2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

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 separate LED daytime running lights, functional forward air vents, and active grille shutters contributed to a lower coefficient of drag than its predecessor, despite its 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 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and flat hood, visually tying it to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. While the exterior design remained largely unchanged, the modern Defender was much larger, providing more interior space and improved ergonomics. The interior design emphasized rugged character with bare metal and exposed screws, complemented by leather and suede upholstery. The Defender 90 V8 test car showcased a mix of materials that seemed well-suited for off-road adventures, maintaining a balance between luxury and practicality.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, available at 3,600 rpm. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and offered in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The Rogue's curb weight ranged from 1,536 kilograms for the FWD S grade to 1,653 kilograms for the AWD Platinum model. Fuel efficiency was respectable, with the FWD model achieving 8.9 L/100 km in the city and 7.0 L/100 km on the highway. The AWD version slightly increased these figures. The Rogue's handling improved significantly due to a 27% increase in torsional rigidity, a 40-kilogram weight reduction, and updated suspension systems.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrain options: a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower, a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain with 395 horsepower, and a new 518-horsepower V8 engine. All models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive (4WD) with a two-speed transfer case. The V8 engine delivered exhilarating performance, propelling the Defender 90 from zero to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 29 centimetres of ground clearance with the optional air suspension.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue offered functional updates across all trims, including a quieter cabin and a new shift-by-wire system that added storage space under the centre stack. The second-row doors opened to 85 degrees, improving access, and headroom was enhanced. Standard features included heated front seats, steering wheel, and exterior mirrors. The SV trim added a 360-degree Around View Monitor, remote start, and a panoramic sunroof. The Platinum grade included 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 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, with the Defender 90 offering limited cargo space due to its two-door design. The four-door Defender 110 provided more versatility, with two-row and three-row configurations. Cargo space varied from 160 litres with all seats in place to 1,875 litres with the rear seats folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious centre-console storage bin. Optional features included a basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes for additional storage.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring 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. The Platinum grade upgraded to a 9-inch screen with wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility. It also introduced 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 2022 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on most trims, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen available. The interface was user-friendly, though the screen required a firm touch to respond. A surround-view camera system was standard, with optional features like a 14-speaker Meridian audio system and head-up display.

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, a hands-on highway driving assist feature. 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 2022 Land Rover Defender offered standard driver-assist tech, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control was optional. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which is common for luxury vehicles.