2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2021 Nissan Rogue sported a handsome new styling with a more technical, rugged appearance that made it look more like an SUV than a car. Dark gray plastic cladding adorned its lower perimeter while bold, simulated skid plates and lower door protection enhanced its audacious image, particularly on the back bumper. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning lent the Rogue a modern aesthetic. Aluminum wheels, available in sizes up to 19 inches, came standard on all trim levels, adding to its polished look. Optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment could give the Rogue a custom look.

Four versions of the Rogue were available: the entry-level Rogue S ($25,650), the popular Rogue SV ($27,340), the luxurious Rogue SL ($32,000), and the top-of-the-line Rogue Platinum ($35,430), which featured semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities. Destination charges of $1,095 needed to be added to these prices. Factory options included all-wheel drive (AWD) for $1,400 and Premium option packages for both the SV and SL trims. Our test vehicle was a Rogue SL with additional options, totaling $35,195, including destination charges.

The test vehicle's interior was light and bright, featuring an Almond color leather interior and a panoramic glass sunroof. Abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars all added to the sense of quality in the cabin. The controls were arranged cleanly and logically. Opting for the Platinum trim provided a truly luxurious look with quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting.

Interestingly, the Rogue's climate control panel had a retro vibe with numbers resembling an old-school digital clock from the 1980s. Despite offering a CD player, the Rogue was not technologically outdated, thanks to wireless Apple CarPlay.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer was offered in 2LT, 3LT, Premier, and RS trim levels. Premier versions featured revised bumper and bodyside trim, redesigned standard wheels, and new package options for enhanced convenience and trailering. Two-tone paint was available for the LT and RS trims. The Blazer's pricing ranged from $33,400 to $41,100, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. Our Blazer RS test vehicle, equipped with optional AWD and various packages, totaled $49,000.

Inspired by the Camaro, the Blazer's design appealed with its sporty look and 20-inch wheels. However, the black trim that rose from the lower rear bumper into the bottom of the liftgate gave it an unfinished appearance, resembling a big plastic tongue. Inside, the Camaro influence continued with a modern infotainment and climate control system. The 8-inch touchscreen display featured simple physical controls beneath it, with large round center air vents and innovative temperature adjustment rings.

The Blazer's interior had plenty of hard plastic, reminiscent of the Camaro. The upper door panel trim was notably hard, even in our nearly $50,000 test vehicle. The red interior accents matched the Cherry Red Tintcoat exterior paint of the Blazer RS test car, adding a layer of sophistication.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was powered by 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. Weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, the Rogue’s performance was deemed adequate for typical daily driving. Its continuously variable transmission (CVT) was praised for its ability to leverage available torque smoothly and quietly, thanks to well-implemented programmed ratios that made it feel more like a traditional automatic.

The SUV, with available AWD, up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, proved capable off the beaten path. Yet, there were expectations for more power, possibly from a turbocharged engine in the future. The fuel economy for the tested Rogue SL with front-wheel drive (FWD) was 27.5 mpg, falling 1.5 mpg short of the official EPA rating.

Riding on a new, more robust architecture composed of 35% high-strength steel, the Rogue featured a strut front and multi-link rear suspension. Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control systems improved ride and handling satisfaction. The new Vehicle Motion Control feature anticipated driver inputs to enhance the drive experience. These, combined with 19-inch wheels and 235/55 all-season tires, gave the Rogue a predictable, smooth, and athletic feel. The new steering system, moved to the steering rack with an improved ratio, dramatically enhanced steering feel compared to the previous-generation Rogue.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer featured a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission powering either the front or all four wheels. Drivers could choose between Tour, Sport, Slippery, and Tow/Haul driving modes. Remote engine starting was available.

The Blazer RS came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, paired with a more sophisticated dual-clutch AWD system. It could tow up to 4,500 pounds, 1,000 pounds more than the base engine. The V6 engine provided satisfying acceleration but tended to sound loud and unrefined. Steering felt good outside of Sport mode, with decent grip from the 20-inch wheels and capable brakes.

However, the Blazer RS’s performance on back roads was less pleasing. It bounded too much on its suspension, and the nine-speed automatic was slow to downshift when exiting a curve, especially uphill. In Sport mode, the steering felt artificially heavy and fought against the driver in higher-speed curves.

