Nissan Rogue

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?

Though the entire Rogue lineup offers strong value, the SV is the standout. It doesn't cost much more than the base Rogue but adds a ton of features, including the ProPilot Assist system (which consists of adaptive cruise control and lane departure mitigation). If you have a more generous budget, the new Platinum trim is also worth a look. It's pricey, but few in the class can match its luxurious quilted leather and luxury-like feature upgrades.

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