2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Honda Pilot

The 2021 Nissan Rogue wore a handsome new styling with a more technical appearance, making it look more like an SUV than a car. Dark gray plastic cladding covered the Rogue's lower perimeter, with bold simulated skid plates and lower door protection conveying a ruggedness that bordered on audacious, especially on the back bumper. Clean LED lighting elements, a prominent V-Motion grille, and proper proportioning gave the 2021 Rogue a modern aesthetic, with aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter available across all trim levels. The optional two-tone paint with a black roof treatment added a custom look.

Four versions of the new Rogue were available. The entry-level Rogue S was priced at $25,650, the popular Rogue SV at $27,340, the Rogue SL at $32,000 added a touch of luxury, and the new Rogue Platinum at $35,430 decked the SUV out with semi-aniline quilted leather and other upscale amenities. Each of these prices required an additional $1,095 for destination charges.

Factory options were limited. All-wheel drive added $1,400, and Premium option packages were available for the SV and SL trims at $2,660 and $1,320, respectively. The test vehicle was a Rogue SL, equipped with the Premium Package, extra-cost paint, floor mats, and a cargo area protection package, totaling $35,195, including destination charges.

Featuring an Almond color leather interior and a standard panoramic glass sunroof, the test vehicle's interior was light and bright, highlighting its improved roominess. Abundant soft-touch surfaces, appealing simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars lent a sense of quality to the cabin. Nissan arranged the controls in a clean and logical fashion. For a truly luxurious look and feel, the Platinum trim offered quilted semi-aniline leather, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting.

One notable interior detail was the retro appearance of the numbers on the climate control panel, reminiscent of an old-school digital clock from the 1980s. Despite the presence of a CD player, the Rogue was not technologically outdated, as it also featured wireless Apple CarPlay.

The 2021 Honda Pilot's styling aimed to appeal to new vehicle buyers by emphasizing reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. The 2019 model-year refresh attempted to give the SUV a more rugged appearance, followed by the 2020 Black Edition with a blacked-out look, but its exterior design remained an acquired taste.

The 2021 Pilot came in seven versions: the base LX, popular EX, leather-lined EX-L, Special Edition, tech-equipped Touring, upscale Elite, and blacked-out Black Edition. Prices ranged from $32,250 to $49,920. Front-wheel drive was standard, but all-wheel drive could be added for $2,000, except for the Elite and Black Edition trims, where AWD was standard.

New for 2021, the Pilot Special Edition added black 20-inch alloy wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, wireless smartphone charging, and a hands-free power tailgate, with a starting MSRP of $38,960 for the FWD model.

The test vehicle was the Honda Pilot Black Edition, fully loaded, with only a $395 Platinum White Pearl paint job as an option, bringing the total to $51,435, including the $1,120 destination charge. This model featured exclusive black leather upholstery with red-tinted and perforated seat inserts, red contrast stitching, and red ambient lighting. However, unlike the Honda Odyssey, which had new Berber-style floor mats that hid dirt, the Pilot's black mats gripped animal hair like Velcro, making them difficult to clean.

The Pilot's cabin used quality materials throughout, including hard plastic panels. The flat dashboard, thin windshield pillars, front quarter windows, low center console with a rolltop tray, and inboard armrests gave the Pilot a minivan-like feel from the front seat, which, coupled with its drab exterior design, did not enhance its appeal.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue needed more power. Weighing nearly 3,500 pounds, it was equipped with 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 adequate for daily driving, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) managed the available torque well. This CVT, with programmed ratios, mimicked the feel of a traditional automatic transmission, and paddle shifters on the steering wheel, although unnecessary, were provided.

Despite its adequate power, the Rogue was designed for adventuring, with available all-wheel drive (AWD), up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, and new Snow and Off-Road driving modes. However, in mountainous areas, the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine felt underpowered. During a media event, Nissan hinted at a future turbocharged option, likely using the variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder from the Altima and Infiniti QX50.

The Rogue offered different driving modes: Sport for more responsive dynamics and Eco for better fuel efficiency, hinting at a possible future hybrid version. The tested Rogue SL with front-wheel drive (FWD) achieved 27.5 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 29 mpg.

Nissan tuned the Rogue's ride and handling beautifully. Built on a new architecture with 35% high-strength steel, the Rogue featured a strut front and multi-link rear suspension. Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control systems enhanced the suspension, improving ride and handling. New for 2021, Vehicle Motion Control predicted driver inputs to further enhance the driving experience.

The Rogue's 19-inch wheels and 235/55 all-season tires contributed to a smooth, athletic ride with less head toss. The real star was the new steering system, with electric assist moved to the steering rack and a quicker ratio, resulting in dramatically improved steering feel.

Every 2021 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This provided ample power for an entertaining drive, with the engine delivering smooth and refined performance. A nine-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels unless the Pilot was equipped with the available torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, capable of directing up to 70% of engine output to a single rear wheel. Hill Start Assist and Intelligent Traction Management driving modes (Normal, Snow, Mud, Sand) aided traction.

Fuel-saving features included variable-cylinder management and automatic engine stop/start. The EPA rated the AWD Pilot at 22 mpg in combined driving, with the test vehicle averaging 21.5 mpg.

The Pilot's MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension provided a comfortable ride and surprisingly athletic handling. The torque-vectoring AWD system, Black Edition's 20-inch wheels, 245/50 tires, and excellent visibility contributed to the fun driving experience. The steering was well-weighted and responsive, and the brakes were properly calibrated, though they tended to rumble and vibrate with prolonged use.

