2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was a head-turner sporting a handsome new styling that gave it a more rugged technical appearance, aligning more closely with the SUV genre than typical cars. The dark gray plastic cladding encircled its lower perimeter, complemented by bold artificial skid plates and lower door protection—delivering maybe an overly audacious rugged look, especially noticeable on the back bumper.

Boasting sleek LED lighting elements, a pronounced V-Motion grille, and well-balanced proportions, the 2021 Rogue exuded a modern aesthetic. All trim levels had aluminum wheels ranging up to 19 inches. The option for two-tone paint with a black roof treatment further enhanced its custom appearance. The Rogue lineup included four versions: the base S ($25,650), the popular SV ($27,340), the slightly luxurious SL ($32,000), and the top-of-the-line Platinum ($35,430). An additional $1,095 in destination charges applied to all prices. Options like all-wheel drive for $1,400 and Premium packages for the SV ($2,660) and SL ($1,320) allowed further customization. The test SL model, Inclusive of extra-cost paint and a cargo area protection package, totaled $35,195.

Inside, the Rogue SL featured an Almond color leather interior and a standard panoramic glass sunroof, emphasizing the cabin’s light and spacious feel. Soft-touch surfaces, attractive simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars underlined a high-quality cabin environment. Controls were arranged logically, and the Platinum trim promised a genuinely luxurious experience with quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. Still, the climate control panel numbers had a retro 1980s digital clock vibe, and an unexpected CD player persisted amidst modern wireless Apple CarPlay.

Conversely, the 2021 Lexus GX 460's styling reflected its decade-long tenure on the market. The GX kept its fundamental body design but incorporated updates over the years, like acquiring Lexus’ spindle grille in 2014, which was updated in 2020 alongside new triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model retained this grille and added standard silver 18-inch wheels on Premium trim and optional 19-inch wheels.

Despite its initial design predating the spindle grille, the GX's styling managed to remain cohesive, standing out in an era of ever-larger grilles (looking at you, BMW X7). Its aggressive, distinctive look appealed to SUV enthusiasts.

Inside, however, the GX felt behind its times for a luxury vehicle. The dashboard’s wood trim looked like molded plastic, and substantial plastic elements prevailed. Yet, standard leather upholstery uplifted the interior, with semi-aniline leather reserved for the Luxury trim.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue’s performance left some room for improvement. The SUV tipped the scales at nearly 3,500 pounds and employed a sole engine option: a direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder generating 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. Adequate for daily commuting, the engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that mimicked a traditional automatic transmission well, with paddle shifters on the steering wheel for those inclined to use them.

The Rogue's available all-wheel drive, 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes suggested off-the-beaten-path credentials. However, its four-cylinder engine felt underpowered during ambitious adventures. The media inquired about possible future turbocharging, and while Nissan remained non-committal, possibilities existed for a turbocharged engine akin to the Altima sedan and Infiniti QX50's variable-compression 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

In terms of ride and handling, the 2021 Rogue shone. Its new, robust architecture, consisting of 35% high-strength steel, provided solid underpinnings. The suspension setup and complementing Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control systems added to the ride and handling satisfaction. With the debuting Vehicle Motion Control for 2021, the Rogue anticipated driving inputs to enhance enjoyment further. The SUV’s steering received notable upgrades—an electric assist moved to the steering rack, ratio quickened, and tuning improved—producing a dramatically enhanced feel.

The Lexus GX 460 powered forward with a 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. With a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds, the GX exhibited the robust power of its V8 at low speeds, though its 5,130-pound mass hindered higher-speed performance. Merging and overtaking demanded strategic planning.

Stopping also necessitated foresight, and in corners, the GX demonstrated low grip and considerable body roll. The absence of an adaptive suspension in the Premium model hurt its ride quality, reflective of traditional body-on-frame vehicles. While other modern SUVs embraced unibody construction for superior ride quality, the GX remained linked to its off-road roots, boasting a capable four-wheel-drive system with a Torsen center differential and off-road driver aids.

