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2021 Nissan Rogue vs. 2021 Honda CR-V
2021 Nissan Rogue SL ・ Photo by Brady Holt
The Honda CR-V is often considered a benchmark in the hot-selling compact crossover segment. It’s renowned for its blend of easy driving dynamics, an extra-spacious interior, and excellent gas mileage.
One of the CR-V’s closest rivals has just undergone a comprehensive redesign. That’s the 2021 Nissan Rogue, which brings modernized styling, a higher-end interior, upgraded infotainment, more power, and improved driving dynamics. To see if that’s enough to vault the new Rogue to the top of its class, we’ve tested the two small SUVs, compared them across eight categories, then declared an overall winner. Read on to learn which one is best for you, and which one is our top pick.
Pricing and Features
The CR-V and Rogue have similar pricing, each with some advantages over the other. The CR-V has a slightly lower base MSRP: $25,350 for the LX trim level. The base Rogue S starts at $25,650, but it has blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, and an infotainment touchscreen that are missing from the CR-V LX. Honda counters with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assistance that are limited to the next-up Rogue SV ($27,340).
The Rogue SV is similarly equipped to the CR-V EX ($27,860), with both adding a power driver’s seat, upgraded sound system, and dual-zone automatic climate control system, though Honda throws in a moonroof and Nissan provides a surround-view parking camera. Other Rogue trims are the leather-trimmed SL ($32,000) and maximum-luxury Platinum ($35,450), which compare to the CR-V EX-L ($30,450) and Touring ($33,650). The value winner tips back and forth based on which features you want, so check comparably equipped models if that’s a priority. A couple other considerations: Nissan often discounts more off the sticker price, but Honda will likely provide better resale value. There’s no clear victor here.
Tie
Photo by Brady Holt
Exterior Design
The new Rogue brings a chunkier design aesthetic than its curvier predecessor. It has straighter lines and more rugged-looking bumpers, making it look more like an SUV than last year’s model — at least from the rear. The front end, meanwhile, is dressed up with sporty high-mounted headlights and a bigger grille.
The CR-V got a bit tougher-looking last year, with a more squared-off front bumper. But its exterior design is still more about dressing up a useful box with gentle and classy cues, like lots of chrome trim and high, slim LED taillights. Neither of these crossovers looks especially butch, sporty, or luxurious, and we won’t declare a winner between the two different design approaches.
Tie
Photo by Brady Holt
Interior Design
When the current-generation CR-V debuted in 2017, it was the luxury leader of the compact crossover segment, with brightly colored false wood accents and a sleek-looking infotainment screen with flush touch-sensitive controls. But neither the decor nor the technology has aged especially well; the small 7-inch touchscreen with dated software and sluggish responses are overdue for an update. And base models don’t get a touchscreen at all.
The redesigned Rogue set out to dazzle, with Nissan highlighting the orange-tan pleated leather seats on its top Platinum trim level. We tested the SL with conventional leather upholstery in a subdued black, but we still came away pretty impressed. While we didn’t feel like we were in a bargain-priced BMW, the Nissan feels more contemporary than the Honda. Its controls are easier to use, and every Rogue has either an 8-inch or 9-inch infotainment touchscreen. Also, while most CR-Vs and all Rogue support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, some Rogues add wireless CarPlay connectivity.
Photo by Brady Holt
Interior Comfort
Both the CR-V and Rogue are among the roomiest compact crossovers. They have plenty of space for adults in both the front and back seats, and well-shaped cushions keep everyone comfortable. Drivers sit high and enjoy good visibility. The CR-V feels a little more open and airy, while the Rogue feels a little cozier and more intimate; you might prefer one approach over the other, but the difference is subtle anyway.
Nissan has made much of its “Zero Gravity” seats, which it says are inspired by NASA engineering to provide optimal support. We weren’t blown away either on short drives or two-hour-plus jaunts — we had no complaints but didn’t notice an advantage over other small crossovers, including the CR-V. We’ll call this category a tie.
Tie
Photo by Brady Holt
Cargo and Towing
The Nissan Rogue boasts the second-highest cargo capacity in its class: up to 36.5 cubic feet of space behind its rear seat and 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The SL and Platinum models have a useful system called Divide-N-Hide, which lets you reconfigure the cargo floor to be flush with the folded seatbacks with hidden storage below it; lower the floor to maximize volume; or position a divider so that cargo won’t roll around. Unfortunately, the feature is no longer offered on the SV.
