2021 Nissan Rogue Review
Nissan’s big-selling crossover was completely redesigned for the 2021 model year, bringing it up to date to compete in the hotly contested compact SUV market. We put the mid-range Rogue SV Premium AWD model to the test.
Key Features:
- Contemporary styling
- Good to drive
- Clever VC-Turbo engine (2022 onwards)
Direct Competitors:
- Ford Escape
- Honda CR-V
- Hyundai Tucson
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Toyota RAV4
The third-generation Rogue sits on the updated CMF-C platform Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance – underpinnings it shares with the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander. All Rogues have five seats, and most are AWD.
Nissan Rogue price and trim levels
Note: MSRPs shown below are for 2022 Rogue models, up slighly from 2021.
|
2022 Rogue S FWD |
$28,998 |
|
2022 Rogue S AWD |
$31,298 |
|
2022 Rogue SV AWD |
$35,598 |
|
2022 Rogue SV Premium AWD |
$37,598 |
|
2022 Rogue SL |
$41,998 |
|
2022 Rogue Platinum |
$41,998 |
In Canada there are four grades of Rogue. Even the entry-level S FWD ($28,998 MSRP) comes with a set of Safety Shield 360 driver-assistance technologies, a NissanConnect 8in touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats.
2021 Rogue | Photo: Nissan
Moving up to the SV AWD ($35,598) brings larger, 18-in alloy wheels, a panoramic roof, 360-degree camera and additional safety technologies. Our SV Premium AWD test car is priced at C$37,598 in 2022. The Premium Package adds leatherette seats, heated rear seats, rear-door sunshades and a power liftgate to the regular SV. Our car also had Boulder Grey pearl paint for an extra C$300.
For the $39,998 SL grade, the wheels increase in diameter to 19-in, there’s leather on the seats, the central display grows to 9.0-in and the Apple CarPlay integration goes wireless. Then at the top of the Rogue range is the $41,998 Platinum, which boasts a head-up display, quilted Nappa leather seats, digital gauges and a 10-speaker Bose audio system.
For 2022, only the Rogue S comes with the 181-HP, 2.5-litre engine we tested in the 2021 SV. All other grades get the brand-new, more powerful, 1.5-litre VC-Turbo three-cylinder (see Performance, below).
2021 Nissan Rogue interior and equipment
2021 Rogue | Photo: Nissan
We felt the SV’s smart cabin could have used a splash more colour to break up the greyness, despite the tasteful brown trim around the top of the dashboard and doors. The build quality is solid and the leatherette seats comfortable, although we found the front seat backs a touch narrow. There’s decent space in the cabin, front and rear, and the trunk is bigger than those of most rivals.
A larger touchscreen but wireless smartphone charging a $425 upgrade
The new touchscreen is larger than before and placed at the top of the instrument panel, where it is more readily in the driver’s field of view. Nissan hasn’t gone overboard with touchscreen controls integration, however; we liked that the heating and ventilation switches remain as conventional buttons.
The screen is intuitive enough to use and has the infotainment functions that buyers now expect, such as Apple and Android phone integration. Wireless smartphone charging is a $425 option on the SV.
Performance: how does the all-wheel drive Rogue handle?
The updated platform makes the Rogue better to drive than the predecessor model. Improved suspension delivers more comfort over broken surfaces and good resistance to roll, pitch and heave. A new steering system responds sharply to driver inputs and has more feel than before, to give the driver more confidence.
Exterior sounds are generally well suppressed in the cabin, but we’d have preferred less tire-road noise from the Hankook tires on the test car’s 18in rims.
2021 Rogue | Photo: Nissan
201 horsepower from the new 1.5L turbo engine
As stated above, for 2022, the 2.5-litre, normally aspirated engine in the 2021 SV has been replaced by a 1.5-litre turbo with Nissan’s cutting-edge variable compression technology. This clever system changes the engine’s compression ratio to favour either power or economy, depending on the situation, and delivers 201 HP and 225 lb-ft of torque.
Combined with a more efficient Xtronic CVT transmission, it lowers the combined average fuel consumption from 8.3L/100km in the 2.5-litre model we drove to 7.6L/100km for the 2022 equivalent.
Verdict: is the redesigned 2021 Rogue worth it?
Nissan’s latest Rogue is a match for the best compact crossover SUVs on sale. The new-for-2022 engine promises to deliver much-needed fuel efficiency, although there’s still no hybrid model to compete with the alternatives from Ford, Hyundai, Mitsubishi or Toyota’s electric and hybrid lineup.
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