Off-road capability was limited by the Pilot’s 7.3 inches of ground clearance and shallow approach and departure angles. It could handle minor off-road situations, but anything more challenging was beyond its capabilities.

Nissan's Zero Gravity seat designs in the 2021 Rogue aimed to replicate the neutral spine position found in outer space, reducing stress, fatigue, and muscle strain. The new Zero Gravity seats in the 2021 Rogue were an improvement over the previous generation, offering better comfort. The S trim had cloth seats with a manual driver's height adjuster, while the SV added eight-way power adjustment and optional leatherette upholstery. The SL featured standard leather, and the Platinum offered premium leather.

Higher trims also included Quick Comfort heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. Despite Nissan's North American headquarters being in Nashville, ventilated seats were not available. Standard air conditioning, dual-zone automatic climate control in the SV, and a triple-zone system in the SL and Platinum kept the cabin comfortable. Rear air conditioning vents were standard, and the SL and Platinum had rear side window sunshades.

The rear seats offered generous headroom and legroom, with doors that opened nearly 90 degrees for easy passenger loading. The back seat was comfortable for both kids and adults, and the new LATCH anchors allowed for up to three child safety seats. A rear-seat reminder system helped prevent accidentally leaving a child in the car.

Nissan reduced interior noise with aerodynamic improvements, acoustic front glass, and a thicker dashboard insulator. Storage solutions included a tray under the center console, large door-panel pockets, and a split butterfly-style opening center armrest. The Rogue's cargo space ranged from 31.6 to 36.5 cubic feet, depending on the trim, with a maximum of 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Honda Pilot provided ample room for a family, seating up to eight people with a second-row bench seat. The test vehicle's leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats were comfortable and supportive, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver. The front passenger seat had only four-way adjustment but sat high enough for proper leg support.

Second-row captain’s chairs were optional on the Touring trim and standard on Elite and Black Edition models, offering nearly the same comfort as the front seats and sliding forward for better third-row access. Features included side window shades, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a rear-seat entertainment system with an HDMI port, USB quick-charge ports, and headphone jacks.

The third-row seat comfort was average for midsize three-row SUVs, with a low and flat bottom cushion that was uncomfortable for adults on long trips.

Storage was plentiful, with carved door panels, center console compartments, and front seatback pockets with smartphone holders. The center console featured a

rolltop design for convenient access.

Starting with the EX-L trim, the Pilot included a power tailgate, with hands-free operation on higher trims. Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 16.5 cubic feet, with trays on either side of the load floor and a hidden storage compartment. Folding the third-row seat down provided 46.8 cubic feet of cargo space, and the maximum volume was 83.9 cubic feet.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered a competitive infotainment package. The S trim included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, along with a free six-month trial to Nissan Concierge Personal Assistant. The system featured knobs for power/volume and station tuning, though their shallow protrusion and glossy plastic finish could make them difficult to use. Menu shortcut buttons provided easy access to functions.

Upgrading to the SV or SL trim added NissanConnect Services, a WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. NissanConnect Services included remote engine starting, automatic collision notification, vehicle speed and boundary alerts, and a car finder function, with subscription fees after trial periods.

The SL Premium Package or Rogue Platinum trim included a larger 9-inch touchscreen display, door-to-door navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, enhanced voice recognition, and a Bose premium audio system. The test vehicle featured this setup, which worked well despite the stubby knobs and small buttons. The voice recognition system was mostly accurate, and the Bose audio provided good sound quality.

Platinum trim added wireless smartphone charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Honda Pilot's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, satellite radio, and a basic version of HondaLink connected services. The Special Edition added wireless phone charging, while the Touring trim included navigation, a WiFi hotspot, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and more.

The system was adequate but had a small screen and lacked a tuning knob. The voice-recognition technology required specific prompts for successful operation, and HondaLink subscription services were limited to higher trims.

The Touring trim added a rear-seat entertainment system with a 115-volt power outlet, an HDMI port, and a Cabin Talk feature, allowing the driver to speak to rear-seat passengers through the stereo speakers or headphones. The system played DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, and streaming audio apps, but kids likely preferred using the WiFi and their own devices.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came equipped with a comprehensive collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 umbrella. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, but not adaptive cruise control.

Nissan also equipped the Rogue with ten airbags, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. Platinum trim added a center airbag between the driver and front passenger for further injury reduction.

Adaptive cruise control was standard starting with the Rogue SV, as part of the improved ProPilot Assist system, which included lane-centering assistance. ProPilot Assist used new radar and camera units for improved accuracy and smoothness, with stop-and-go operation for up to 30 seconds in traffic. The SV trim also added a surround-view camera system.

The SL Premium Package and Rogue Platinum offered upgraded ProPilot Assist with Navi-link technology, using navigation map data and GPS to adjust speed for curves, freeway junctions, and exit ramps. While the new ProPilot Assist system was more accurate and smoother, it could still behave unpredictably and issue frequent audible notifications. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time, but Nissan's engineering improvements and increased use of high-strength steel suggested good crash protection.

The 2021 Honda Pilot included Honda Sensing as standard, a package of ADAS with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting with EX trim, the Pilot also had blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning.

The Pilot's older Honda Sensing system was functional but not as smooth or refined as newer systems. The lane-departure warning system's steering wheel wobble was also quite obvious.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Pilot a five-star overall rating, despite four-star marks for front-passenger protection in a frontal impact. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Pilot "good" in most categories, except for an "acceptable" score for front passenger small overlap frontal-impact protection. Standard headlights earned an "acceptable" rating, while higher trims received a "good" rating.