Where the GX truly distinguished itself was off-road capability, supported by hardware like hill-descent control, hill-start assist, optional Off-Road Package, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select for varying terrains.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue aimed for comfort in its seating, featuring Nissan's Zero Gravity seats. These seats, updated in the 2021 model, were particularly comfortable and came in various upholsteries depending on the trim level—from cloth in the S trim to premium leather in the Platinum. Heating elements existed for the front seats, steering wheel, and rear seats across various trims, although ventilated seats remained absent, possibly surprising given Nissan's Nashville headquarters.

The triple-zone climate control system in the SL and Platinum trims handed rear-seat occupants temperature control, supported by standard rear air conditioning vents. The rear doors' wider opening angle simplified rear passenger loading, and the back seat welcomed both adults and children comfortably. Enhanced LATCH anchors allowed accommodation for three child safety seats, backed by a rear-seat reminder system to avoid leaving children behind. Nissan's noise reduction efforts yielded a quieter cabin, employing strategic aerodynamic improvements and soundproofing materials.

Storage within the Rogue was plentiful. A new electronic shifter created space under the center console, and large door-panel pockets comfortably held 32-ounce water bottles. The cargo area, ranging from 31.6 to 36.5 cubic feet depending on the trim, provided substantial utility, though the maximum 74.1 cubic feet with rear seats folded fell slightly from the preceding model but remained competitive.

Comparatively, the 2021 Lexus GX 460's interior displayed its age. The upright dashboard and high center console restricted legroom, while the steering wheel's odd angle, coupled with a bus-like tall seating position, marred comfort. The heated wood-trimmed steering wheel further aggravated this, with heating elements not covering the entire wheel.

Despite its ergonomic quirks, the GX granted excellent outward visibility owing to its boxy profile, although the tall hood hampered forward visibility. Storage in the center console and cupholders across three rows was limited. The GX delivered a tactile experience with analog controls for climate and seat heaters, a welcome contrast to touchscreen-heavy modern vehicles. Second-row occupants also benefited from climate controls.

Standard in the GX was three-row seating for seven, though the third row was best for children due to limited space. Accessing this row proved challenging, as the second-row seats obstructed the path even when folded. Cargo space with all seats in use was minimal, and even with the third-row folded, the GX offered 64.7 cubic feet, less than the Land Rover Discovery. It's more practical to consider it a two-row vehicle, reserving the third row for occasional use.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue presented a competitive technology suite. The base S trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, supplemented by a six-month trial of Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant. Physical knobs for volume and tuning, while small, were present, and shortcut buttons facilitated ease of use despite some glossy surfaces.

The SV and SL trims introduced NissanConnect Services with a WiFi hotspot, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. These services enabled remote engine start, automatic collision notification, and more, though after trial periods, a subscription was required. Higher trims like the SL Premium Package and Platinum offered a larger 9-inch touchscreen, door-to-door navigation, real-time traffic updates, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim further added advanced features like wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

In stark contrast, the 2021 Lexus GX 460 was notably sparse in technology. Standard features included Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, with glaring omissions like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The touchscreen interface was outdated with graphics reminiscent of the 1990s, and a simplistic seven-segment display below it showed basic info like time and temperature.

Yet, the analog controls offered a straightforward operational approach, a welcome divergence from the trend toward complex touch-based systems in luxury vehicles. The available 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was a premium offering, but the lack of modern connectivity features remained a significant drawback.

For the 2021 Nissan Rogue, safety was a priority. It came equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, an extensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) across all trims. This package included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and crucially, a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert, which was standard even on base trims—making it highly effective for daily use.

Additional safety features incorporated ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder. Unique to the Platinum trim was a center airbag for mitigating injury risk between front occupants. Adaptive cruise control, though not part of Safety Shield 360, was standard from the SV trim onwards, incorporated into the improved ProPilot Assist system. The latter featured better radar and camera units, enhancing its accuracy and smoothness, while functional improvements catered to stop-and-go traffic with a 30-second resume function.

Further enhancing ProPilot Assist was Navi-link technology, standard in the SL Premium Package and Platinum trims, using navigation data to adjust speeds for various driving conditions.

Though crash-test ratings were unavailable at the review's time, the Rogue’s extensive use of high-strength steel and advanced engineering aimed to ensure robust crash protection.

For the 2021 Lexus GX 460, safety was upheld with the standard Lexus Safety System+ suite. This included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Also standard were blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Nonetheless, the GX 460 was missing some more advanced safety features found in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist for lane-centering.