2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Kia Telluride

The 2021 Nissan Rogue showcased a handsome new styling with a more technical and rugged appearance. The SUV's lower perimeter was clad in dark gray plastic, with bold simulated skid plates and lower door protection giving it a touch of ruggedness. The back bumper, though, might have been too audaciously rugged in its presentation. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning lent the Rogue a modern aesthetic. Nissan offered aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter, and an optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment added a custom look.

Four versions of the Rogue catered to various preferences and budgets: the entry-level Rogue S, the popular Rogue SV, the slightly luxurious Rogue SL, and the new-for-2021 Rogue Platinum with semi-aniline quilted leather and upscale amenities. The all-wheel drive cost $1,400 extra, and Premium option packages were available for both SV and SL. The tested Rogue SL, with additional features and destination charges, totaled $35,195.

Inside, the tested SL trim featured an Almond-colored leather interior and a panoramic glass sunroof, creating a light and bright ambiance. Soft-touch surfaces, simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars added a sense of quality. Controls were cleanly and logically arranged, and the Platinum trim introduced quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting for a luxurious feel. The numbers on the climate control panel resembled an old-school digital clock, but the included wireless Apple CarPlay kept the SUV technologically relevant.

Turning to the 2021 Kia Telluride, it was sold in four trims: LX, S, EX, and SX, with prices ranging from $32,190 to $42,490, excluding destination charges. The popular top-of-the-line SX trim, especially with the Prestige package, essentially transformed it into a luxury SUV at a mainstream price with premium stitched Nappa leather, a suede headliner, a head-up display, and heated and ventilated second-row seats.

The Nightfall Edition package, available with EX and SX trims, gave the Telluride a popular blacked-out look with 20-inch gloss black aluminum wheels and a unique grille insert. The test vehicle, equipped with Nightfall Edition, AWD, Prestige package, and other add-ons, had a sticker price of $50,180.

Styling was a significant selling point for the Telluride. It looked terrific inside and out, with few flaws in its exterior design and only a bit of glossy hard plastic marring an otherwise high-quality interior. The transmission shifter was placed to the left side of the center console, freeing up storage space and adding a solid, smooth operational feel. However, color options for the interior were limited to black or gray unless one opted for the SX trim.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue, weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, needed more power. It came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. This setup was adequate for daily driving, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) did a decent job of leveraging available torque. The CVT was well-tuned, with programmed ratios making it feel more like a traditional automatic, and paddle shifters were available for a sportier experience.

The Rogue was designed for adventure, with AWD, 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and Snow and Off-Road driving modes making it adept at off-road driving. Nissan hinted at a possible future addition of a more powerful engine, likely the variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder used in other models. Switching to Sport mode made the Rogue’s driving dynamics more responsive, and the Eco drive mode catered to those looking for better fuel economy, although the tested Rogue averaged 27.5 mpg compared to its EPA rating of 29 mpg.

The Rogue's new, robust architecture with a strut front, multi-link rear suspension, and advanced control systems resulted in a smooth and athletic ride. New steering improvements made the Rogue more precise and better-handling than its predecessor.

Contrastingly, the 2021 Kia Telluride featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Kia’s Drive Mode Select allowed drivers to choose between Snow, Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart driving modes. AWD with a low-speed Lock function and 8 inches of ground clearance helped the Telluride conquer off-road terrains.

During test drives in both harsh winter conditions and routine routes, the Telluride impressed by eliminating the “head-toss” phenomenon, providing a firm yet comfortable ride. Its MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, along with a self-leveling rear suspension on EX and SX trims, ensured a balanced ride, even with varying loads. Brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control technology allowed the Telluride to handle curves and corners smoothly.

The Telluride offered decent fuel economy for its class, with a combined driving average of 20.5 mpg slightly below its EPA rating of 21 mpg.

