthetic reminiscent of the 1980s, the Rogue maintained a balance between modern technology with elements like wireless Apple CarPlay.

In contrast, the 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign, presenting a lower and wider stance, higher premium styling, and a more planted appearance. Compared to its predecessor, its new sculpted look was more expressive but still less sleek than competitors like the Acura RDX. The Envision's Avenir trim, introduced for the first time, stood out with unique exterior elements like a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific wheels. Inside, the Avenir was enhanced with diamond-perforated leather seats, trim-specific floor mats, and a head-up display that added to its premium feel. Despite its redesigned aesthetics, the Envision showed an overly driver-centric cabin layout with abundant piano black plastic prone to dust collection, leading to a mixture of high style but suboptimal practicality, particularly in shared user spaces.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine providing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, which was adequate for daily driving but left a desire for more power, especially given its nearly 3,500-pound weight. A commendable feature was the continuously variable transmission (CVT), which exhibited seamless performance mimicking a traditional automatic. The Rogue offered all-wheel drive with up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance and multiple driving modes, including Snow and Off-Road. Despite decent fuel economy, achieving 27.5 mpg in mixed driving conditions, drivers often wished for the availability of a turbocharged variant. The vehicle's underpinnings were solid, employing high-strength steel, and its steering was notably improved with rack-mounted electric assist, resulting in a sportier driving experience.

On the other hand, the 2021 Buick Envision featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that, despite a reduction in power from its predecessor, delivered 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the Envision lost some horsepower, it compensated with a weight reduction of 200-300 pounds, though it didn't completely offset the power loss. The Envision provided a comfortable ride but suffered from noticeable noise during acceleration and deceleration, affecting its premium cabin feel. Its fuel efficiency improved to 26 mpg combined for front-wheel drive models and 25 mpg for all-wheel drive, making it more economical than before. The vehicle came with a typical GM drive mode selector, but the noise and reduction in driving dynamics didn't help elevate its appeal.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue touted improved comfort with upgraded Zero Gravity seats. The new iteration felt roomier with better comfort across all trims from cloth to premium leather in the Platinum model. Heating features were selectively available, but ventilation was notably absent. Its triple-zone climate control and rear-seat sunshades in higher trims provided added convenience. Rear-seat comfort increased due to enhanced headroom and legroom, and nearly 90-degree rear door openings eased passenger loading. Noteworthy storage solutions included space beneath the center console and generous door-pocket capacity. The Rogue offered 31.6 to 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet by folding the rear seats, making it competitive within its segment.

Conversely, the 2021 Buick Envision decreased in functionality despite an extended wheelbase. It faced a reduction in headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in both rows, making the rear seats less adult-friendly. Cargo capacity also suffered, with a reduction to 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 53.7 cubic feet when folded down. Though enough for everyday needs, its figures were below average for the class, resulting in less practicality for bulkier loads. The driver-centric cockpit, while stylish, disadvantaged the front passenger, limiting shared usability of the climate control and infotainment system. Nonetheless, the Envision maintained good small-item storage common to its class.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered advanced infotainment options starting from an 8-inch touchscreen in base models up to a 9-inch display with premium features like door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose audio system in higher trims. SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, with additional connected services available in SV and SL trims. Despite ergonomic issues with control knobs, the system worked efficiently, providing a user-friendly interface and good voice recognition functionality. Platinum trim included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.8-inch head-up display, enhancing its technological appeal.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Buick Envision's tech highlight was its 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, known for its clarity and responsiveness. The driver information display options ranged between 4.2 inches to a more substantial 8.0 inches, useful for quick reference while driving. Standard tech features included USB ports, dual-zone climate control, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, among others. Additional offerings in higher trims encompassed navigation, a surround-view camera, a rearview camera mirror, and wireless device charging. The Envision, however, lacked more advanced systems like GM's Super Cruise, underscoring limitations in its tech offerings relative to expectations in this price range.

Nissan focused heavily on safety in the 2021 Rogue. Standard across all trims were advanced driving aids under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella, covering features from automatic emergency braking to lane-departure warning. Notably, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert was standard over adaptive cruise control, deemed more practical. Additional features included ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder. ProPilot Assist, starting on the SV trim, offered lane-centering functions and improved radar and camera units for better accuracy. Higher trims included ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology for adaptive speed adjustments during navigation.

While awaiting safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, the redesigned 2021 Buick Envision came standard with several safety features such as forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. It also included GM's Buckle to Drive feature. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist. However, the Envision did not feature GM's Super Cruise or lane-centering technologies, placing it behind in advanced driver-assistance capabilities.