2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Nissan Murano

The 2021 Nissan Rogue and the 2021 Nissan Murano were both designed with distinct styling cues catering to different tastes. The Rogue boasted a handsome new styling with a more technical aesthetic that made it appear more like an SUV than a regular car. It featured dark gray plastic cladding covering the lower perimeter, bold simulated skid plates, and lower door protection that conveyed a rugged essence, although the rear bumper might have been considered overly audacious. The clean LED lighting elements, prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning added a modern touch. Aluminum wheels, sized up to 19 inches, were included in all trims, and an optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment imparted a custom look.

The Rogue was available in four trims: S ($25,650), SV ($27,340), SL ($32,000), and the new Platinum ($35,430). Each trim offered varying levels of luxury, with the Platinum trim featuring semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities. With additional options like all-wheel drive and premium packages, our test Rogue SL, equipped with front-wheel drive, came to a total of $35,195.

Inside, the test Rogue SL featured an Almond color leather interior, a standard panoramic glass sunroof, and enhanced roominess. Abundant soft-touch surfaces, simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars emphasized a sense of quality. The interior controls were arranged logically, and the Platinum trim further elevated the luxurious feel with quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. One peculiar detail was the climate control panel's old-school digital clock-like appearance, but the Rogue also featured modern technology like wireless Apple CarPlay.

In contrast, the Murano, once a revolutionary design, had its cutting-edge appearance become more mainstream. Featuring L-shaped LED headlights and a heavily contoured front end, the Murano's design had become standard in modern car design. Its interior was more conservative but functional, making it an ideal comfort-optimized SUV for commutes and road trips. The controls were intuitively placed, reducing the learning curve for new users.

The Murano was also offered in four trims: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. Standard features on the base S included 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SV added power-adjustable seats, adaptive cruise control, and other conveniences. The SL trim introduced more luxurious elements like 20-inch alloy wheels and leather upholstery, while the range-topping Platinum trim featured a dual-panel panoramic moonroof and premium leather with Prima-Tex protection.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a single engine choice: a direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, the Rogue’s power output was adequate for daily driving, aided by a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that did a decent job of leveraging available torque. The CVT in the Rogue was noteworthy for being almost unnoticeable, with programmed ratios that mimicked a traditional automatic transmission. Paddle shifters were provided but were not necessary for most drivers.

With available all-wheel drive (AWD) and up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, the Rogue was more adept at off-road conditions, supported by new Snow and Off-Road driving modes. Despite its capabilities, the naturally aspirated engine felt underpowered in demanding scenarios such as climbing mountains. Although Nissan did not confirm, the possibility of a more powerful, turbocharged option was speculated for the future.

Fuel economy for the Rogue SL front-wheel-drive model resulted in 27.5 mpg on mixed roads, slightly below its official EPA rating. The Rogue's ride and handling benefited from a robust architecture composed of 35% high-strength steel, strut front, and multi-link rear suspension. New systems like Brake-induced Intelligent Trace Control, Active Ride Control, and Vehicle Motion Control worked in harmony to provide a smooth and athletic driving experience, further enhanced by the new steering upgrades that resulted in improved feel and response.

Conversely, the Murano was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. This stout engine offered excellent low-speed acceleration, making it great for city driving. However, at higher speeds, the CVT dulled the engine's power delivery, requiring a brief wait during overtakes. The Murano focused on comfort with refined driving characteristics, adept at both cornering and absorbing road imperfections, making it a perfect vehicle for commutes and long road trips.

The Murano's performance was not without drawbacks; its 1,500-pound towing capacity was among the lowest for midsize SUVs, surpassed by even some compact SUVs.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue's interior aimed to replicate a neutral spine position through its Zero Gravity seat designs, which were redesigned to offer more comfort than the previous generation. The S trim featured cloth seats with manual adjustment, while the SV trim offered leatherette and standard eight-way power adjustment. SL and Platinum trims provided higher grades of leather upholstery. Alongside these, heated seats and a heated steering wheel were available, although ventilated seats were notably absent.

Air conditioning was standard, with SV trim upgrading to dual-zone automatic climate control and SL and Platinum trims featuring a triple-zone system for rear passengers. Generous headroom and legroom in the rear seats and nearly 90-degree opening rear doors made it easy to load passengers and child seats. Nissan also reduced interior noise through aerodynamic improvements and acoustic glass.

Storage was practical, with a new electronic shifter freeing up space under the center console, and door-panel pockets fitting large water bottles. Cargo space varied: S and SV trims offered 31.6 cubic feet, while SL and Platinum trims, with the Divide-N-Hide cargo management system, provided 36.5 cubic feet. Maximum cargo capacity was a substantial 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, making the Rogue one of the largest in its class.

The 2021 Murano, however, offered 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with the seats in use. While not the best in its segment (with competitors like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Honda Passport offering more cargo space), the Murano compensated with a hands-free power liftgate on SL and Platinum trims.

The Murano excelled in passenger comfort, focusing on two rows of seating with generous headroom and legroom in both the front and rear seats. The second-row seats could partially recline, adding to the comfort of passengers.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard on S trim. Physical knobs for volume and tuning were included but could be hard to grasp due to their design. Higher trims added features like NissanConnect Services, WiFi hotspot, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration, larger 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim topped it off with wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The Murano's standard 8-inch touchscreen was praised for its easy-to-use interface and sensible menu layout, complemented by physical buttons and dials. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Optional tech included an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation.

Nissan equipped the Rogue with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver 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, even on the base trim. Additional safety features included ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The SV trim and above included adaptive cruise control and ProPilot Assist with lane-centering function. The Platinum trim featured an airbag between the driver and front passenger for added protection.

Similarly, the Murano came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams as standard. Additional standard features were forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Higher trims offered features like a surround-view monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and parking sensors.