2021 Nissan Rogue

Nissan sells more Rogue crossovers than almost anything else, so the all-new 2021 model is an important vehicle for the automaker. The outgoing model sold strongly for many reasons and owes much of its success to Nissan’s incentives programs, as well as the fact that it’s just a solid all-around family vehicle. The automaker is trying to build on that success with this new model, and largely succeeds on all fronts.

Even with the goodness that Nissan packed into the new Rogue, it’s got stiff competition, facing off against the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and the Subaru Forester. The 2021 Rogue is offered in four trim levels: S, SV, SL and Platinum. All models are powered by a 2.5-liter inline-four that produces 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive are standard. All-wheel drive is available.

That doesn’t sound like a ton of power, and to be completely truthful it’s not. Even so, it’s an appropriate amount of power to make the Rogue a willing city and highway companion. There’s a little hesitance when it’s pushed, but plenty of grunt to dart through traffic and reach highway speeds. Continuously variable transmissions have a tendency to let engines drone and whine away under acceleration, but Nissan’s years-long investment in the transmission technology has paid dividends to buyers with smooth, quiet performance and a near-flawless ability to keep the engine’s revs where they need to be for the best power and fuel economy.

Over the road, the Rogue is equally as refined. Broken pavement and potholes present small challenges, but the crossover’s suspension system is more than capable of soaking up the worst of it all. There’s more wind and road noise than expected, but it’s a small price to pay. Steering and braking feel are confident, and the steering wheel remains nicely weighted at highway speeds despite it being a bit overly assisted at lower speeds.

The new Rogue’s interior is a great example of what happens when an automaker builds a cabin with its customers in mind instead of to meet a financial bottom line. There are some missteps, sure, but without a doubt this is a different Rogue than before. In trims with cloth upholstery, such as the SV, Nissan has built in cheeky accent patterns and contrast colors that liven up what would otherwise be a sea of black fabric. The front seats, billed as “Zero Gravity Seats,” live up to their name with excellent bolstering and deep seat bottoms that support and hug the body where it counts. Nissan says it worked with NASA to develop the seats, which are intended to reduce fatigue over time, and it’s easy to see and feel the benefits of that partnership.

s a vehicle whose primary purpose in life for many buyers will be to haul kids and gear from place to place, the Rogue had to offer the space and utility to accommodate the traveling circus and all its accoutrements. Nissan achieved that goal and then some, as there’s more than a surprising amount of space in the back seats and an embarrassment of headroom all around. Rear-seat passengers will find the ability to almost stretch out in comfort, and the Rogue’s consistent roofline allows for the space up top to handle full-size people back there.

That luxuriant space in back is also part of what makes the Rogue so adept at being the primary family vehicle. Full-size and rear-facing car seats are no match for the Nissan, and kids in booster seats can nearly swing their legs without worry. This is even true with a six-foot-plus-tall driver and passenger up front. Adding to that odyssey of family-friendly features, Nissan designed the new Rogue’s rear doors to open nearly 90 degrees, which makes easy work of loading kids, gear and pets.

On the tech front, the Rogue has most of what buyers expect, even in lower trim levels. A bright, crisp 8-inch touchscreen is standard, as are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, voice recognition and Bluetooth. There’s also a load of standard safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking and an intelligent driver alertness system.

Nissan had to nail the re-boot of its top-seller, and it did. The 2021 Rogue combines comfort, utility, handsome style and advanced tech in an approachable package that will likely be affordable for the majority of car buyers. It’s more than a worthy competitor for many versions of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, though those vehicles’ hybrid powertrains and the Toyota’s adventure-ready models may be enough to win the day for some buyers.