Nissan Rogue 2021 Review

The Rogue is Nissan's best-selling vehicle, and it's also one of the most popular small SUVs on the market. We liked the 2014-2020 Rogue for its utility, passenger comfort and value, though ultimately we found rival SUVs did a better job of emphasizing performance and quality. Now Nissan is looking to better entice you with the introduction of the fully redesigned 2021 Nissan Rogue.

The new Rogue has a more distinctive exterior design, punctuated by a boxier, more squared-off front end and recognizable LED lighting signatures. The biggest change comes to the cabin, especially in the new range-topping Platinum trim level. The previous Rogue used acres of cheap, hard and piano-black plastics. By contrast, the 2021 Rogue Platinum has upscale elements such as a digital instrument panel, quilted leather seats and ambient illumination.

ProPilot Assist — Nissan's name for its full suite of driver assistance features — now includes navigation-linked adaptive cruise control, which can slow down for upcoming road curves. A retuned transmission, slightly more powerful engine and lighter weight make the 2021 Rogue feel a little livelier to drive too.

By all measures, the 2021 Nissan Rogue is better than the outgoing model. Though it doesn't claim the top spot in our small SUV rankings, the new Rogue is much more competitive with class leaders that include the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson.

Which Rogue does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Nissan Rogue is a five-passenger small SUV sold in four trim levels: S, SV, SL and Platinum. All are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (181 horsepower, 181 lb-ft of torque) mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive is standard across the board, and all-wheel drive is available on all trims.

S The base Rogue S is fairly well equipped, with standard features that include:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Height-adjustable driver's seat
• Rear air vents
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Four-speaker audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality
• Satellite radio
• Two USB ports

The Rogue's suite of advanced driving aids is branded as Nissan Safety Shield. Safety Shield consists of:

• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse)
• Rear-passenger safe exit system (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind)
• Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)

SV The next-level SV is rich with comfort and safety features, including:

• 18-inch wheels
• Remote engine start
• Keyless entry and ignition
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Six-speaker audio system
• Two rear-seat charge-only USB ports
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Nissan and the car in front)
• 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Rogue and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

The SV Premium package further adds:

• Panoramic sunroof
• Power liftgate
• Roof rails
• Leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• Faux leather upholstery
• Second-row sunshades

SL The luxe SL gets all of the features of the SV and SV Premium package plus:

• 19-inch wheels
• Heated mirrors with body-colored caps
• Hands-free operation for the liftgate
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Driver-seat memory settings
• Power-adjustable passenger seat
• Leather upholstery
• Remote release levers for rear bench
• Dual-panel cargo floor

The SL Premium package upgrades the Rogue with:

• Navigation system
• 9-inch touchscreen
• 10-speaker Bose premium audio system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Voice controls
• Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking)

Platinum The range-topping Platinum offers:

• SL Premium package
• Digital instrument panel
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)
• Heated rear seats
• Upgraded leather upholstery with quilted stitching
• Wireless charging pad