2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2021 Nissan Rogue sported a handsome new styling that gave it a more SUV-like appearance. The exterior featured dark gray plastic cladding along its lower perimeter, with bold, simulated skid plates and lower door protection that conveyed just the right amount of ruggedness. Perhaps a bit too audaciously, this rugged look extended to the SUV’s back bumper. Its clean LED lighting elements, prominent V-Motion grille, and well-proportioned body provided a modern aesthetic. Aluminum wheels sized up to 19 inches were standard across all trim levels, and the optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment added a custom touch.

The Rogue was available in four versions: the base Rogue S, the popular Rogue SV, the more luxurious Rogue SL, and the top-tier Rogue Platinum. Each trim added a layer of comfort and amenities, with the Platinum trim boasting semi-aniline quilted leather among its upscale offerings. The test vehicle, a Rogue SL, came outfitted with the Premium Package, additional-cost paint, and other extras, bringing it to a total price of $35,195, including destination charges.

The Rogue’s interior, featuring an Almond color leather and a panoramic glass sunroof, felt light and spacious, emphasizing roominess. Soft-touch surfaces, simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars lent a sense of quality throughout the cabin. Nissan also arranged the controls neatly and logically. For added luxury, the Platinum trim offered quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, in contrast, aimed for a more aggressive and striking look. Evoking the style of a Lamborghini Urus, the Blazer’s wedgy profile, slim-cut windows, sawblade 20-inch wheels, and an angry front end made it a head-turner. It possessed three distinct grille designs across its trim levels (L and LT, RS, Premier), with a fourth grille option available in the Redline package. The Redline package added flair with polished black wheels featuring red dashes, red-outlined black badges, black door handles, and accents. The Blazer’s tail lights had a 3D effect and a short but not stubby rear end, contributing to an unforgettable look.

However, the interior of the Blazer did not match its exterior pizazz. Despite a comfortable feel, the all-black cabin felt dark and unsatisfying, featuring featureless and unsupportive seats. The presence of downmarket plastic on the doors and dashboard detracted from the interior quality, especially given an as-tested price of $48,000 for the RS trim. In terms of cabin appointments, competitors like the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy, Nissan Murano Premium, and Toyota Venza Limited offered better-quality interiors at comparable or lower price points.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue’s performance left a bit to be desired. It was powered by a direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. While this output was adequate for daily driving, the vehicle’s nearly 3,500-pound weight made it feel underpowered, especially for adventuring outside the urban scape. The continuously variable transmission (CVT), although well-tuned, couldn’t entirely compensate for the lack of power, despite programmed ratios that mimicked a traditional automatic transmission.

With available all-wheel drive, 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, the Rogue did make strides in terms of off-road capability. However, the addition of a turbocharged engine could have significantly boosted its overall performance. During testing, the FWD Rogue SL achieved 27.5 mpg on a mixed driving loop, slightly below the EPA rating.

The new Rogue excelled in ride and handling, thanks to a robust architecture comprising 35% high-strength steel and advanced suspension systems. Features like Brake-induced Intelligent Trace Control, Active Ride Control, and Vehicle Motion Control enhanced the overall driving experience. The steering system, with improved electric assist and a quickened ratio, provided a markedly better steering feel compared to previous models.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer came with three engine options and nine-speed automatic transmissions, in either FWD or AWD configurations. The base 2.5-liter inline-four was underpowered and noisy, generating 193 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, making it a poor match for the Blazer’s sporty persona. By contrast, the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder was a much better fit, offering 227 hp and 258 lb-ft, standard on the 2LT, 3LT, and Premier trims.

The standout engine was the 3.6-liter V6, producing a hefty 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. This engine was standard on the RS trim and optional on others. The RS trim, with its sport-tuned suspension, brakes, and steering, offered remarkable harmony and handling, reminiscent of a BMW driving experience. A mechanical torque-vectoring rear axle in the RS trim enhanced power distribution between the wheels, improving grip and overall driving dynamics.

However, the Blazer’s transmission calibration had issues. In Sport mode, the transmission’s slow response and convoluted manual mode detracted from the driving experience, creating a mismatch with the impressive chassis. EPA fuel economy ratings for the AWD V6 stood at 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the AWD turbo inline-four achieved better mileage at 22/27/24.

Nissan’s 2021 Rogue made significant strides in interior comfort with its Zero Gravity seats. The latest generation of these seats, available in different materials across trims, contributed to a more comfortable experience. From cloth in the S trim to premium leather in the Platinum, each version offered varying degrees of luxury and adjustability. Heated seats, steering wheel, and rear seats were available from the SV trim up. Notably, Nissan did not offer ventilated seats despite the company’s Tennessee headquarters.

