2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured a sleek new design with a more SUV-like appearance compared to its predecessor. Its technical styling included dark gray plastic cladding along the lower perimeter, bold simulated skid plates, and lower door protection that gave it a rugged appearance, though some felt it was overly aggressive on the SUV’s back bumper. Clean LED lighting, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportions provided a modern aesthetic. The SUV offered aluminum wheels up to 19 inches, and optional two-tone paint with a black roof added a custom look.

Four trims were available: Rogue S ($25,650), Rogue SV ($27,340), Rogue SL ($32,000), and the new Rogue Platinum ($35,430). Options included all-wheel drive for $1,400, along with Premium packages for the SV ($2,660) and SL ($1,320). The test vehicle, a Rogue SL with the Premium Package and extra-cost paint, totaled $35,195, inclusive of destination charges.

The interior of the test vehicle, featuring Almond colored leather and a panoramic glass sunroof, was light, roomier, and had a quality feel. Soft-touch surfaces, simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars added to the cabin's sense of luxury. The Platinum trim took it further with quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. However, the climate control panel’s outdated digital clock-like numbers stood out, and it still had a CD player amidst modern features like wireless Apple CarPlay.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, despite its beginnings in 2005, remained in its second generation as of 2021. The current model, refreshed in 2018, included a dual-screen center console defining modern Land Rover interiors. The 2021 model added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Trims ranged from SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, and the performance-oriented SVR and SVR Carbon Edition. Standard SE features included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Meridian sound system, and the dual-screen infotainment system.

The HSE Silver added quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 19-speaker Meridian system, while the HST trim prioritized performance upgrades. The HSE Dynamic's two-speed transfer case and supercharged V8 offered higher performance, with Autobiography adding top-tier luxury features. The SVR trims focused on performance, with sport seats, a stiffened suspension, and carbon fiber accents on the SVR Carbon Edition.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue, weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, lacked sufficient power with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) performed well, resembling traditional automatics more closely than typical CVTs, even including paddle shifters that users rarely employed.

The Rogue offered all-wheel drive (AWD), 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, making it capable of mild off-road adventures. Despite a potential for turbocharging hinted at by Nissan, the existing normally aspirated engine could feel underpowered.

Fuel economy for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) Rogue SL was 27.5 mpg, slightly below EPA estimates. The new architecture, composed 35% of high-strength steel, and advanced suspension systems including Intelligent Trace Control and Vehicle Motion Control enhanced ride and handling. The test vehicle’s 19-inch wheels and 235/55 all-season tires offered a smooth and secure driving experience, and improved steering provided a markedly better feel than previous models.

In comparison, the 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered various powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid, with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six and 48-volt system, delivered 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST’s P400 version increased this to 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The HSE Silver offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains, the latter a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 generating 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The P400e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter turbo-four with electric assist for 398 hp and 472 lb-ft.

Higher trims like the HSE Dynamic and Autobiography housed a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The performance-focused SVR trims received an even more powerful V8 making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft.

All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive (4WD). Height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system facilitated strong off-road capabilities while maintaining composure on paved surfaces. The Range Rover Sport's superior towing capacity reached up to 7,716 pounds or 6,613 pounds for the SVR.

In the 2021 Nissan Rogue, Zero Gravity seats intended to reduce fatigue were notably more comfortable than those in previous models. They came in different materials across trims, from cloth in the S to premium leather in the Platinum. Higher trims added options like heated front and rear seats and triple-zone climate control.

The rear seats offered improved headroom and legroom, with doors that opened nearly 90 degrees for easier loading. The Rogue could accommodate three child safety seats and included a rear-seat reminder system. Nissan also reduced interior noise and optimized storage, with useful spaces for water bottles and under-console trays. Power rear liftgates, available on higher trims, facilitated access to 31.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide system. Maximum cargo volume was 74.1 cubic feet, among the largest in its class.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with rear seats folded, and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. It also had an optional third row, providing a 10.8 cubic feet capacity behind it. While this space sufficed for additional bags, it lagged behind the Rogue.

Both the first and second rows in the Range Rover Sport were spacious and luxurious, but the optional third row was tight and best for children.

Technology in the 2021 Nissan Rogue was competitive, starting with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto in the base S trim. Higher trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration, and remote features. Premium trims offered a 9-inch display with door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose audio system. The Platinum trim included wireless charging, a 12.3-inch digital cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport’s dual-screen center console managed climate controls and vehicle settings on the lower screen, while the upper handled infotainment. This system, though improved, could be complex. The dual dials on the lower screen served multiple functions, and the upper screen offered a straightforward interface with reasonable-sized icons for easier navigation between the native system and smartphone integration. Despite a volume button, the system required a learning curve.

Nissan prioritized safety in the 2021 Rogue, equipping every model with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning. Unlike many competitors, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings were standard. Additional safety features included ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, a rear-seat reminder system, and innovative seatbelt technology.

Moreover, higher trims featured ProPilot Assist with lane-centering, stop-and-go functionality, and Navi-link technology using GPS data for adaptive speed adjustments. The improved safety architecture included high-strength steel, aiming for better crash energy deflection.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and parking sensors. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were extra options. Other available features included a surround-view camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parking assist, providing a comprehensive suite of safety technologies.