2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The 2021 Nissan Rogue underwent a significant transformation to exude a more rugged and modern SUV appearance. It featured handsome styling with a technical aura, accentuated by dark gray plastic cladding around the lower perimeter. The bold, simulated skid plates and lower door protection emphasized ruggedness, though perhaps a bit too aggressively on the rear bumper. The overall design was modern, with clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and well-balanced proportions. Depending on the trim level, the Rogue came with aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter, adding to its robust visual appeal. Opting for the two-tone paint with a black roof treatment provided a custom look, setting it apart in a crowd.

Inside, the Rogue's cabin highlighted comfort and quality. Our test vehicle, the Rogue SL, showcased an Almond color leather interior and a standard panoramic glass sunroof, making the space feel light and airy. Abundant soft-touch surfaces, elegant simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars added a premium touch. Nissan’s thoughtful arrangement of controls contributed to a clean and logical dashboard layout. The top Platinum trim delivered a truly luxurious feel with quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. A minor drawback was the climate control panel's numbers, reminiscent of an old-school digital clock from the 1980s. Despite having a CD player, the Rogue was far from outdated, offering wireless Apple CarPlay among its advanced tech features.

Contrastingly, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, despite being fully loaded, did not immediately signal its premium status visually. It struggled to stand out, primarily due to the bland and undersized 18-inch wheels. Toyota missed an opportunity by not offering a more adventurous look akin to the non-hybrid RAV4’s Adventure trim. Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid was stylish, functional, and practical, though it presented a mix of high-quality materials and glossy hard plastics that felt less premium.

The RAV4 Hybrid's interior was comfortable, featuring an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a heated and ventilated steering wheel, and front cushions. Although the passenger seat lacked height adjustment, it was not a significant drawback. The rear seats offered decent legroom and foot space, with the cushion providing good leg support and a reclinable backrest for added comfort. The dashboard was well-organized, with oversized climate control knobs, useful stereo knobs, and easy-to-read instrumentation, although the graphics were somewhat overdone.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue's performance left something to be desired. Powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm, the Rogue felt underpowered, especially given its nearly 3,500-pound weight. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) did an adequate job of leveraging available torque, and Nissan's effort to make it feel like a traditional automatic was commendable, with paddle shifters available for a sportier feel. However, the lack of turbocharging was noticeable, especially in demanding driving conditions.

The Rogue did offer some off-road capabilities with its AWD system, providing up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance and new driving modes like Snow and Off-Road. Despite this, the naturally-aspirated engine struggled in challenging terrains, reducing the appeal of its adventurous persona. Fuel economy was decent, with the tested Rogue SL front-wheel drive averaging 27.5 mpg, just shy of the EPA rating. The 2021 model featured a new, more robust architecture composed of 35% high-strength steel, enhancing ride and handling. The Vehicle Motion Control system improved driving dynamics, while the relocated electric power steering system significantly enhanced steering feel and response.

On the performance front, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid had an advantage. Its hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors, supported by a lithium-ion battery pack. This setup produced a combined 219 horsepower, providing a lively acceleration experience thanks to the instant torque from the electric motors. The RAV4 Hybrid offered several driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, Trail, and EV, making it adaptable to various driving conditions. The hybrid system delivered a commendable fuel economy, averaging 39.7 mpg during testing, just below the EPA's 40 mpg rating.

The CVT in the RAV4 Hybrid operated smoothly, without the droning often associated with such transmissions. The regenerative braking system was well-tuned, providing a natural braking feel. However, the Michelin Primacy all-season tires on the test vehicle had low grip, leading to tire squeal and fuss at higher speeds. The RAV4 Hybrid's MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension ensured a comfortable ride, absorbing bumps and potholes effectively, with a relatively flat cornering stance.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue excelled in comfort and functionality. Its Zero Gravity seats, designed to mimic the neutral spine position astronauts adopt in space, were especially comfortable. The new model offered improved seat designs, with higher trims featuring leather and premium leather upholstery. The rear seats provided generous headroom and legroom, and the nearly 90-degree opening rear doors facilitated easy passenger loading. Child safety seats could be securely installed in the rear, thanks to newly positioned LATCH anchors.

Nissan also focused on reducing interior noise with aerodynamic improvements and added insulation. Storage solutions were abundant and practical, with space under the center console, accommodating door-panel pockets, and a split butterfly-style center armrest. The Rogue offered a power rear liftgate on most trims, with hands-free operation on the SL and Platinum. Cargo capacity was generous, with the SL and Platinum providing up to 36.5 cubic feet of space and 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

In comparison, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid also offered a comfortable interior but had a slightly lower cargo capacity. The rear seats provided decent legroom and excellent foot space, aiding passenger comfort. The RAV4 Hybrid also featured a well-thought-out dashboard layout with oversized climate control knobs and easy-to-use infotainment controls. Storage was practical, with useful shelves carved into the dashboard and a center armrest with cupholders for rear-seat passengers.

The cargo space in the RAV4 Hybrid was 37.5 cubic feet, slightly larger than the Rogue’s base cargo area. However, its maximum cargo space of 69.8 cubic feet was less than the Rogue's. The premium sound system’s subwoofer and the clunky all-weather mat in the test vehicle took up some space, slightly diminishing cargo versatility.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came equipped with a competitive infotainment package. The base S trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and voice assistant integration. The test vehicle, an SL with the Premium Package, included a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim added a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.8-inch head-up display, rounding off an impressive suite of tech features.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered several infotainment options, with 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen displays. The test vehicle came with a top-tier infotainment system, featuring an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, dynamic navigation, and voice recognition. This system also included a variety of connected services with free trial periods. The 8-inch display was user-friendly, with shortcut buttons and stereo knobs for easy operation. Toyota also provided camera-based technology upgrades, such as a 360-degree surround-view camera system and a rearview camera mirror.

Safety was a priority for both the 2021 Nissan Rogue and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The Rogue featured Nissan’s Safety Shield 360, offering an extensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This package included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control and an enhanced ProPilot Assist system with Navi-link technology. The Rogue also boasted ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Although crash-test results were pending, the Rogue's use of high-strength steel and advanced engineering indicated strong safety performance.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and road-sign recognition. The Hybrid Limited trim also featured rear automatic braking. The lane-centering assistance system in TSS 2.0 was somewhat aggressive, and the adaptive cruise control maintained a longer following distance than preferred. In safety evaluations, the RAV4 Hybrid earned top marks from both the NHTSA and IIHS, with the limited exception of its headlights.