2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Nissan Rogue showcased a handsome new styling with a more technical appearance, resembling an SUV rather than just a car. Its look was accentuated by dark gray plastic cladding along the lower perimeter, bold simulated skid plates, and lower door protection, especially pronounced on the rear bumper. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and well-proportioned design gave the Rogue a modern aesthetic. All trim levels featured aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter, and the optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment added a custom look.

The 2021 Rogue was available in four trims: the entry-level Rogue S ($25,650), the popular Rogue SV ($27,340), the luxurious Rogue SL ($32,000), and the new-for-2021 Rogue Platinum ($35,430) with semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities. Additional costs included $1,095 in destination charges. Optional packages included all-wheel drive for $1,400 and Premium option packages for the SV ($2,660) and SL ($1,320). The test vehicle, a Rogue SL with Premium Package and extra-cost paint, floor mats, and cargo area protection, totaled $35,195, including destination charges.

The test vehicle’s Almond-colored leather interior, standard panoramic glass sunroof, soft-touch surfaces, simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars emphasized improved roominess and quality. Nissan arranged the controls cleanly and logically. For a luxurious experience, the Platinum trim offered quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. However, the old-school digital clock-like numbers on the climate control panel and the presence of a CD player seemed anachronistic despite wireless Apple CarPlay being available.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Passport sported familiar styling closely resembling the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck. The Passport shared a vehicle platform with the Ridgeline, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot three-row SUV, essentially being a shorter Pilot without a third row and featuring unique styling. The Passport’s updated design aimed at giving it a tougher look, with all three trim levels—EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite—sporting new wheel designs in 2022. The mid-level TrailSport trim, new for 2022, targeted off-road enthusiasts with aesthetic and moderate capability enhancements such as standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and driving modes for snowy, muddy, and sandy conditions.

The Passport’s prices ranged from $37,870 to $45,430, excluding a $1,225 destination charge. The test TrailSport model with extra-cost Sonic Gray Pearl paint had an MSRP of $44,095. Featuring unique 18-inch wheels, a purposeful-looking roof rack, and simulated skid plates, the TrailSport looked more like an SUV than a typical crossover. Inside, it boasted one of the largest interiors in the two-row midsize SUV segment, with high-quality materials, orange contrast stitching, amber ambient lighting, and embroidered emblems on the front seat headrests.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue, weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, 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. While adequate for daily driving, the engine lacked power for adventurous drives, especially in mountainous terrains. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) did a decent job leveraging available torque, with programmed ratios making it resemble a traditional automatic. The Rogue offered AWD, 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

During a media drive event, Nissan hinted at the potential for a more powerful, turbocharged engine in the future. Until then, drivers could switch to Sport mode for a responsive driving feel or the Eco mode for better efficiency. The tested Rogue SL with FWD achieved 27.5 mpg, falling 1.5 mpg short of the official EPA rating.

Built on a robust architecture with 35% high-strength steel, the Rogue featured a strut front and multi-link rear suspension. Brake-induced Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, along with Vehicle Motion Control, enhanced ride and handling. With 19-inch wheels and 235/55 all-season tires, the Rogue felt predictable, smooth, and athletic, with improved steering thanks to changes in the electric assist and steering ratio.

Conversely, the 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, offering either FWD or AWD. The V6 provided smooth and strong performance, exceeding its power ratings, and delivered satisfying acceleration. The Passport’s EPA ratings were 22 mpg for FWD and 21 mpg for AWD, with the test TrailSport averaging 21.3 mpg.

For 2022, the Passport EX-L was the only trim with FWD, while the TrailSport and Elite included the i-VTM4 AWD system with mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70% of power to a single rear wheel when needed. The i-VTM4 system improved handling on twisty roads, but off-road articulation was limited. Nonetheless, the Passport TrailSport demonstrated unexpected off-road capability.

The Passport excelled on paved roads, offering a firm, communicative ride and athletic handling. The steering felt good, visibility was excellent, and it handled curves eagerly. A three-day road trip highlighted the Passport’s comfort and utility, though excessive wind and road noise and a lack of a surround-view camera system were noted.

A dynamic concern was the Passport’s brakes, which tended to heat up and vibrate on mountain descents, affecting confidence despite a 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured redesigned Zero Gravity seats, improving comfort compared to its predecessor. S trim had cloth seats with manual height adjustment, while SV trim added eight-way power adjustment with leatherette as an option. SL trim had standard leather, and Platinum offered premium leather. The Rogue included heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats, except for ventilated seats.

Standard air conditioning was available, with dual-zone automatic climate control in SV trim and triple-zone in SL and Platinum trims. Rear air conditioning vents were standard, with rear side window sunshades in SL and Platinum. Rear-seat headroom and legroom improved, and nearly 90-degree rear door openings made passenger loading easier. The Rogue could accommodate up to three child safety seats with new center-mounted LATCH anchors and included a rear-seat reminder system.

Enhanced sound insulation and aerodynamic improvements reduced interior noise. Storage was ample, with a new electronic shifter providing space under the center console, large door-panel pockets, and a split butterfly-style center armrest. Most Rogues offered a power rear liftgate, with hands-free design in SL and Platinum. Cargo space was 31.6 cubic feet in S and SV, and 36.5 cubic feet in SL and Platinum, featuring a Divide-N-Hide cargo management system. Maximum cargo volume was 74.1 cubic feet—among the largest in its class.

The 2022 Honda Passport provided easy entry and exit with large doors and low step-in height. It offered large, comfortable seats with adjustable armrests and thigh support, standard leather upholstery, and heated front seats. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. Everyone benefited from the standard triple-zone automatic climate control system, though only rear passengers in the Elite had separate controls.

Rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous leg, head, and hip room, with large side windows creating a spacious feel. Storage was abundant, with a massive center console bin, roll-top cover, front door panel shelving, and rear door panel cupholders. Cargo space was generous, offering 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with seats folded.

In the 2021 Nissan Rogue, the infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto with S trim. A six-month trial to Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant was included. SV and SL trims added NissanConnect Services, WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. SL Premium Package and Platinum trim featured a 9-inch touchscreen, door-to-door navigation with real-time traffic, wireless Apple CarPlay, upgraded voice recognition, and a Bose 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.

Honda's 2022 Passport offered an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio across all trims. The TrailSport added a navigation system, and the Elite trim included a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services with a WiFi hotspot. The infotainment system had shortcut buttons and a stereo volume/power knob, though it lacked a stereo tuning knob. Apple CarPlay was often preferred due to the clunky navigation system. The Passport also featured standard wireless smartphone charging.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue emphasized safety with comprehensive advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under Nissan Safety Shield 360. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. The Rogue also had ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, a rear-seat reminder system, and rear pre-tensioning and load-limiting seatbelts. Platinum trim added an airbag between the driver and front passenger. ProPilot Assist, standard in SV trim, improved with new radar and camera units, lane-centering assistance, and Navi-link technology in higher trims. Safety ratings were unavailable at the time, but the increased high-strength steel suggested enhanced crash protection.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with the Honda Sensing collection of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear-seat reminder system, and a seatbelt reminder system. However, the lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist systems were noted to be obtrusive. Adaptive cruise control lacked smoothness, and the blind-spot warning light was poorly placed. The Passport received five-star ratings from NHTSA except for four stars in front passenger protection and rollover resistance. IIHS ratings were mostly top-notch, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in small overlap collisions.