For the 2021 Nissan Rogue, Nissan's Zero Gravity seat designs aimed to replicate a neutral spine position, making the seats exceptionally comfortable. The latest Rogue featured improved Zero Gravity seats with better support. Cloth upholstery was standard in the S trim, with leatherette options and power adjustments available in higher trims. The SL trim came with standard leather, while the Platinum trim introduced premium leather upholstery.

Comfort features included Quick Comfort heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats, although ventilated seats were missing. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard from SV trim upwards, with the SL and Platinum trims adding a triple-zone system and rear side window sunshades. Rear-seat roominess and ease of access were enhanced with nearly 90-degree opening rear doors and new LATCH anchors for up to three child safety seats. Nissan also focused on reducing interior noise for a quieter ride.

The Rogue, offering 31.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity in S and SV trims, expanded to 36.5 cubic feet with the SL and Platinum trims, thanks to the Divide-N-Hide cargo management system. Folding the rear seats down yielded a maximum volume of 74.1 cubic feet, making it one of the roomiest in its class.

In comparison, the 2021 Kia Telluride excelled in comfort and utility. The SX’s driver’s seat offered 14-way adjustments, including power lumbar and thigh support extensions, and both front seats were heated and ventilated. The Prestige package added patterned leather upholstery and acoustic sound-absorbing materials for a quieter ride. The test vehicle featured second-row captain’s chairs with heating and ventilation, sunshades, and separate climate controls for rear passengers. The third-row seat, while not as spacious as some competitors, was still usable by adults, with easy access provided by an automatic sliding second-row seat or a pass-through between the chairs.

Kia's focus on storage was evident with smartphone bins, grocery bag hooks, and USB ports strategically placed in the second-row seating area. Its smart hands-free power liftgate, activated by proximity, revealed 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats. Folding down the third row expanded this to 46 cubic feet, with a maximum of 87 cubic feet when both the second and third rows were down.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came with an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard on S trim. Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant's six-month free trial was also included. For SV and SL trims, the Rogue added NissanConnect Services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The SL Premium Package or Platinum trim introduced a 9-inch touchscreen, door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, upgraded voice recognition, and a Bose premium audio system. For ultimate tech enthusiasts, the Platinum trim also featured wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

In contrast, every 2021 Kia Telluride model was equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The slightest available display was 8 inches, while the higher EX and SX trims boasted a 10.25-inch screen with a navigation system. Kia’s UVO Link Lite connected services plan was free for five years, providing various features, including a 911 Connect feature. Higher-tier subscription plans offered additional benefits like remote engine start and climate control, vehicle speed and curfew alerts, Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, and a rear occupant alert system for child safety.

Upper trims like EX and SX offered a 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system, with unique speaker grilles adding to the sense of luxury. The advanced features included Driver Talk, amplifying driver commands through the stereo, and Quiet Mode, restricting volume to the front speakers. The Prestige package added a head-up display with extensive information, including blind-spot notifications.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue emphasized safety with a comprehensive collection of advanced driving assistance systems bundled under the Nissan Safety Shield 360. These included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and notably, a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert, which was standard instead of adaptive cruise control. The Rogue also had ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Platinum trim added an airbag between the front seats for enhanced safety.

Adaptive cruise control was included in SV trim and above, with the improved ProPilot Assist driving aid featuring a lane-centering assistance function. The top trims offered an upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology, using navigation data to adjust speeds for curves and exit ramps. Despite the improved systems, occasional unexpected behaviors and continuous notifications could be annoying. Still, the Rogue’s enhanced structural integrity suggested good crash protection.

The 2021 Kia Telluride came standard with the Drive Wise collection of safety technologies, including blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assistance, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver monitoring system. EX and SX trims added Highway Drive Assist, pairing adaptive cruise control with lane-centering for semi-autonomous driving. Advanced safety features included Rear Occupant Alert and Safe Exit Assist.

Exclusive to SX trim were front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor, showing video feeds of blind spots when signaling lane changes. The Telluride earned a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS for 2020 and a 5-star overall rating from NHTSA, though with a noted issue in frontal-impact ratings.