2021 Cadillac XT5 vs 2021 Nissan Rogue

The 2021 Nissan Rogue donned a modern and rugged exterior with a more technical appearance, making it look more SUV-like. It featured dark gray plastic cladding around its lower perimeter, showcasing bold simulated skid plates and lower door protection. This design conveyed a sense of ruggedness that seemed somewhat audacious at the rear bumper. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning gave the Rogue a modern aesthetic. Aluminum wheels, available in sizes up to 19 inches, along with optional two-tone paint featuring a black roof treatment, contributed to a custom look.

The Rogue was offered in four versions: the entry-level Rogue S at $25,650, the popular Rogue SV at $27,340, the slightly more luxurious Rogue SL at $32,000, and the new Rogue Platinum at $35,430, which boasted semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities. Adding destination charges to each model cost an extra $1,095. Optional factory features included all-wheel drive for $1,400 and Premium packages for the SV ($2,660) and SL ($1,320). Our tested Rogue SL model, with the Premium Package and extra-cost paint, floor mats, and cargo area protection package, totaled $35,195.

The Rogue's interior, featuring an Almond color leather interior and a standard panoramic glass sunroof, emphasized an improved sense of roominess. Soft-touch surfaces, simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars gave it a sense of quality. The Platinum trim took this up a notch with quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. However, the old-school digital clock-like appearance of the numbers on the climate control panel was noticeable, but the inclusion of a CD player didn't imply technological obsolescence, as wireless Apple CarPlay was also available.

Moving on to the 2021 Cadillac XT5, Cadillac aimed to regain its status as a refined luxury brand with this model. The XT5 received 40 updates for the 2020 model year, including a new engine option, revised styling, and enhanced technology, all of which carried over to the 2021 model year. Its exterior boasted a snub-nosed design, with standard LED lights at the front and rear, which highlighted the XT5's beefy proportions while maintaining an elegant and sophisticated look. This was complemented by standard 20-inch wheels.

Luxury vehicles typically offer supple leather seating, various natural material appointments, and a chic design. The XT5 embodied these traits to some extent. Its interior design, while not flawless, was more upscale than its sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer. Horizontal design lines and straightforward materials favored a less cluttered look. In the Premium Luxury trim, the XT5 showcased cut-and-sewn leather, natural wood, and carbon fiber accents, exuding elegance rivaled only by the Escalade in Cadillac's lineup.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue had room for improvement in terms of power. With nearly 3,500 pounds to move, its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. Though adequate for daily driving, there was a palpable need for more power, especially during adventurous drives. The CVT managed the torque well, and its programmed ratios provided a more traditional automatic feel. Features like paddle shifters were available, albeit rarely used.

The Rogue's all-wheel-drive system offered up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance and included Snow and Off-Road driving modes. While this enhanced the SUV's capability for off-road adventures, a turbocharged engine would have significantly improved the driving experience. Nissan seemed to hint at a future turbocharged version, potentially featuring the VC-Turbo engine from the Altima sedan and Infiniti QX50.

For now, drivers could switch from Standard to Sport mode for a more responsive feel. Additionally, an Eco drive mode was available. Fuel economy for the tested Rogue SL with front-wheel drive was 27.5 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 29 mpg. The Rogue's ride and handling benefited from its new architecture, composed of 35% high-strength steel, which contributed to a smooth and predictable driving experience.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Buyers could opt for a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 237 pound-feet of torque, which was standard on the XT5 Sport. Both engines were mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The V6, as tested on the Premium Luxury trim, delivered smooth upshifts but exhibited clunkiness during downshifts. The Sport drive mode introduced jittery shifts. While the V6 provided immediate throttle response, additional low-end torque would have enhanced acceleration confidence. The XT5's start-stop technology operated seamlessly, though the climate control system shut down during stop functionality, which could be mitigated by turning it off.

Front-wheel drive was standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, while all-wheel drive was available as an option. The XT5 Sport came standard with all-wheel drive. Over 2,000 miles of testing, the XT5 AWD achieved 25 mpg in various conditions, surpassing the EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined fuel economy for the V6. The base engine delivered 23 mpg with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD. These figures were comparable to the XT5's rivals, such as the Infiniti QX50 and Acura RDX, both of which featured turbo-four engines.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured Nissan's Zero Gravity seat designs, inspired by the neutral spine position in space, aimed at providing comfort and reducing fatigue. The previous-generation Rogue's seats felt small and undersized, but the 2021 model offered improved Zero Gravity seats for enhanced comfort. Depending on the trim level, options ranged from cloth upholstery with a manual driver's height adjuster in the S trim to premium leather in the Platinum trim. The Rogue SL included standard leather seats, while the SV added eight-way power adjustment, and the Platinum boasted higher-quality leather.

Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats were available as you moved up the trim ladder. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard on the SV, while the SL and Platinum trims featured a triple-zone system with rear-seat temperature control. Rear-seat headroom and legroom were more generous, and the rear doors could open nearly 90 degrees for easy passenger access. The back seat was comfortable for both children and adults, and the Rogue could accommodate up to three child safety seats with LATCH anchors. Additionally, a rear-seat reminder system aimed to prevent parents from accidentally leaving a child in the vehicle.

Noise reduction efforts included aerodynamic improvements, acoustic front glass, and a thicker dashboard insulator. Storage options were well-sized and conveniently located, with an electronic shifter freeing up space under the center console. The center armrest featured a split butterfly-style opening for easier access to the bin below. Most Rogue versions came with a power rear liftgate, with SL and Platinum trims featuring a hands-free design. The Rogue offered 31.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity in the S and SV trims, while the SL and Platinum provided up to 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide cargo management system. Folding the rear seat down increased the cargo capacity to 74.1 cubic feet.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered seating for four adults in two rows, although it technically seated five with a three-seat bench in the second row. The back seat's headroom was limited for taller occupants, but legroom was ample in both rows. However, during extended road trips, the front seats proved to be less comfortable than they appeared due to a hard bottom cushion.

Heated front seats were standard, and depending on the climate, either heated or ventilated seats were activated upon starting the vehicle. Cadillac provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space, which was less than rivals like the Nissan Murano and Lincoln Nautilus. However, the XT5 featured a deep rear cargo area, although wheel bump-outs minimized the width. The cargo-management system allowed for secure storage of loose items, and a hands-free programmable height liftgate was available.

Small-item storage was limited, with no ideal place for a smartphone within eyesight. A small cubby below the climate controls could hold keys or tollway tickets, but not much more. The door handles lacked bottoms, causing items to slip through, and map pockets were too small for anything more substantial than slim water bottles.

Nissan offered a competitive infotainment package in the 2021 Rogue. The base S trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, along with a free six-month trial to Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant. Easy-to-use knobs for power/volume and station tuning, along with shortcut buttons along the bottom of the display, simplified system usage.

The SV and SL trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. NissanConnect Services included remote engine starting, automatic collision notification, vehicle speed and boundary alerts, and a car finder function. After free trial periods, subscription fees applied. The SL Premium Package and the Rogue Platinum featured a larger 9-inch touchscreen display, a door-to-door navigation system with real-time traffic, wireless Apple CarPlay, an upgraded voice recognition system, and a Bose premium audio system.

Platinum trim added wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. The voice recognition system performed well, and the Bose audio system delivered good sound quality.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 boasted a streamlined infotainment system and center stack, contributing to its elegant design. The climate control system was housed in Piano Black plastic with hidden-button functionality and haptic feedback. Adjusting the tri-zone automatic climate control’s temperature was done via a chrome toggle switch. However, the system often ran colder than the displayed temperature. Rear-seat occupants had their own set of controls.

A heated steering wheel and heated outboard rear seats were available, and the rear seats featured 60/40 split-folding capability with slide and recline functions. The XT5’s infotainment system was housed in Piano Black surrounds with numerous functionalities, including the automatic start-stop engine on/off switch. Cadillac included a rotary controller for system navigation, though it crowded the screen aesthetics.

Standard features included an 8-speaker Bose sound system, AUX port, Bluetooth, 15-watt wireless charging, and USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 4G LTE WiFi hot spot and 14-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system were available. The rear camera mirror proved most useful during nighttime driving, while a fully-digital instrument cluster provided essential vehicle information. An available head-up display (HUD) further enhanced the driving experience.

Safety was a priority for the 2021 Nissan Rogue, catering to families who would otherwise opt for a sedan. Nissan equipped every Rogue with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. These included features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control became standard from the SV trim upward, as part of the ProPilot Assist driving aid, which included lane-centering assistance.

The Rogue also featured ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. An airbag deployed between the driver and front passenger in the Platinum trim to limit injury potential. An upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology was available in the SL Premium Package and Platinum trim. This system used navigation map data and GPS coordinates to automatically adjust speed for curves, freeway junctions, and ramps.

While crash-test results were unavailable at the time, the increased use of high-strength steel and engineering efforts to deflect crash energy away from the passenger compartment suggested strong collision protection.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5’s safety technology kept pace with its German rivals without overstepping. Standard features included front automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert. A rear-seat reminder and a federally-mandated rearview camera were also standard. Cadillac’s Night Vision technology improved nighttime drivability by detecting large wildlife and hazards at a distance, even in foggy conditions.

General Motors’ Teen Driver software allowed parents to limit certain vehicle features and review a report card of driving habits. The XT5’s Night Vision system highlighted up-close objects well, aiding in avoiding obstacles.