2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2021 Nissan Rogue sported 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; bold, simulated skid plates, and lower door protection lent it the right amount of ruggedness, though perhaps too audaciously on the SUV's back bumper. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning gave the Rogue a modern aesthetic. All trim levels came with aluminum wheels sized up to 19 inches in diameter, and an optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment added a custom look.

The Rogue was available in four versions. The Rogue S, priced at $25,650, served as the entry point, while the Rogue SV at $27,340 was typically the most popular trim level. The Rogue SL added a touch of luxury to the equation at $32,000. The new-for-2021 Rogue Platinum, priced at $35,430, decked the SUV out with semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities. Factory options included all-wheel drive for $1,400 and Premium option packages for both the SV and SL models. The test vehicle, a Rogue SL, included the Premium Package and extra-cost paint, totaling $35,195, including destination charges.

In contrast:

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport carried over most of the same sheet metal from the regular Atlas but with a low roofline and aggressively-raked rear hatch. This gave it a crossover coupe look often seen in luxury automakers' offerings. However, the styling of the Cross Sport was an odd mix of SUV ruggedness and more car-like features. Fake exhaust tips carved into the rear bumper of the SEL Premium test vehicle looked tacky. The Cross Sport was 5.2 inches shorter and 2.2 inches lower than the seven-seat Atlas, though it shared the same 117.3-inch wheelbase as the three-row model.

All Cross Sport models came with standard LED exterior lighting, including headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights. The Atlas S and SE trims were equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, while the SE with Technology trim had 20-inch wheels. The SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line trims rolled on 21-inch wheels and added sportier exterior styling features such as different front and rear bumpers, a fake rear diffuser, and side skirts. The interior featured VW’s typical minimalist design, functional but marred by subpar materials, even in the SEL Premium model.

Nissan’s 2021 Rogue could have benefited from more power. It weighed nearly 3,500 pounds and came with a direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. The output was adequate for daily driving, and its continuously variable transmission (CVT) performed well, almost mimicking a traditional automatic with programmed ratios. SUVs are often designed for adventuring, and the Rogue was equipped with available all-wheel drive, up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes. However, a normally aspirated 2.5-liter engine struggled in mountainous areas.

During the media program held by Nissan, a more powerful Rogue seemed to be suggested for the future, with a possible turbocharged engine like the one used in the Altima sedan and Infiniti QX50. For now, switching from Standard to Sport mode made the driving dynamics feel more responsive. In terms of fuel economy, the Rogue SL with front-wheel drive managed 27.5 mpg on a mixed driving loop, slightly under the official EPA rating.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared powertrain options with the seven-seat Atlas, offering a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and an optional naturally-aspirated 3.6-liter V6 engine. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and start-stop system, the turbo-four produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the VR6 churned out 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque.

During the test, the V6 engine, coupled with all-wheel drive, felt significantly peppier than the four-cylinder Atlas previously tested. The VR6 produced a pleasing sound, though its midrange acceleration failed to match the initial thrust figures. The eight-speed automatic transmission could be sluggish but was fixable by shifting manually. Unfortunately, the Cross Sport’s ride quality was subpar. Every bump and pothole felt pronounced, and wind and tire noise were invasive. The SUV didn’t feel sporty despite its name, handling more like a truck with lots of body roll and loose steering.

The 2021 Atlas Cross Sport with the VR6 engine boasted a 5,000-pound towing capacity, while the four-cylinder models, rated at 2,000 pounds, lacked factory-installed hitches. Active Control with multiple drive modes and 8 inches of ground clearance were present in AWD variants.

The improved Zero Gravity seats in the new 2021 Nissan Rogue made for a comfortable ride. Trim levels dictated the type of upholstery, with the base S trim offering cloth, while higher trims moved up to leatherette and leather. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats were available, but ventilated seats were not.

The Rogue featured standard air conditioning with dual or triple-zone climate control, depending on trim level. Rear-seat space was more generous than in the previous model, and the rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle, simplifying passenger loading. The Rogue also offered three child safety seats thanks to newly positioned LATCH anchors.

Storage solutions were well thought out, with a storage tray under the center console, accommodating door-panel pockets, and a split butterfly-style opening for the center armrest. Cargo capacity varied by trim, ranging from 31.6 to 36.5 cubic feet, with a maximum volume of 74.1 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded down, making it one of the class's largest.

Conversely:

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, due to its large footprint, was competitive in interior space among two-row midsize crossovers. Both front-seat and rear-seat legroom were near the top of the class. However, the rear headroom was lacking, which could inconvenience relatively taller passengers. Cargo space was satisfactory, although not leading in its segment, offering 40.3 cubic feet with rear seats in place and 77.8 cubic feet when they were folded.

The second-row seats had a standard 60/40 split-fold and a 14-degree backrest recline. Higher trim levels included features like a foot-activated tailgate. The Cross Sport also provided ample cargo nets, cupholders, and storage bins, including a second-row armrest with integrated cupholders and a large cubbyhole ahead of the shifter.

Nissan’s 2021 Rogue offered a competitive infotainment setup. The base S trim included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Physical knobs for power/volume and station tuning, though not very prominent, were present, and shortcut buttons below the display provided easy access to key functions.

Higher trims such as the SV and SL added features like NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim brought a larger 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, real-time traffic navigation, an upgraded voice recognition system, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim also included advanced tech features like wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two infotainment systems. The base trim had the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while higher trims featured the MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen. These systems provided USB-C ports, pinch-to-zoom functionality, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. The MIB3 added multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition.

Higher trims included additional USB ports for rear passengers, SiriusXM satellite radio, and the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster. The highest SEL Premium trim also added a 12-speaker Fender premium audio system. Despite these features, the MIB3 system was slow to load, and the Fender audio system was underwhelming. The Digital Cockpit display allowed flexible gauge configurations but overall tech implementation felt dated compared to Nissan’s offering.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came packed with advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), prominent within the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. This included features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and particularly effective blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. Additionally, all Rogues were equipped with ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system.

Higher trims included adaptive cruise control part of the ProPilot Assist suite, which had lane-centering and improved radar and camera units. ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology utilized GPS coordinates to automatically adjust speed for various driving conditions. Nissan claimed the Rogue was the first mainstream compact SUV to include rear pre-tensioning and load-limiting seatbelts and an airbag between the driver and front passenger for enhanced safety.

As for the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport:

The Cross Sport earned top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests but had mixed headlight ratings, with only higher-level trims receiving top marks. It also got a “Marginal” rating for child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating.

Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Options included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and parking sensors. Unique to the Cross Sport were features like the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System. For 2021, VW introduced two new features: Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, designed to enhance safety in specific driving scenarios, though not without their functional hiccups.