2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

In 2021, the Nissan Rogue arrived with handsome new styling and a more technical appearance that made it look more like an SUV than a car. Dark gray plastic cladding covered the Rogue's lower perimeter, and bold, simulated skid plates and lower door protection conveyed a ruggedness that some might have found too audacious, particularly at the back bumper. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning lent the new Rogue a modern aesthetic. All trim levels came with aluminum wheels, sized up to 19 inches in diameter, and the optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment gave the SUV a custom look.

Four versions of the Rogue were available: the entry-level S, the popular SV, the more luxurious SL, and the top-of-the-line Platinum, which featured semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities. Our test vehicle, an SL trim with the Premium Package and extra-cost paint, had a light and bright Almond-colored leather interior, abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars, which all lent a sense of quality to the cabin.

The new Rogue's interior was spacious, with an emphasis on comfort. Notable elements included a panoramic glass sunroof, updated climate control panel, and wireless Apple CarPlay. An older CD player was still present, but it didn’t overshadow the modern technological features.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator avoided emulating rivals' styles and instead followed the successful design language of the Navigator. This resulted in a sharply defined, crisp appearance with noticeable chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart (the Explorer) with a cabin focused on comfort and warmth. Soft-touch materials and a center console that rose elegantly to a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen dominated the dash.

The Aviator’s trims—Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring—progressively added luxury features. Our Grand Touring model featured adaptive headlights, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and Lincoln’s impressive Multi-Contour Seats with massaging function. The rear-seat area was just as inviting, with additional USB ports, wall-style power outlets, and a digital control panel for the rear climate and audio controls.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue 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 adequate for daily driving, the engine struggled under heavy loads, particularly in mountainous regions. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) performed well, mimicking a traditional automatic and providing paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

With available all-wheel drive, up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, the Rogue could handle light off-road adventures. However, performance on a media test drive suggested the need for a more powerful option, like the potential introduction of a turbocharged engine.

The Rogue's fuel economy in the tested SL trim with front-wheel drive was 27.5 mpg, missing the official EPA rating by a small margin. The ride and handling were commendable, with a suspension system that included Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control for enhanced comfort and athleticism. Improved steering with electric assist moved to the steering rack and a quicker ratio provided a much better feel than the previous generation.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Power was channeled through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The Grand Touring and Black Label Grand Touring trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, and a 21-mile electric-only range.

Acceleration in the Aviator was brisk and smooth, although its substantial weight led to noticeable body roll in corners. The long wheelbase contributed to awkward maneuvering in tight spaces. The Aviator's drive mode selector included "Excite" and "Conserve" modes, adding a playful element to its driving capabilities.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue aimed to replicate the neutral spine position found in zero gravity, achieving a high level of comfort with its improved Zero Gravity seats. Available in cloth, leatherette, and premium leather, these seats offered various levels of adjustment and heating options. However, despite Nashville’s hot summers, ventilated seats were not available.

The Rogue’s rear seat area was spacious, with nearly 90-degree opening rear doors making ingress and egress easy. The cabin included numerous storage solutions and had a quieter interior due to sound-deadening improvements. Cargo space in the Rogue ranged from 31.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats in lower trims to 36.5 cubic feet in the SL and Platinum trims, with a maximum of 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, among the best in its class.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats. Power-lift-and-lower third-row seats increased cargo capacity to 41.8 cubic feet, and a total of 77.7 cubic feet was available with all rear seats folded, making it competitive in the midsize luxury SUV segment. The second-row captain's chairs in our test model featured a helpful center console and digital control panel for various functions.

While the Aviator’s power-button door releases added a modern touch, their reliability in the event of a dead battery was questionable. Overall, the Aviator offered functional luxury with significant cargo and passenger space.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment package. The base S trim included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The SV and SL trims added NissanConnect Services with a WiFi hotspot and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with enhanced features, including a Bose premium audio system. For those seeking more tech, the Platinum trim provided wireless smartphone charging, a digital instrument cluster, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its standard 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system. Unlike the Ford Explorer’s tall, protruding screen, the Aviator’s landscape layout was more natural and user-friendly. The Sync 3 system was intuitive, benefitting from redundant controls in the center stack, and it came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with large, crisp graphics.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue prioritized safety with a standard collection of advanced driving assistance systems under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. These included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Rogue also featured ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, a rear-seat reminder system, and rear pre-tensioning and load-limiting seatbelts. ProPilot Assist, starting with the SV trim, added adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. The upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology in higher trims further enhanced driving safety.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came equipped with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, which included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Our Grand Touring test model featured the Co-Pilot 360 Plus package, adding reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from the NHTSA and IIHS, securing a Top Safety Pick accolade.