2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Hyundai Venue

The 2021 Nissan Rogue presented a bold and rugged appearance, with its handsome new styling and technical design elements. It featured dark gray plastic cladding along its lower perimeter, bold simulated skid plates, and lower door protection, which added to its SUV-like presence. The clean LED lighting elements, prominent V-Motion grille, and well-proportioned body gave the Rogue a modern aesthetic. The availability of aluminum wheels up to 19 inches and optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment further enhanced its custom look. The interior of the Rogue was light and bright, thanks to the Almond color leather and panoramic glass sunroof, emphasizing its improved roominess. The cabin was adorned with soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars, lending a sense of quality. The controls were arranged in a clean and logical fashion, and the Platinum trim offered a luxurious look with quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, was a stylish little crossover that seemed to defy the passage of time with its design. Its upright stance, almost horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a unique shape that didn't betray its small size. The grille was properly sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the design, and roof rails added to its crossover appeal. The Venue's headlights were split into two pieces, and the taillights featured an interesting pattern of triangles and diagonal elements. The Venue's exterior updates from the 2020 model included replacing the 15-inch steel wheels with 15-inch alloys on the base SE trim, while the SEL and Denim trims received 17-inch alloys as standard. The top-line Denim trim, with its white roof and unique paint job, was particularly eye-catching. Inside, the Venue's cabin was filled with plastic materials, but it managed to maintain a modern look. The shape of the Venue allowed plenty of light to enter the cabin, and the heated seats in the SEL trim added to the comfort.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 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 Rogue's nearly 3,500-pound weight made it feel underpowered, especially when adventuring off the beaten path. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) did a decent job of leveraging the available torque, and the programmed ratios helped it mimic a traditional automatic. The Rogue offered all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option, with up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes. The SUV's ride and handling were well-tuned, thanks to a new architecture composed of 35% high-strength steel, a strut front, and multi-link rear suspension. The Rogue's steering was notably improved, with the electric assist moved to the steering rack and a quickened ratio. The tested Rogue SL with front-wheel drive (FWD) achieved 27.5 mpg, slightly below the official EPA rating.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This small, economical engine was aimed at providing just enough power for the Venue's lightweight design, which weighed in at 2,612 pounds. The Venue's performance was comparable to competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Ford EcoSport, and Toyota C-HR, although it was smaller and lighter. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was the only option, and the Venue came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Venue's slim weight allowed it to move sprightly through lower-speed areas, but it lacked the horsepower for confident highway driving. The Venue's driving experience was adequate for its size, but those seeking more power would need to look elsewhere.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured improved Zero Gravity seats, providing comfort with cloth upholstery in the S trim and leather in the SL trim. The SV trim offered eight-way power adjustment, and the Platinum trim boasted premium leather. The Rogue's interior was equipped with standard air conditioning, dual-zone automatic climate control in the SV, and a triple-zone system in the SL and Platinum trims. Rear-seat headroom and legroom were generous, and the rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle for easy passenger loading. The Rogue's cargo capacity was competitive, with 31.6 cubic feet in the S and SV trims and up to 36.5 cubic feet in the SL and Platinum trims. The maximum cargo volume with the rear seat folded was 74.1 cubic feet, among the largest in the class.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, with a handy tray for storage ahead of the gear selector. The center console's bin was small but functional, and automatic climate control efficiently managed the cabin's temperature. The Venue's back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults on longer drives. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 31.9 cubic feet with the seat folded. These figures lagged behind competitors like the Mazda3, Subaru Impreza, and Honda Civic hatchbacks. The Venue's cargo capacity was also less than the Nissan Kicks, Toyota C-HR, and Ford EcoSport, making it less suitable for those prioritizing cargo space.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment package with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto in the S trim. The SV and SL trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim featured a larger 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, 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 2021 Hyundai Venue was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen, physical buttons for quick access to media sources, and a customizable starred button. The screen had high resolution and responsive swipe functionality. The Venue's infotainment system allowed for driver profiles with radio presets, appealing to families with multiple drivers. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard features, with wireless CarPlay expected in the future for the base SE trim.

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

The 2021 Hyundai Venue came standard with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue's ADAS were seamlessly integrated, allowing for normal driving behavior without distracting alerts. In crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars in the NHTSA's driver-side and passenger-side front collision tests and four out of five for rollover.