2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Nissan Rogue underwent a complete redesign, presenting a muscular and imposing presence in the compact SUV segment. Its squared-off nose featured a deeper interpretation of Nissan’s V-Motion grille, flanked by narrow, angled LED headlamps and separate LED daytime running lights. Functional forward air vents and active grille shutters contributed to a lower coefficient of drag, despite the Rogue's boxier proportions. The exterior colour palette was streamlined to include black, white, grey, red, and blue, with a pearl grey option available on the SV with all-wheel drive. The Platinum grade offered four two-tone colour configurations, combining a lower paint colour with a blacked-out roof. Interior options ranged from cloth seating surfaces to semi-aniline quilted Nappa leather on the Platinum model, enhancing the Rogue’s appeal to potential buyers.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, a smaller sibling to the anticipated Bronco, captured some of the rugged styling cues of its larger counterpart while focusing on a more suburban, everyday driver appeal. Its modern retro look, reminiscent of the Land Rover lineup, featured a short front overhang for optimal approach angles and a design tailored for trail driving. The Bronco Sport's exterior was marked by bold white lettering on the grille and tailgate, with a modest Ford blue oval badge on the tailgate. Wheel options varied across trims, with sizes ranging from 17-inch to 18-inch, and the interior boasted a rugged yet uncluttered design. The cabin featured a unique shape for HVAC vents, an 8-inch infotainment screen, and a rotary gear selector, with interior trim options stepping up from cloth to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. This engine improved performance and fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor. The Rogue's curb weight ranged from 1,536 kilograms for the front-wheel-drive S grade to 1,653 kilograms for the all-wheel-drive Platinum model. Despite the continuously variable transmission (CVT), the Rogue offered a stable and planted road feel, with improved torsional rigidity and a revamped multi-link rear suspension. Fuel efficiency was respectable, with the front-wheel-drive configuration achieving 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 7.0 on the highway, while the all-wheel-drive version recorded 9.2 city and 7.2 highway.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The Badlands model boasted a 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, along with a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. On-road, the 2.0-litre engine in the Badlands trim provided a better match for the vehicle's character, while the 1.5-litre engine could feel strained under pressure.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered functional updates across all price points, including a quieter cabin and a new shift-by-wire system that added a large storage compartment under the centre stack. The second-row doors opened to 85 degrees, improving access, and headroom was enhanced to 996 mm without the moonroof. Standard features included heated front seats, a steering wheel, and exterior mirrors, with upgrades available in higher trims. The Platinum grade featured a redesigned Divide and Hide cargo system, offering 1,028 litres of cargo space with the second-row seats upright and 2,064 litres with them folded. The system allowed for a 5 cm cargo floor height adjustment and included a panel for separating cargo.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with features like a cargo space designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford offered over 100 accessories for transporting outdoor gear, and the roof could support up to 68 kilograms. The 2.0-litre engine could tow up to 997 kilograms, while the 1.5-litre engine managed 907 kilograms. The cargo area included a flip-up rear glass and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin featured ample storage compartments, though visibility issues were noted for taller drivers. The seating position could be improved for better trail visibility.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The SV grade added an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot and additional USB ports, while the Platinum grade featured a 9-inch screen, wireless phone charging, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Platinum's 10.8-inch head-up display was well-configured, but the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster had readability issues due to low contrast.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The terrain management system offered up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, with trail control technology for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was included on all trims except the Base model, and higher trims offered heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels and a digital instrument panel.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue included the Safety Shield 360 suite as standard, featuring forward emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. The SV model introduced ProPILOT Assist, enhancing highway driving with adaptive cruise control. The Rogue received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a four-star safety rating from the NHTSA, with improvements made to frontal crash testing in later models.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control and other advanced features. All models featured AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.