The fuel economy for our Blazer RS AWD test vehicle was below its expected EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving, averaging 20.5 mpg on our loop while in FWD mode.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured Zero Gravity seat designs aimed at providing a neutral spine position for comfort. The new Rogue's improved seats felt comfortable, with cloth upholstery in the S trim, leatherette options in SV, standard leather in SL, and premium leather in Platinum. Heated front and rear seats, as well as a heated steering wheel, were added at higher trims, although ventilated seats were not available.

The Rogue included dual-zone automatic climate control in the SV and triple-zone in higher trims, plus rear air conditioning vents and rear side window sunshades. The rear seats provided ample headroom and legroom, with doors that opened to nearly 90 degrees for easy access. The Rogue could accommodate three child safety seats with new center LATCH anchors and featured a rear-seat reminder system.

Interior storage was thoughtfully designed. The Rogue had a storage tray under the center console and door-panel pockets for 32-ounce bottles. The center armrest featured a split butterfly-style opening. Most versions offered a power liftgate, with hands-free operation on SL and Platinum trims. Cargo capacity was 31.6 cubic feet in S and SV trims, increasing to 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide system in SL and Platinum. With rear seats folded, the maximum cargo volume was 74.1 cubic feet, among the largest in the compact crossover segment.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer RS had a reasonably comfortable and useful interior. The black leather upholstery with red perforations lent a sporty appearance, though the quality was average. The steering wheel had power tilt and telescopic adjustment, along with heating. Both front seats had power adjustments and featured heating and ventilation, though the cushions were found to be too short for adequate thigh support.

The Blazer offered dual-zone automatic climate control, effective air conditioning, and rear air vents. The rear seats were spacious, wide, and flat, sliding forward and back for added cargo or passenger space. Interior storage was impressive, with a large glove compartment, a substantial bin under the center armrest, door-panel shelves and bins, seatback pockets, small trays in armrests, bottle holders in rear door bins, and a center armrest with cupholders.

The Blazer's cargo area had a power rear liftgate, though hands-free operation was inconsistent. The liftgate opened to a 30.5 cubic-foot cargo area, expanding to 64.2 cubic feet with the 60/40-split rear seats folded. These numbers were small for a midsize crossover SUV.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came with a competitive infotainment package. The base S trim included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with a six-month free trial of Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant. The Rogue also featured physical knobs for power/volume and station tuning, though they were small and hard to grasp.

Moving up to SV or SL trims, the Rogue added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package and Rogue Platinum upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen, door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose premium audio system. Platinum trim also added wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's infotainment system featured simple usability. It had an 8-inch touchscreen with high-resolution graphics and intuitive menus. Standard equipment included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The upgraded system offered satellite radio and connected navigation with enhanced voice recognition. Connected services included an OnStar Safety and Security plan and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, though trial periods were short.

This system, identical to the Camaro's, had separate stereo volume and tuning controls and straightforward climate controls. The enhanced voice recognition and connected navigation were responsive. Additional features included wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Bose audio system. The Blazer also had rear parking sensors, a high-resolution reversing camera, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror for better visibility.

Safety was a key focus for the 2021 Nissan Rogue. Every Rogue came equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Rogue featured ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder.

Starting with the SV trim, adaptive cruise control with improved ProPilot Assist was included, featuring lane-centering assistance. ProPilot Assist used new radar and camera units for better accuracy, with a stop-and-go function that allowed a resume travel time of up to 30 seconds after stopping. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trims added upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology, using navigation data to adjust speed for curves and exits.

Crash-test results for the new Rogue were unavailable at the time, but the increased use of high-strength steel and advanced crash energy deflection engineering suggested a high level of safety.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Blazer also featured a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology.

Available safety upgrades included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, adaptive cruise control with enhanced emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Blazer offered LED headlights, though their effectiveness was limited, preventing the vehicle from receiving IIHS "Top Safety Pick" designation.

Our test vehicle was equipped with all available driving aids, which performed well. The adaptive cruise control smoothly responded to vehicles cutting into the gap ahead, while lane-keeping assistance was effective without being intrusive.