2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Nissan Rogue, with its handsome styling and more technical appearance, looked much more like an SUV rather than a car. The SUV’s dark gray plastic cladding on its lower perimeter, bold simulated skid plates, and lower door protection conveyed a rugged persona, though possibly a bit exaggerated on the back bumper. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning gave the 2021 Rogue a modern aesthetic. All trim levels featured aluminum wheels, which could be as large as 19 inches in diameter. The optional two-tone paint with a black roof added a custom touch to the SUV.

The Rogue came in four versions: the entry-level S ($25,650), the popular SV ($27,340), the luxurious SL ($32,000), and the opulent Platinum ($35,430). All prices required an additional $1,095 for destination charges. Our test vehicle was a Rogue SL with the Premium Package, extra-cost paint, floor mats, and a cargo area protection package, bringing the total cost to $35,195.

Inside, our test vehicle featured an Almond color leather interior and a panoramic glass sunroof. This interior was light and bright, highlighting its improved roominess. It had abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars that enhanced the sense of quality. Controls were arranged in a clean and logical fashion. The Platinum trim added quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting for a genuinely luxurious feel.

The climate control panel in the Rogue had an almost nostalgic appearance, reminiscent of old-school digital clocks from the 1980s. Despite featuring a CD player, the Rogue was far from outdated with its offer of wireless Apple CarPlay.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness stretched the notion of the Outback being a station wagon, coming across more as a Jeep. It offered a ground clearance of 9.5 inches, a 0.8-inch increase over other Outbacks, aggressive all-terrain tires, oversized fender protection trim, and a better approach and departure angle due to restyled bumpers.

Unique grille design, black 17-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a glare-reducing matte black hood decal were additional design features. The roof rack and roof rail system were new, capable of supporting a 700-pound static load, perfect for rooftop camping. The exclusive paint hue Geyser Blue was also available for the Outback Wilderness.

The interior was dominated by dark gray and black shades, featuring StarTex water-repellant upholstery that looked like leather but wasn't. Heated seats were standard but ventilated seats were absent, contributing to discomfort on hot days. Other interior highlights included a black headliner, Gunmetal Gray interior trim, Anodized Copper stitching and accents, brushed aluminum pedals, and standard all-weather floor mats. Waterproof rear seatback material and a waterproof cargo tray were also part of the package.

The Outback Wilderness was priced at $36,995, plus a destination charge of $1,125. Our tested Autumn Green car included a power sunroof, navigation system, and reverse automatic braking, totaling $39,965.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue's performance was a mixed bag. It needed more power with its lone direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine providing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. Weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, its output was adequate for daily-driving scenarios. The continuously variable transmission (CVT), however, did a decent job leveraging the available torque and felt similar to a traditional automatic, thanks to programmed ratios and paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

The Rogue offered All-Wheel Drive (AWD), 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, enhancing its off-pavement capabilities. Yet, a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder felt underpowered while driving in mountainous terrains.

Fuel economy for the tested Rogue SL with front-wheel drive (FWD) was 27.5 mpg, slightly below its EPA rating. The Rogue rode on a new architecture, 35% made of high-strength steel, which improved its ride and handling. Its steering, moved from the steering column to the steering rack, provided a better feel over previous models.

On the other hand, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was more powerful with its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, outputting 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. Even at a heftier 3,896 pounds, this engine allowed a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The EPA estimated its fuel efficiency at 24 mpg in combined driving, though we recorded an average of 21.3 mpg on a challenging mountainous route.

However, the CVT in the Outback Wilderness was not as satisfactory as a conventional automatic transmission. It had eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, but the mushy simulated gear changes were less engaging during maximum acceleration. Nevertheless, the Outback’s CVT was complemented by standard AWD, a commendable 9.5 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and various traction modes.

Redesigned bumpers improved its approach, breakover, and departure angles, and the Outback's Wilderness trim had a unique suspension and traction systems, making it the most capable Outback ever. These features allowed it to handle rugged terrains effectively, showing prowess at hill climbing, rock crawling, and navigating narrow trails.

With the 2021 Nissan Rogue, comfort was a primary focus, exemplified by the improved Zero Gravity seats. These were exceptionally comfortable, accommodating different trims with variations in upholstery and power adjustments. However, ventilated seats were not available despite the vehicle being designed in Nashville, known for its hot summers. The triple-zone climate control in higher trims helped keep the back seat occupants comfortable, and rear air conditioning vents were standard across all trims.

Rear-seat headroom and legroom improved from previous versions, making it easier to load and accommodate passengers, even with nearly 90-degree opening rear doors. The Rogue provided a quiet cabin with reduced interior noise due to acoustic improvements and effective insulation. Storage spaces were practical, with a new electronic shifter freeing up space under the center console and door-panel pockets easily accommodating large water bottles.

The cargo area had a power rear liftgate in most trims, with the SL and Platinum featuring a hands-free design. Cargo capacity was 31.6 cubic feet in the Rogue S and SV, while the SL and Platinum trims offered 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide cargo management system. Maximum cargo volume with folded rear seats was 74.1 cubic feet, among the largest in the compact crossover SUV segment.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness had dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable on hot days. Heated seats were available in both the front and rear, but ventilated seats were absent. Dual-zone automatic climate control effectively maintained a comfortable temperature on hot days. The driver's seat had a 10-way power adjustment, ensuring comfort behind the wheel.

Rear seat space was generous, accommodating two adults or three children comfortably. It provided rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports. The cargo area measured 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expanding to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded flat. Subaru covered the cargo area seatbacks with waterproof material and included a waterproof cargo tray. Additionally, a robust roof rack with a higher load capacity facilitated rooftop camping.

In the 2021 Nissan Rogue, technology was a strong suit. The base S trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant was available for six months before requiring a subscription. Physical knobs and shortcut buttons made the interface user-friendly, though somewhat cumbersome due to their shallow design.

Higher trims like the SV and SL added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, a better voice recognition system, and a Bose premium audio system. These higher trims also featured advanced technology like wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness boasted an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment system. Physical knobs and buttons were limited to essential functions, requiring extensive use of the touchscreen. While the voice recognition technology felt limited, connecting to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto improved the experience with superior voice assistant functionality.

For a target buyer demographic of mid-30s males with higher education and income, the Outback Wilderness missed out on a better sound system. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system was available in other trims but not the Wilderness. Nevertheless, the Outback's PIN code entry technology allowed adventurous users to leave the key fob inside the vehicle while engaging in outdoor activities.

Safety was of utmost importance in the 2021 Nissan Rogue. All trims came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, covering a comprehensive range of ADAS. Features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was available starting from the SV trim, coupled with lane-centering assistance and an improved ProPilot Assist driving aid, which enhanced accuracy and smoothness.

For added safety, the Rogue Platinum featured an airbag between the driver and front passenger. The near doubling of high-strength steel in its architecture aimed to better deflect crash energy, suggesting good protection in a collision.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness maintained the effectiveness of the standard EyeSight ADAS. This suite included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and a driver monitoring system. The Wilderness trim also came with steering-responsive headlights and a blind-spot warning system with lane-change assistance and rear cross-traffic warning.

The EyeSight ADAS proved effective, maintaining safe distances and lane centering without being burdensome. While DriverFocus distraction mitigation technology was unavailable in the Wilderness trim, the overall effectiveness of its safety features remained commendable. The 2021 Outback model had earned top safety ratings, positioning the 2022 model favorably.