2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe vs 2021 Nissan Rogue

The 2021 Nissan Rogue had undergone a complete redesign, presenting a more muscular and imposing presence for this compact SUV. Its updated nose was more squared off, featuring a deeper interpretation of Nissan’s V-Motion grille design, flanked by standard LED headlamps in a narrow and angled configuration. The inclusion of separate LED daytime running lights, functional forward air vents, and active grille shutters contributed to a lower coefficient of drag than its previous generation, despite its boxier proportions. The exterior colour palette was simplified to a few basic colours, with additional two-tone configurations available on the Platinum grade. Inside, seating surfaces varied from cloth to semi-aniline quilted Nappa leather, depending on the model, with the Platinum model offering a more luxurious interior that could sway even the most skeptical of Nissan critics.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe maintained the signature Wrangler elements, making it difficult to distinguish from its gas-powered counterparts, save for the blue decals, badging, and the charger port. The interior quality was consistent across the line-up, with three grades available, each offering different levels of luxury and comfort. The Wrangler 4xe Unlimited Sahara and Unlimited Sahara High Altitude featured leather-faced seats and power-adjustable driver’s seats, while the top-tier Unlimited Rubicon came with standard unheated cloth seats, with optional leather seats and heated features available. The interior of the Wrangler 4xe was a mix of Dark Saddle brown leather seats, black leather inserts, and a lot of black plastic, maintaining the rugged feel expected from a Wrangler.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue was powered by a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, fully available at 3,600 rpm. This engine was a significant improvement over the previous generation, offering better performance and fuel efficiency. 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's performance was standard across the line-up, with no alternate powertrain options available. Fuel efficiency was reasonable, with the front-wheel drive configuration using 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 7.0 on the highway, while the all-wheel drive increased these figures slightly. The Rogue's handling was notably better than its predecessor, thanks to improvements in torsional rigidity, weight reduction, and updated suspension systems.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe combined a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a pair of electric motors, producing a total system output of 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. This power was managed through an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing a robust and trail-ready performance. The Wrangler 4xe featured a Selec-trac two-speed transfer case for the Sahara grades and a Rock-trac transfer case for the Rubicon, offering various drive settings and impressive off-road capabilities. The plug-in hybrid drivetrain allowed for an electric-only range of 35 kilometres, with different modes to manage battery usage. The Wrangler 4xe's electric motors provided a burst of energy from a stop, though it wasn't the quietest or best-handling vehicle for everyday driving, maintaining its rugged Wrangler character.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered several functional updates across all price points, including a quieter cabin and a new shift-by-wire system that added storage space. The second-row doors opened to 85 degrees, improving access, and headroom was increased. Standard features included heated front seats, steering wheel, and exterior mirrors, with additional features available on higher trims. The cargo space was generous, with 1,028 litres available with the second-row seats upright and 2,064 litres with them folded. The redesigned Divide and Hide cargo system offered a 5 cm cargo floor height adjustment and a panel for separating cargo.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe was designed to accommodate a battery pack under the rear seats, minimizing space loss. Headroom and legroom were slightly compromised but remained comfortable. Cargo space was slightly reduced compared to other Wrangler models, with 784 litres available with the second-row seats upright and 1,908 litres with them folded. The Wrangler 4xe was easy to manage in urban settings, and a home charging cable was included. The Rubicon test unit featured an optional power-retracting roof, enhancing the open-air experience. Some quirks, like the centre stack power window controls, remained part of the Jeep experience.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with 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 offered a 9-inch screen, wireless phone charging, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. However, the digital instrument cluster had readability issues due to low contrast.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe ran Uconnect 4C with navigation on an 8.4-inch touchscreen, with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Uconnect was intuitive, with hard buttons and dials for critical functions. The Wrangler 4xe included off-road and Hybrid Electric Pages for efficiency settings. The instrument cluster was partially digital, with a 7-inch colour display for essential information. Four USB ports were available, but there was no wireless phone charging pad.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came standard with Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. The SV model introduced ProPILOT Assist for highway driving assistance. The Rogue received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a four-star safety rating from the NHTSA, with improvements made to later models.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe shared the same structure as other Wranglers, receiving a Good rating in most IIHS crashworthiness tests but a Marginal rating in the driver’s side small overlap front test. The NHTSA rated the Wrangler with four stars for front crash tests and three stars for rollover resistance. Safety features were limited, with blind spot monitoring and rear park assist standard only on the Unlimited Sahara High Altitude.