2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2020 GMC Acadia

The 2020 GMC Acadia was positioned as a premium brand, aiming to be nicer than Chevys but not as luxurious as Cadillacs. Built on the same platform as the Cadillac XT5, the Acadia shared powertrains and assembly origins in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The 2020 Acadia came in various trims, including the luxurious Denali, which featured all-wheel drive, Satin Steel Metallic paint, and a Technology Package, bringing the price to $52,385. Design changes were most noticeable in the front, with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille, while the cabin saw minor updates like new electronic transmission shift switches and real open-pore wood trim for Denali models. Despite these updates, the interior still had a mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, with leather upholstery and wood trim being the primary indicators of its premium status.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue sported handsome new styling with a more technical appearance, featuring dark gray plastic cladding, bold simulated skid plates, and clean LED lighting elements. The prominent V-Motion grille and proper proportioning gave it a modern aesthetic, with aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter. The Rogue came in four trims: S, SV, SL, and the new Platinum, with prices ranging from $25,650 to $35,430, plus $1,095 in destination charges. The test vehicle, a Rogue SL, included a Premium Package and extra-cost paint, totaling $35,195. The interior featured an Almond color leather, a panoramic glass sunroof, and abundant soft-touch surfaces, with the Platinum trim offering quilted semi-aniline leather and ambient lighting. The Rogue's interior was noted for its improved roominess and quality, with a clean and logical arrangement of controls.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three engine options: a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder for lower trims, a 230-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder for the SLT, and a 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 for the AT4 and Denali variants. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) available, except for the AT4, which had a dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 and nine-speed automatic combination provided smooth, refined power and up to 4,000 pounds of towing capacity. The test vehicle averaged 20.1 mpg in FWD mode, slightly below the EPA rating of 21 mpg. The Acadia's ride and handling were finely tuned, offering predictable and smooth performance, though it lacked memorable driving character.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue, weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) did a decent job of leveraging the available torque, with programmed ratios making it feel more like a traditional automatic. The Rogue offered AWD, 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, making it more adept at off-road adventures. The test vehicle achieved 27.5 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating. The Rogue's ride and handling were enhanced by a new architecture with 35% high-strength steel, a strut front, multi-link rear suspension, and various control systems. The new steering system, with electric assist moved to the steering rack and a quickened ratio, provided dramatically improved steering feel.

The 2020 GMC Acadia could seat five, six, or seven passengers, with the Denali trim offering six-passenger seating with second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were wide, supportive, and perfect for road trips, with heating and ventilation. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated, and rear passengers had air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a power outlet. The third-row seat was roomier than expected, though the cargo space behind it was limited to 12.1 cubic feet. Folding the third-row seat down increased cargo space to 41.7 cubic feet, and with the second-row seats folded, the maximum cargo volume was 79 cubic feet.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured improved Zero Gravity seats, with cloth upholstery and manual adjustment in the S trim, and leatherette or leather in higher trims. The SL and Platinum trims offered heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Rogue had standard air conditioning, with dual-zone automatic climate control in the SV and triple-zone in the SL and Platinum. Rear-seat headroom and legroom were generous, and the rear doors opened to a nearly 90-degree angle. The Rogue could accommodate up to three child safety seats, and a rear-seat reminder system was standard. The cargo capacity was 31.6 cubic feet in the S and SV trims, and 36.5 cubic feet in the SL and Platinum, with a maximum volume of 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2020 GMC Acadia included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen had a higher resolution display, simplified user experience, and improved voice recognition. The test vehicle had navigation and a Bose premium sound system, with mostly accurate voice-recognition results. New USB-C ports, a more powerful wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror were additional technology upgrades for 2020.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto in the S trim, with a free six-month trial to Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant. The SV and SL trims added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim included a 9-inch touchscreen, door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, an upgraded voice recognition system, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim also featured wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The 2020 GMC Acadia came with a rear-seat reminder system, Teen Driver technology, and GMC Connected Services with automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling. Standard ADAS included blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning, but forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were only available in higher trims. The Denali trim offered an enhanced automatic emergency braking system. The NHTSA gave the Acadia 5-star ratings in most assessments and a 4-star rollover resistance rating, while the IIHS provided incomplete data.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue included a comprehensive collection of ADAS under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella, with features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning. The Rogue also had ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The SV trim added adaptive cruise control with ProPilot Assist, and the SL Premium Package and Platinum trim offered an upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology. The Rogue's new architecture, with increased high-strength steel, aimed to better deflect crash energy.