2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Land Rover Defender

The 2021 Nissan Rogue showcased an attractive new design, distinguished by a more technical appearance that made it resemble an SUV rather than a car. Its exterior featured dark gray plastic cladding along the lower perimeter and bold simulated skid plates, particularly pronounced on the back bumper, establishing a rugged yet audacious aesthetic. The clean LED lighting elements, prominent V-Motion grille, and well-balanced proportions contributed to its modern appeal. Buyers could enhance the look with optional two-tone paint and a black roof treatment, adding a custom touch to the vehicle.

The Rogue was available in four trim levels: the entry-level Rogue S priced at $25,650, the popular Rogue SV at $27,340, the luxury-leaning Rogue SL at $32,000, and the top-of-the-line Rogue Platinum at $35,430, which featured semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities. Adding $1,095 in destination charges to each of these prices was necessary.

Factory options included all-wheel-drive for $1,400 and premium packages for the SV and SL trims. The tested Rogue SL, with optional extras like the Premium Package and exclusive paint, totaled $35,195, including destination charges. The interior of the test vehicle, with Almond color leather and a panoramic glass sunroof, amplified its spaciousness. Soft-touch surfaces, simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars added a quality feel to the cabin. The arrangement of controls was clean and logical. The Platinum trim, with its quilted semi-aniline leather and contrast stitching, provided a more luxurious experience.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Land Rover Defender aimed to reflect its iconic heritage while modernizing its appeal. The original Defender's design featured round headlamps, diamond-plated flat surfaces, and a boxy cabin with a tall roofline and flat windshield, creating a timeless and rugged look. The new Defender echoed this vibe but updated it with modern elements like half-round LED headlights resembling serious eyelids, a structural grille design, and flat-topped fenders with composite cladding.

The Defender's short overhangs front and rear emphasized its off-road prowess. The fit and finish were first-rate, and the bold "DEFENDER" nameplate on the front and rear added a tasteful touch. Inside, the exposed structure theme continued with visible Allen-head bolts securing the door panels and beefy controls. The digital instrument panel and securely mounted center touchscreen added to its modernity. Authentic materials like real metal and leather further elevated the interior's quality and thoughtful design.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue, with a weight of nearly 3,500 pounds, was powered by a direct-injected 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 continuously variable transmission (CVT) made the most of the available torque. The CVT was refined enough to blend seamlessly into the driving experience, mimicking a traditional automatic due to its programmed ratios and paddle shifters on the steering wheel, though these were rarely used.

Despite being geared for adventure with available all-wheel-drive, 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, the Rogue felt a bit underpowered, especially in mountainous terrains. Nissan hinted at a more potent turbocharged engine in future updates, likely incorporating the same variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder found in the Altima sedan and Infiniti QX50.

Meanwhile, the tested front-wheel-drive Rogue SL managed 27.5 mpg on mixed driving routes, just shy of its EPA rating. The robust new architecture composed of 35% high-strength steel, a strut front, and multi-link rear suspension, alongside features like Brake-induced Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, enhanced the Rogue's ride and handling. The advanced Vehicle Motion Control system, 19-inch wheels, and 235/55 all-season tires contributed to a smooth, predictable, and athletic feel. Notably, the new steering setup with electric assist moved to the steering rack dramatically improved steering feel compared to the previous model.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender offered two powerful engines: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid setup generating 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. An exciting supercharged 5.0-liter V8, producing 518 hp, was announced for the 2022 model year. All Defenders came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD with low range and Terrain Response systems, enhancing traction and off-road capability. Terrain Response 2 and locking center and active rear differentials further bolstered its off-road prowess.

With short overhangs and impressive approach and departure angles (30.1 degrees and 37.6 degrees, respectively), the Defender could tackle steep gradients and side slopes confidently. The Defender also boasted up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance and could wade through up to 35.4 inches of water.

On the road, the Defender, despite its 4,830-5,165 pounds, delivered impressive acceleration, with the 2.0-liter version achieving 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds and the 3.0-liter variant in just 5.8 seconds. It could tow up to 8,200 pounds and had a payload capacity exceeding 1,700 pounds. Our tested 3.0-liter Defender provided a rock-solid and comfortable highway ride, with its high seating position aiding city driving maneuvers. Although we didn't tackle extreme off-road challenges, its dirt road performance was convincing.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue's interior aimed to provide ultimate comfort with its Zero Gravity seat designs, intended to replicate the neutral spine position experienced in outer space, thus reducing stress and fatigue. The previous Rogue's seats felt somewhat undersized, but the 2021 model's improved Zero Gravity seats were more comfortable. S-trim seats had cloth upholstery and manual adjustments. The SV trim added eight-way power adjustment with optional leatherette, the SL included standard leather, and the Platinum featured premium leather upholstery.

Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats were available in higher trims. Despite the brand's Nashville roots, ventilated seats were not offered. The Rogue included various climate control options: standard air conditioning, dual-zone automatic climate control in the SV, and a triple-zone system in the SL and Platinum, which enabled rear-seat temperature control.

Rear-seat comfort improved with increased headroom, legroom, and nearly 90-degree opening rear doors for easy passenger loading. The Rogue accommodated up to three child safety seats, thanks to new LATCH anchors, and featured a standard rear-seat reminder to prevent leaving children behind. Interior noise was reduced through aerodynamic enhancements, acoustic front glass, and a thicker dashboard insulator.

The Rogue boasted practical storage solutions, including a storage tray under the center console, large door-panel pockets, and a split butterfly-style opening center armrest for better access. Cargo capacity ranged from 31.6 to 36.5 cubic feet, depending on the trim, and with the rear seats folded, the maximum volume reached 74.1 cubic feet—one of the largest in its class.

In contrast, the 2021 Land Rover Defender used a unibody platform, shared with the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Discovery, emphasizing aluminum to reduce weight and enhance strength. The Defender featured independent multi-link air suspension for improved ride and off-road capabilities. This independent suspension facilitated versatile interior configurations, including an optional jump seat for three-across front seating and an available third-row in the long-wheelbase 110 model, though our test vehicle lacked these options.

The Defender 110 provided 34-34.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row, expanding to 78.8 cubic feet with the first row upright. The Defender 90, the three-door model, offered 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 58.3 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue delivered competitive infotainment technology. The S trim included an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with a six-month trial of Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant. It featured knobs for power/volume and station tuning, though their small size and glossy finish could make them challenging to grasp and use. Menu shortcut buttons provided quick access to commonly used functions.

Upgrading to the SV or SL trim added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. NissanConnect Services provided remote engine starting, automatic collision notification, vehicle speed and boundary alerts, and a car finder function, with subscription fees required after trial periods.

The SL Premium Package or Rogue Platinum featured a 9-inch touchscreen, door-to-door navigation with real-time traffic, wireless Apple CarPlay, an upgraded voice recognition system, and a Bose premium audio system. The voice recognition system generally produced accurate results, and the Bose audio offered good sound quality.

Platinum trim included wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display, enhancing the technological experience.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender employed Land Rover's Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0, enabling remote software updates for 14 individual modules over WiFi. The Pivi Pro infotainment system featured a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, with standard Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Defender offered various camera views, including a "transparent hood" view using the 3D surround-camera system with a 360-degree perspective, particularly useful for off-roading without a trail spotter.

The standard audio system had six speakers, but buyers could upgrade to 10 or 14 speakers, including subwoofers, with available Meridian sound systems and amplification options ranging from 180 to 700 watts. A new full-color head-up display and a ClearSight rear-view mirror, providing a camera view when the rear vision was obstructed, were also available.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue prioritized safety, outfitted with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. This included features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning but uniquely incorporated a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert, favorably replacing the commonly included adaptive cruise control seen in competitors.

Nissan equipped the Rogue with ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Platinum trim added a front passenger-interaction airbag for added protection. Starting with the SV trim, the Rogue came with an enhanced ProPilot Assist driving aid, featuring lane-centering, updated radar and camera units, and improved stop-and-go functionality. Higher trims benefited from ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology, which used navigation data to adjust speed for curves and exit ramps automatically.

Although crash-test results for the new Rogue were unavailable, its near double use of high-strength steel and engineering focused on better crash energy deflection indicated a strong safety performance.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender had yet to be crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, as typically expected for a new, low-volume luxury SUV. However, it came with extensive standard safety features such as a perimeter alarm, front airbags, tire pressure monitoring, child safety seat ISOFIX system, electronic traction control, dynamic stability control, emergency braking, and lane-keep assist, among others.

The Defender underwent rigorous durability testing in extreme conditions and featured robust recovery points capable of withstanding up to 10 tons of pull, essential for off-road rescues.