While the Rogue is an impressive No. 2 for cargo volume, in this comparison, it’s facing the No. 1: the Honda CR-V. It has 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seat and 75.8 cubic feet in total. Its rear seat also folds a bit more easily than the Rogue’s, and its lower cargo opening makes it easier to load and unload heavy items. The CR-V also tows a bit more than the Rogue: up to 1,500 lbs versus a maximum of 1,350 lbs — an improvement over last year’s Rogue, but among the lowest amounts in its class.
Photo by Brady Holt
Driving Experience
Nissan has significantly upgraded the Rogue’s driving experience for the 2021 model year. A more sophisticated suspension has made it more agile and responsive than before, and the firm steering feels expensive. Some folks might wish for a softer ride and lighter steering, though. Last year’s familiar powertrain — a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) — carries over into the new year, but with upgrades that improve its performance and quietness. The Rogue now sports a more competitive 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, up from 170 hp and 175 lb-ft, and acceleration is smoother and more natural. Our main complaint is some unwanted vibration when you cruise at about 30 or 40 mph, where the transmission lets RPMs drop too low.
The CR-V offers a slightly smoother ride and a little more horsepower than the Rogue, but we give a slight edge to the Nissan’s steering and handling. Racetrack testing found the CR-V reaches 60 mph quicker than the Rogue, but it didn’t feel any more eager in the real world. Both of these vehicles drive pretty well for SUVs, and we’ll call this category a tie.
Tie
Photo by Brady Holt
Fuel Economy
Although the redesigned Rogue has peppier performance than before, its fuel economy has actually improved a bit over last year’s model. Most trim levels get EPA ratings of 26 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 25 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined with AWD. Choosing the base S model adds 1 mpg.
Still, the CR-V does a bit better. Every front-drive CR-V gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, while the AWD CR-V scores 27 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. What’s more, you can choose a CR-V Hybrid that gets a whopping 40 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 38 mpg combined. We didn’t drive them all the same way, but in our hands, the Rogue averaged an outstanding 36 mpg on a highway road trip and about 28 mpg in suburban errand-running, while the CR-V averaged 29 mpg across a week of mixed driving. We averaged 38 mpg in mixed driving while testing the CR-V Hybrid.
Photo by Brady Holt
Safety
Both the CR-V and Rogue perform very well in most crash tests and have long lists of standard safety features. However, the Rogue earned a mediocre three-star score in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s frontal-impact crash test, including mere two-star protection for the front passenger. The CR-V, by contrast, earned the top five stars. Nissan says it has redesigned its passenger-side seatbelt and airbag, and any Rogues built before the change can get the new parts free of charge; NHTSA hasn’t yet tested the updates to confirm effectiveness.
Meanwhile, the two crossovers performed equally well in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests. However, only the Rogue earned the higher designation of Top Safety Pick+ due to superior headlight performance. When it comes to features, the CR-V brings standard adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist that are missing from base Rogues, but the Rogue comes standard with blind-spot monitoring that Honda leaves off the base CR-V. Nissan also offers extra safety features that Honda doesn’t: rear automatic braking (standard) and a surround-view parking camera (standard on all but the base S). Overall, until the Rogue’s promised crash-safety improvements materialize, the CR-V gets our nod.
Photo by Brady Holt
Final Thoughts
We came away impressed with the redesigned 2021 Nissan Rogue. It covers all the bases of what we’re looking for in this segment: a pleasant driving experience, a usefully spacious interior, reasonable pricing, thrifty fuel economy, and all the latest safety and infotainment features. Once Nissan fixes the vehicles’ crash performance, the vehicle will have no significant flaws.
Still, its best points and just-OK ones are about the same as the 2021 Honda CR-V’s. Neither vehicle is especially high-end, outdoorsy, or fun to drive. Neither offers a high-performance engine option or a more off-road-ready variant. And in this identical niche, the CR-V continues to offer just a little bit more than the Rogue. In addition to the superior crash-test scores, it’s roomier, more fuel-efficient, and smoother-riding than the Nissan — if not by a huge margin — for a similar price. And it offers the extra-thrifty CR-V Hybrid version. It desperately needs a new infotainment system, but as long as you’re satisfied with the system’s performance and usability, the CR-V narrowly beats out the Rogue.
Photo by Brady Holt