Standard air conditioning, dual-zone, or tri-zone automatic climate control, depending on the trim, ensured passenger comfort. Rear air conditioning vents were standard across all trims, and the SL and Platinum featured rear side window sunshades.

In terms of spaciousness, the Rogue’s rear-seat headroom and legroom were more generous than its predecessor. The rear doors now opened to nearly 90 degrees, making passenger loading easier, especially for families. The Rogue could accommodate up to three child safety seats, thanks to new LATCH anchors in the center seat position. A rear-seat reminder system added an extra layer of security for parents.

Storage was thoughtfully designed. A new electronic shifter freed up space under the center console, and door-panel pockets could hold 32-ounce water bottles. Despite a slight reduction in cargo volume from the previous model, the Rogue offered generous cargo space: 31.6 cubic feet in the S and SV trims, and up to 36.5 cubic feet in the SL and Platinum trims, thanks to the Divide-N-Hide cargo management system.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer provided comfortable seating for four passengers, facilitated by lower-mounted seats that made ingress and egress easy. However, sightlines were poor, a compromise for its striking design. Large side-view mirrors and an optional rear-view mirror camera improved visibility, enhancing safety. The 360-degree camera system offered clear angles, reducing the risk of curbing a rim or scuffing a bumper.

Interior space was comparable to the Equinox, with cargo space of 64 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and about 30 cubic feet when raised. While it could accommodate large items like an exercise bike, overall cabin space wasn’t exceptional. The Blazer’s trailering package with AWD and the V6 engine allowed for a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds, notably higher than the Equinox’s 1,500-pound limit.

Handy controls, like the moveable rings around the front air vents for temperature adjustment and the projected Chevy logo for hands-free tailgate operation, added convenience. Higher trims featured automatic heated steering wheels, heated/cooled front seats, and optional heated rear seats. However, the overall quality and design lagged behind competitors’ offerings.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment package starting from the base S trim. Features included an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with a free six-month trial to Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant. Knobs for power/volume and station tuning, along with menu shortcut buttons, facilitated ease of use, although their small size and glossy finishes might have posed some difficulty.

SV and SL trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. These services included remote engine start, collision notification, vehicle alerts, and a car finder function, with subscription fees applicable post-trial periods. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim further enhanced the system with a 9-inch touchscreen, door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, upgraded voice recognition, and a Bose premium audio system.

The Platinum trim also featured advanced technology like wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

Chevrolet equipped the 2021 Blazer with an 8-inch touchscreen running Chevrolet Infotainment 3, praised for its simplicity and speed. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, enhancing connectivity. The RS trim, with the Driver Confidence II package, added wireless phone charging, LED headlights, 360 cameras, adaptive cruise control, and the innovative Safety Alert Seat.

The "Plus" version of the infotainment system included navigation with traffic updates, 4G WiFi, onboard apps, and better voice recognition, capable of pairing with two phones at once. Unique features like the GM cloud account for settings transfer, and the Marketplace app for contactless payments, showcased Chevrolet's forward-thinking approach. Alexa compatibility and individual app privacy settings bolstered customer confidence in data security.

Most Blazer trims, except the L and 1LT, came standard with forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. However, it lacked a semi-automated function for traffic, and the steering wheel wouldn’t turn proactively with cruise control engaged.

Nissan prioritized safety for the 2021 Rogue, equipping it with a gamut of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), grouped under the Safety Shield 360. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and, importantly, a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. Unlike some competitors, the Rogue incorporated these features at the base trim level, which significantly enhanced its safety profile.

Further bolstering safety, the Rogue included ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Platinum trim added an airbag between the driver and front passenger to further reduce injury risks. Adaptive cruise control was standard from the SV trim onwards, included in the improved ProPilot Assist driving aid that featured lane-centering assistance. ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, available in the SL Premium Package and Platinum trim, used GPS data to automatically adjust speed for curves and freeway junctions, ensuring smoother and more accurate driving assistance.

The new Rogue’s architecture, with a near doubling of high-strength steel, aimed to improve crash energy deflection, promising better protection in collisions. However, as of this review, crash-test results were still pending.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer scored well in safety tests, receiving an overall five stars from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crash tests. It garnered four stars in the frontal crash for the front passenger and in the rollover test. However, its headlights received "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings from the IIHS, slightly dampening its safety score.

Standard safety features included a driver’s knee airbag and enhanced forward emergency braking, which used radar and camera for accurate detection. Despite this, the Blazer lacked certain advanced features like GM’s inboard side airbag and rear emergency braking, available only on higher trims through the Driver Confidence II package.