2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Nissan Rogue took on handsome new styling with a more technical appearance that made it look more like an SUV than a car. Dark gray plastic cladding covered the Rogue's lower perimeter, and bold, simulated skid plates and lower door protection conveyed a rugged attitude, particularly noticeable on the back bumper. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and well-balanced proportions endowed the 2021 Rogue with a modern aesthetic. All trim levels featured aluminum wheels, with sizes reaching up to 19 inches in diameter. Optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment added a custom flair to the SUV's design.

Four versions of the Rogue were available. The base model Rogue S sat at $25,650, followed by the popular Rogue SV at $27,340. The Rogue SL added a touch of luxury at $32,000, and the top-tier Platinum at $35,430 came with semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities. Factory options included all-wheel drive for an additional $1,400 and Premium option packages for both the SV ($2,660) and SL ($1,320). Our test vehicle, a Rogue SL with additional packages and extras like floor mats and cargo area protection, totaled $35,195 with destination charges included.

The interior of our test vehicle featured an Almond-colored leather and a panoramic glass sunroof, which made it light and bright, emphasizing its improved roominess. Abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars added a sense of quality to the cabin. Controls were arranged in a clean and logical manner, and for a luxurious look and feel, the Platinum trim offered quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. One quirk noted was the old-school digital clock appearance of the numbers on the climate control panel, a nostalgic element in a technology-forward vehicle.

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. The styling similarities between the Passport and the Pilot were evident both inside and out. The Passport's dash layout was visually identical to that of the Pilot, which included Honda’s awkward "button shifter" design. Despite these shared design choices, the Passport featured a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout.

The Passport was available in Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims. The base Sport trim included 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, tri-zone climate control, a seven-speaker audio system, and a one-touch fold-down rear bench. The EX-L trim added leather upholstery, a power moonroof, a power rear liftgate, and side mirrors that tilted down when the vehicle was in reverse. The Touring trim further enhanced the features with parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, an upgraded audio system, satellite navigation, and a WiFi hotspot. The top-tier Elite added heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and wireless device charging. The Passport’s lineup of trims neatly packaged diverse features with no optional packages, other than an Urban Package for appearance.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue, weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, was powered by a direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. This output was considered adequate for typical daily driving. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) did a decent job of managing the available torque and had programmed ratios that made it feel more like a traditional automatic. Steering wheel paddle shifters were available, although they were not particularly enticing to use.

While the Rogue was designed for adventuring with up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes, the engine felt underpowered, especially in mountainous areas. Nissan hinted at the potential addition of a turbocharged engine in the future, possibly the same variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder found in the Altima sedan and Infiniti QX50. Meanwhile, drivers could switch to Sport mode for more responsive performance.

The tested Rogue SL with front-wheel drive achieved 27.5 mpg on a mixed driving loop, falling 1.5 mpg short of the official EPA rating. The new Rogue's ride and handling were impressive, based on a new, robust architecture made up of 35% high-strength steel. The strut front and multi-link rear suspension were further enhanced by brake-induced Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control. Additionally, the Vehicle Motion Control feature anticipated driver inputs to make the drive more enjoyable. The new steering, with its relocated electric assist and quicker ratio, significantly improved steering feel.

The 2021 Honda Passport, regardless of trim, featured a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Power was effectively managed through a nine-speed automatic transmission, and the vehicle came standard with front-wheel drive (FWD) while offering optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 provided strong acceleration, although the stop-start engine system could be somewhat abrupt. Fortunately, there was an option to disable this feature.

The Passport excelled in comfort and refined handling, with a ride optimized for commuting and weekend adventures. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance and drive modes like Snow, Sand, and Mud for the AWD model, the Passport was capable of some off-road excursions. For 2022, the TrailSport trim, specifically designed for off-road aficionados, was introduced. The Passport also offered impressive towing capacities, with FWD models capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds, while AWD models could handle up to 5,000 pounds.

In terms of seating comfort, the 2021 Nissan Rogue featured Zero Gravity seat designs, which aimed to replicate the neutral spine position that reduces stress and fatigue. The new Rogue's seats were more comfortable than the previous generation, available in cloth for the S trim, leatherette for the SV, leather for the SL, and premium leather for the Platinum. Higher trims added heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats, though ventilated seats were not offered. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard from the SV trim upward, and higher trims featured a triple-zone system with rear-seat occupant control.

The new Rogue improved rear-seat headroom and legroom, and the doors opened to nearly a 90-degree angle for easier passenger loading. Rear seats were comfortable for both kids and adults, and LATCH anchors allowed for up to three child safety seats. Reductions in interior noise were achieved through aerodynamic improvements and acoustic glass.

Storage space was effectively utilized, with a new electronic shifter freeing up space under the center console. The door-panel pockets accommodated large water bottles, and the center armrest featured a split butterfly-style opening. Cargo capacity ranged from 31.6 cubic feet in the Rogue S and SV to 36.5 cubic feet in the SL and Platinum, which included a Divide-N-Hide cargo management system. Maximum cargo volume with rear seats folded reached 74.1 cubic feet, placing it among the largest in the compact crossover SUV segment.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided up to 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet of storage was available in an under-floor tray. The EX-L trim featured a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims offered a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position and deep center bin of the center console, along with an open cargo tray below the shifter and cupholders, provided functional interior storage.

Rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom, with reclining and sliding capabilities for extra comfort. Both front and rear seats featured deep in-door pockets suitable for water bottles and other items, ensuring that all passengers had easy access to storage.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment package even at its base S trim, which included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A six-month trial to Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant was included. The system's usability was aided by power/volume and station tuning knobs, though their small size and glossy finishes made them a bit challenging to use. Menu shortcut buttons along the display's bottom made navigation easier.

Upgrading to the SV or SL trim added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. NissanConnect Services included features such as remote engine starting and automatic collision notification. The SL Premium Package and Platinum trim featured a larger 9-inch touchscreen display, door-to-door navigation with real-time traffic, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim further added wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display, making it the go-to choice for tech enthusiasts.

The 2021 Honda Passport standardized Android Auto and Apple CarPlay across all trims, along with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This marked an advantage over the Honda Pilot, which required a higher trim for the same features. Despite the inclusion of these key features, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a complex menu layout, and a volume dial that seemed like an afterthought. The absence of a tuning dial in the audio interface was another drawback.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue prioritized safety with a comprehensive set of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) bundled under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert, replacing the often-included adaptive cruise control.

The Rogue was equipped with ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Nissan also introduced rear pre-tensioning and load-limiting seatbelts in the Rogue, a first for mainstream compact SUVs. The Platinum trim featured an airbag between the driver and front passenger for added safety.

Adaptive cruise control was standard from the SV trim upward, including a lane-centering assistance function in the ProPilot Assist system. Higher trims with the SL Premium Package or Platinum got an upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology, using navigation data to adjust speed automatically. This system showed significant improvements over previous versions but still had some quirks, such as excessive slowing in certain situations.

The 2021 Honda Passport came well-equipped with advanced safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors.

In crash tests, the Passport received an overall rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Passport top "Good" scores in most crash tests, although it received "Acceptable" ratings in some areas, such as passenger-side small overlap front crash and headlights.