2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2021 Nissan Rogue

The 2021 Nissan Rogue sported an entirely new set of handsome and more technically inspired styling cues, which gave it a striking SUV presence, quite unlike a traditional car. Dark gray plastic cladding along the lower perimeter and bold simulated skid plates provided an audacious ruggedness, particularly evident on the back bumper. The Rogue's aesthetic was further complemented by clean LED lighting elements and a prominent V-Motion grille, all underlining its modern and sophisticated design ethos. Each trim level of the Rogue came with aluminum wheels, maxing out at a stylish 19 inches. An optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment further added a custom look appealing to those craving a distinct appearance.

There were four versions of the Rogue available: S, SV, SL, and the upscale Platinum. The entry-level S started at $25,650, the popular SV at $27,340, the more luxurious SL at $32,000, and the new-for-2021 Platinum at $35,430, all prices exclusive of an additional $1,095 destination charge. Factory options included an all-wheel-drive system for an extra $1,400 and premium option packages for both the SV and SL trims. The tested Rogue SL, inclusive of additional packages and accessories, totaled $35,195 with destination charges.

Inside, the tested Rogue featured an Almond leather interior paired with a panoramic glass sunroof, making the cabin feel light and spacious. Substantial soft-touch surfaces and appealing simulated wood trims, coupled with fabric-wrapped windshield pillars, conveyed a sense of quality. Platinum trims took luxury a notch higher with quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. One peculiar design detail was the old-school digital clock appearance of the climate control numbers, standing in contrast to the otherwise advanced tech features like wireless Apple CarPlay.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek followed a strategic transformation, taking cues from its Impreza hatchback sibling but with added ruggedness to appeal to crossover enthusiasts. Visually distinctive from the Impreza, the Crosstrek featured black body cladding, 17-inch model-specific wheels, and a higher ride height of 8.7 inches, making it adept at mimicking an SUV's look and functionality. Subaru offered vibrant color choices, including the standout Plasma Yellow Pearl for the 2021 model.

Beneath its rugged exterior, the Crosstrek shared the Subaru Global Platform with models like the Legacy, Outback, Ascent, and Forester, ensuring a level of polish and refinement. Inside, the Crosstrek's interior closely mirrored the Impreza, retaining a functional yet somewhat plain aesthetic. Some attempts at jazzing up the interior included Plasma Yellow Pearl accents in the Sport trim, which visually clashed with our test car's Horizon Blue Pearl exterior. Limited trims boasted better StarTex upholstery resistant to water, ideal for beach outings or rough terrain.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was equipped with a singular direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm, adequate for daily driving but underwhelming for adventurous pursuits. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) efficiently managed the available torque and provided a fairly seamless driving experience, imitating traditional automatic transmissions through programmed ratios and paddle shifters, adding to its appeal.

Despite its heft, tipping the scales nearly at 3,500 pounds, the Rogue maintained composure with available all-wheel drive (AWD), offering up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes enhancing its off-road capability. Still, the naturally aspirated engine struggled in high-altitude environments, leading to speculations about potential future turbocharged variants.

Fuel economy was a moderate 27.5 mpg on mixed driving conditions, slightly underperforming its EPA rating. Nissan's tuning of the Rogue delivered a well-balanced ride and handling setup, bolstered by a robust architecture composed of 35% high-strength steel, and advanced suspension and stability control systems. Particularly noteworthy was the new steering setup, relocated electric assist, and a quickened ratio, significantly improving the driving dynamics over its predecessor.

For 2021, the Subaru Crosstrek introduced a more potent 2.5-liter boxer-four engine for the Sport and Limited trims, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. This was a notable upgrade from the base 2.0-liter boxer-four engine, which offered 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. Despite the additional power, the new engine didn't translate into dramatically better performance but remained adequate for most driving conditions.

Standard AWD across all trim levels remained a hallmark feature, enhancing handling through a lower center of gravity thanks to the boxer engine's layout. X-Mode and torque vectoring added to the Crosstrek's mild off-road capabilities, with new Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes available.

