2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Nissan Rogue underwent a complete redesign, presenting a more muscular and imposing presence for this compact SUV. Its squared-off nose featured a deeper interpretation of Nissan’s V-Motion grille design, flanked by standard LED headlamps in a narrow and angled configuration. The inclusion of functional forward air vents and active grille shutters contributed to a lower coefficient of drag, despite the vehicle's boxier proportions. The exterior colour palette was simplified to a few core colours, with additional two-tone options available on the Platinum grade. Inside, seating surfaces varied from cloth to semi-aniline quilted Nappa leather, depending on the trim, with the Platinum model offering the most luxurious interior.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, maintained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older models. While the base trim featured a less appealing dual-screen setup, higher trims boasted an 11.6-inch portrait display that was bright and sharp. The interior quality was significantly improved over pre-2015 models, with substantial window switches, dash padding, and surface materials. The Outdoor XT trim offered a unique interior with water-resistant synthetic upholstery and lime green contrast stitching. Externally, the Outback's styling remained smooth and plain, with high gray cladding on its wheel arches, sills, and bumpers. The vehicle's lifted wagon design provided a great alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder direct-injected engine, producing 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. This engine was well-matched to the Rogue's weight, ranging from 1,536 kg for the FWD S grade to 1,653 kg for the AWD Platinum model. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) was less droning than expected, though no alternate powertrain was offered. Fuel efficiency was reasonable, with the FWD model achieving 8.9 L/100 km in the city and 7.0 on the highway, while the AWD version used 9.2 city and 7.2 highway. The Rogue's handling improved significantly with a 27% increase in torsional rigidity, a 40-kg weight reduction, and updated suspension and stability control systems.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Outback's base 2.5-litre boxer flat-four engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, struggled with the vehicle's weight, especially when loaded. The CVT further hampered performance, making the Outback slow and noisy. However, the XT trims offered a turbocharged 2.4-litre flat-four engine with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing a significant performance boost. The turbo XT's fuel efficiency was slightly lower than the base engine, but the added power was worth the trade-off. The Outback's handling was designed for comfort, with long-travel springs and high ground clearance, making it capable off-road. Subaru's AWD system was proactive, always driving all four wheels and offering additional driving modes for challenging conditions.

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

The 2021 Subaru Outback boasted impressive ground clearance, allowing it to tackle various terrains without being oversized. Inside, it offered 2,144 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 920 litres with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, with ample headroom and legroom in all seating positions. Storage options were plentiful, with large map pockets, bottle holders, and additional pockets in the front centre console. However, some features like push-button start and rear console climate vents were not standard on lower trims. The Outback's standout feature was its standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, providing easy installation for roof racks.

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 wireless Apple CarPlay. The Platinum also included a 10.8-inch head-up display and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. However, the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster had readability issues due to low contrast.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system appeared outdated, with graphics reminiscent of older gaming consoles. Despite this, it offered standard SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The single large screen on higher trims was more cohesive and useful than the base model's dual-screen setup. Subaru EyeSight was standard, providing adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on cameras, which could be less effective in certain conditions compared to systems using both cameras and radar.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured the Safety Shield 360 suite as standard, including forward emergency braking, rear emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and more. The SV model introduced ProPILOT Assist, enhancing 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 Subaru Outback offered a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver and passenger airbags. Blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking were standard from the Touring trim, with a driver-attention monitor available on higher trims. The Outback was a 2020 IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" and received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with some variations in specific crash test scores.