2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Nissan Rogue sported a handsome new styling with a more technical appearance, making 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 was perhaps too audacious on the SUV's back bumper. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning lent the new Rogue a modern aesthetic, with all trim levels featuring aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter. Optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment gave the SUV a custom look.

Four versions of the new Rogue were available: the entry-level Rogue S, the popular Rogue SV, the luxurious Rogue SL, and the top-tier Rogue Platinum. Our test vehicle, a Rogue SL, included the Premium Package, extra-cost paint, floor mats, and a cargo area protection package, totaling $35,195. The interior featured an Almond color leather and a standard panoramic glass sunroof, emphasizing improved roominess. Abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars lent a sense of quality to the cabin. The Platinum trim offered quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting for a luxurious look and feel.

The 2021 Nissan Armada, a close cousin of the Nissan Patrol, underwent a significant facelift for the model year. It retained its capability but now featured looks that aligned with Nissan's new signature exterior design. The redesigned exterior included a new grille, front fenders, front and rear bumpers, and LED headlights and taillights, giving the Armada a modern look while maintaining its traditional beefy and athletic body styling. Body-color over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and an acoustic windshield and front side windows were standard, along with LED low-beam/high beam headlights, LED daytime running lights, and power-adjustable and folding side mirrors.

The Armada was available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum grades, with the popular Midnight Edition Package exclusive to the Armada SL. Depending on the trim level, the Armada rode on 18-, 20-, or 22-inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in all-season tires. Upper trim levels featured a full-size spare tire. The new Nissan logo was prominently placed on the SUV's grille, rear, steering wheel, and wheel caps. The Armada's body-on-frame design saw significant changes from the A-pillar forward, with a mostly new rear that retained its underbite, a trait that aged the model compared to its redesigned competition like the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue needed more power, as its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, which was adequate for daily driving but felt underpowered for adventuring. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) did a decent job of leveraging the available torque, with programmed ratios making it feel more like a traditional automatic. The Rogue offered available all-wheel drive (AWD), up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, making it more adept at off-road driving. The tested Rogue SL with front-wheel drive (FWD) achieved 27.5 mpg, slightly below the official EPA rating.

The Rogue's ride and handling were commendable, thanks to a new, more robust architecture composed of 35% high-strength steel. The suspension system, combined with brake-induced Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control systems, provided a smooth and athletic driving experience. The new steering system, with electric assist moved to the steering rack and a quickened ratio, resulted in dramatically improved steering feel over the previous generation.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with a 5.6-liter V8 engine paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The Armada came standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and offered automatic four-wheel drive (4WD). Despite its weight, maxing out over 6,000 pounds, the Armada was a capable off-roader with a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, Hitachi twin-tube shock absorbers, and up to 9.2 inches of ground clearance. The SUV's maximum towing capacity was 8,500 pounds, best in class.

Fuel economy was not the Armada's strong suit, with RWD models getting an EPA-estimated 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, while 4WD models achieved 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. The Armada's handling had improved over the years, making highway driving less of a chore, though maneuvering in parking lots remained challenging. Standard features included a seven-pin trailer harness plug, trailer sway control, and an available Trailer Brake Controller.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured Zero Gravity seat designs, which aimed to replicate the neutral spine position found in space to reduce stress and fatigue. The new Rogue's seats were more comfortable than the previous generation, with various upholstery options depending on the trim level. The SV trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, while the SL and Platinum featured a triple-zone system. Rear-seat headroom and legroom were more generous, and the rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle for easy loading. The Rogue offered 31.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity in the S and SV trims, with the SL and Platinum providing up to 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide cargo management system.

The 2021 Nissan Armada, as Nissan's flagship, offered practicality and functionality for families. The interior featured standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. The new 12.3-inch touchscreen placed controls at a distance from the driver and front passenger. Front seats were power-adjustable, with captain's chairs available in the second row for added comfort. The third row was less comfortable for adults but could fit in a pinch. Cargo space included 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The high load floor made loading and unloading challenging for petite adults.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment package, starting with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim featured a 9-inch touchscreen display, door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim also included wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Nissan Armada saw significant tech upgrades, including a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, navigation, a six-speaker stereo system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, NissanConnect Services, keyless entry with push-button start, Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. Available features included a wireless device charging pad, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, a rearview camera mirror, and a second-row entertainment system. The Platinum trim included all these features as standard.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was equipped with a comprehensive collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Rogue also featured ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The SV trim added adaptive cruise control and an improved ProPilot Assist driving aid. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim offered an upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology.

The 2021 Nissan Armada came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking. Additional standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear door alert. Buyers could add a rear camera mirror and surround-view camera system. The Armada was not available with advanced driving assist technologies like Nissan ProPilot Assist or Super Cruise.