The manual transmission was standard on base and Premium trims, while the more popular CVT was available across the board, aiding in efficiency. Though the CVT-equipped models offered a relatively smooth highway ride with minimal wind noise, they couldn't entirely escape the droning sounds during acceleration.

The quest for maximum comfort was evident in the 2021 Nissan Rogue's improved Zero Gravity seats, aiming to reduce stress and fatigue akin to a neutral spine position in space. While S trim featured cloth and manual adjustments, higher trims included power adjustments and softer, more luxurious leather options. The Rogue's interior amenities extended to heated elements for front and rear seats, except ventilated options.

Tri-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents and sunshades in higher trims provided a comfortable environment for rear passengers, and the rear seat offered generous headroom and legroom. The doors opened to nearly a 90-degree angle, easing the loading of passengers and child safety seats, supported by multiple LATCH anchors.

Rogue made efforts to ensure a quieter ride with aerodynamic tweaks and acoustic glass. The rear cargo area offered practical storage solutions, including a hands-free liftgate on SL and Platinum trims, 31.6 cubic feet of cargo space in S and SV trims, and up to 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide system in higher models. Overall, folding the rear seats yielded 74.1 cubic feet of cargo space, comparably generous for the segment.

The Crosstrek's interior, though seemingly borrowed from the Impreza, provided practical space for passengers. Legroom was consistent with the Impreza, and rear headroom was slightly more generous. The Crosstrek offered 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and expanded to 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, competitive but not leading in the segment.

Though some competitors offered more cargo space, the Crosstrek provided ample passenger room, juxtaposed with limited in-cabin tech features like USB ports. Nevertheless, the driving position felt higher, providing good outward visibility through substantial side windows. CVT models included a rear-seat reminder as an important safety feature to prevent leaving children or pets behind unintentionally.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came well-equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen in the base S trim, offering connectivity through Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Nissan's inclusion of physical knobs and shortcut buttons, despite being a touch awkward to use, added to the convenience.

Upgrading to SV or SL trims added NissanConnect Services with a WiFi hotspot, remote operations, and integration with Alexa and Google Assistant. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim boasted a larger 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, advanced voice recognition, and a Bose premium audio system. For tech enthusiasts, the Platinum trim's inclusion of wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display made it appealing.

Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system anchored the technology in the 2021 Crosstrek. A standard 6.5-inch touchscreen featured Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The Premium and Sport trims provided a Multimedia Plus setup, incorporating additional WiFi and SiriusXM features while retaining an old-school CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was available in higher trims.

Subaru's dual-screen setup displayed redundant information, seeming somewhat superfluous when much could be shown within the instrument cluster. Nevertheless, the larger touchscreen in our test vehicle was responsive and user-friendly, and the analog knobs for essential functions like volume and climate control were appreciated.

Safety features were a focal point for the 2021 Nissan Rogue, with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 offering a comprehensive suite of driving aids like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and notably, a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. This approach highlighted the value of blind-spot systems over adaptive cruise control, which became standard from the SV trim onwards as part of ProPilot Assist's advanced setup.

The advanced ProPilot Assist with Navi-link, available in higher trims, utilized navigation data for enhanced driving adjustments, although it was sometimes overly cautious. The Rogue featured new architectural safety improvements with increased high-strength steel usage and advanced pre-tensioning seatbelts, further improving crash safety.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek earned a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with impressive scores in side crash tests. The IIHS awarded the 2020 model, structurally identical to the 2021, theTop Safety Pick accolade. Subaru's EyeSight suite provided adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, and lane-departure warning as standard on CVT models and additional features like reverse automatic braking in higher trims.

Subaru's adaptive cruise control performed well in maintaining lane centering on straights, although struggled with curves. The blind-spot monitoring system's effectiveness was notable with large, noticeable alerts. EyeSight's camera positioning offered protection but reduced functionality under certain conditions.