2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Lincoln Corsair

The 2021 Nissan Rogue boasted revamped aesthetics that aligned more with traditional SUV looks rather than a car. Its technical appearance was accentuated by dark gray plastic cladding along the lower perimeter, bold simulated skid plates, and strategic lower door protection that offered an almost audacious ruggedness, especially noticeable on the rear bumper. With clean LED lighting, a prominent V-Motion grille, and refined proportions, the Rogue presented a modern aesthetic. All trim levels came with aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter; the optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment added a custom look.

The model offered four trims: The entry-level Rogue S at $25,650, the popular Rogue SV at $27,340, the luxurious Rogue SL at $32,000, and the upscale Rogue Platinum at $35,430. Adding to the factory options, all-wheel drive was available for an additional $1,400, while premium packages for the SV and SL cost $2,660 and $1,320, respectively. The tested SL version included the Premium Package and optional paint, with destination charges bringing the total to $35,195.

Inside, the test vehicle showcased an Almond leather interior accented by a panoramic glass sunroof, enhancing the light and airy feel. Abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars accentuated a sense of quality. Controls were thoughtfully arranged for logical use. Opting for the Platinum trim introduced quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting for a luxurious touch. However, the retro-looking numbers on the climate control panel felt like something from the 1980s, and despite having a CD player, the Rogue was technologically current with features like wireless Apple CarPlay.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair, introduced as a successor to the dated Lincoln MKC, rode on a new C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape. Differentiated significantly from its Ford counterpart, the Corsair felt distinct in terms of design. The slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and consistent belt and rooflines lent a refined look. This design continuity with the Aviator and Navigator models sometimes made the Corsair appear larger.

Inside, the Corsair adopted elements from more expensive Lincoln SUVs, including a flowing dash, floating center touchscreen, and signature "Piano Key" shifter buttons. However, fit and finish were not on par with those premium models. The interior, seen in black leather and dark wood trim in the test model, seemed more suited for older buyers. The Corsair felt refined rather than aggressive, with comfortable seating and adequate storage space.

Trim options for the Corsair included the Standard, Reserve, and the new Grand Touring plug-in hybrid. The base Standard model featured 18-inch alloy wheels, a power rear liftgate, dual-zone climate control, and synthetic leather upholstery. The Reserve trim added 19-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 14-speaker Revel audio system, genuine leather upholstery, and a large panoramic moonroof. Our test model came with the Elements package, including heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a 360-degree camera system. The Grand Touring model added various standard features, along with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue, weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. This output sufficed for typical daily driving, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) performed admirably, barely noticeable with programmed ratios mimicking a traditional automatic. Paddle shifters were present, although seldom used.

The Rogue, equipped for adventure with optional AWD, up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, was ready for off-road scenarios. A significant media event hinted that a turbocharged engine might be in future iterations for added power—a welcome addition given its performance limitations in mountainous or off-road conditions.

The measured fuel economy of the tested Rogue SL with FWD was 27.5 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating. The new architecture, comprising 35% high-strength steel, and systems like Brake-induced Intelligent Trace Control, Active Ride Control, and the debuting Vehicle Motion Control, enhanced handling and ride comfort. The standout improvement was the new steering system, moved from the steering column to the steering rack with a quicker ratio, yielding significantly improved steering feel.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair featured a base 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offered FWD or AWD. The optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD, ensuring strong acceleration.

The Corsair offered unique drive modes like "Conserve" and "Excite," providing a refined driving experience. It accelerated briskly, with light steering and some body roll in turns, but remained confident in cornering with strong braking capabilities. The suspension, designed to handle deep potholes at high speeds, contributed to a comfortable ride, albeit with noticeable road noise.

The 2021 model introduced the Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, combining a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with a CVT, battery power, and two electric motors for a combined 266 horsepower. It offered 28 miles of purely electric driving and a combined efficiency rating of 78 MPGe in electric mode and 33 mpg in hybrid mode.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue aimed to replicate a neutral spine position with its Zero Gravity seat designs, enhancing comfort, especially with the improved seats in the new model. The seats came in cloth for the S trim, leatherette for SV, standard leather for the SL, and premium leather for the Platinum. Quick Comfort heated seats were available, but ventilated seats were not.

The Rogue's interior featured standard air conditioning, dual-zone automatic climate control for the SV, and a triple-zone system for the SL and Platinum. Rear air conditioning vents were standard, and rear side window sunshades were available in higher trims.

The updated Rogue offered generous rear-seat headroom and legroom, nearly 90-degree rear door openings, and was capable of fitting three child safety seats with new central LATCH anchors. Efforts to reduce interior noise were effective, creating a quieter cabin. Storage solutions included an electronic shifter freeing up console space, large door-panel pockets, and a center armrest with a split butterfly-style opening for accessible storage.

Cargo capacity slightly dropped from the previous model but remained competitive. The Rogue offered 31.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats for the S and SV trims, with the SL and Platinum featuring the Divide-N-Hide system offering up to 36.5 cubic feet. Folding the rear seat revealed a maximum of 74.1 cubic feet, among the best in the segment.

Conversely, the Corsair surprised with ample head and legroom in both rows, even featuring reclining and sliding rear seats for added comfort. However, the pronounced floor lip could trip occupants, a design element that required caution. The cabin space was utilized effectively, offering 27.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 57.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, average for its class. The Corsair included a standard power liftgate, with a hands-free option available.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue delivered competitive infotainment, starting with an 8-inch touchscreen in the S trim, equipped with Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, plus a free six-month trial to Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant. The SV and SL trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant integration, and more advanced connectivity features, albeit with subscription fees post-trial.

Higher trims, like the SL Premium Package and Rogue Platinum, featured a larger 9-inch touchscreen, door-to-door navigation with real-time traffic, wireless Apple CarPlay, enhanced voice recognition, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim further included wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen running the SYNC 3 infotainment system, noted for its logical menu layout and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The steering wheel design facilitated easy voice control access. Our Reserve test model included optional wireless device charging, a 14-speaker Revel audio system, and a crisp head-up display.

Safety was paramount in the 2021 Nissan Rogue. Every model included Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) comprising features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system were standard, with the Platinum adding a center airbag to further protect occupants.

Adaptive cruise control started with the SV trim, incorporating improved ProPilot Assist with lane-centering and enhanced stop-and-go functionality. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trims offered an upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, adjusting speed for curves and freeway junctions using navigation data.

Expected to perform well in crash tests due to its high-strength steel architecture and advanced engineering, the Rogue was built to protect. However, crash-test results were not available at the time of review.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with a comprehensive safety suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Traction control, tire-pressure monitoring, and a full array of airbags were also standard.

Our test model included the Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus suite, adding features like a head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive LED headlights, a surround-view camera, front parking sensors, speed-limit sign recognition, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, reverse automatic braking, and automatic parking assist. The Corsair earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick Plus accolade, particularly with the high-feature headlights in the Reserve II package.