Nissan Rogue vs Ford Edge: Which is Better to Buy in the US?

Finding a powerful and roomy mid-size SUV in the vast American car market is not a problem. The problem is choosing from the many options it offers. For example, should you go for the 2021 Nissan Rogue or the 2021 Ford Edge? That’s a big question!

This question is relevant for our people who have decided to buy a fresh (3-year-old) SUV in the US as well as for the Americans themselves. Japanese or American? Both cars are popular and are similar in many ways. However, there are differences between them, and knowing them will help you pick.

1. Ford Edge (2021)

Engines: 2.0 L (250 hp), 2.7 L (335 hp)

Transmission: Automatic

Drive: front, full

Fuel consumption:

• Front-wheel drive: 8.1 - 11.2 L/100 km (highway - city)
• All-wheel drive: 8.4 - 11.9 L/100 km (highway - city)
• All-wheel drive with V6: 9.4-12.4 L/100 km (highway - city)

The Ford Edge is a 5-passenger midsize SUV that sits between the smaller Escape and the three-row Explorer in the manufacturer's lineup. The car is quite large, but at the same time easy to handle and powerful.

Engines and editions

The 2021 Edge came in five options: SE, SEL, ST-Line, Titanium and ST, each available in nine exterior colors and two interior colors.

All trim levels, except ST, are equipped with the same 2-liter turbo engine (250 hp), paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The ST was equipped with a more powerful 2.7 liter V6 (335 hp) with a 7-speed automatic transmission, which, among other things, allows the car to pull a trailer or camper weighing up to 1.5 tons.

The front wheel drive is considered standard with all-wheel drive available as a common option (including on the base edition) and was also standard on the ST edition

Although the base SE trim level is well equipped - it includes delights like Apple CarPlay / Android Auto support, a Wi-Fi hotspot, rear parking sensors and a basic package of Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist active safety systems – an SEL edition with all-wheel drive would be a better choice. And this is the option we will primarily focus on in our comparison with the Nissan Rogue.

The SEL trim level is equipped with things you won't find in the base one: Active-X faux leather upholstery instead of cloth, power and heated front seats, factory alarm, remote start, Ford SecuriCode keyless entry, and an upgraded (compared to the base edition) Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package of active safety and driver assistance systems.

The latter includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning and automatic high-beam headlights.

Available options for the SEL included a heated steering wheel, navigation, wireless device charging, a sunroof, and a power lift gate.

Cabin and trunk

The Edge has a large and spacious interior with comfortable seats that allow for plenty of adjustments. The driver's seat and adjustable for reach and tilt steering column can be set up to suit the driver of any constitution; and the memory presets allow you to quickly change these settings.

There is enough space both in the front and back even for taller passengers. Rear passengers get 4.5 cm more headroom than in the Nissan Rogue and about 7 cm more legroom.

The Edge has 76 liters more trunk space than the Rogue (1,110 L vs 1,034 L), although the Nissan’s overall cargo capacity is slightly better when the rear seats are folded - 2,078 L in the Edge versus 2,098 L in the Rogue (a 20-liter difference).

But when looking at these numbers, keep in mind that these numbers are relevant when packing a car to the fullest.

Safety

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Canadian-assembled 2021 Ford Edge a Good safety rating in all six crash tests conducted. The only unsatisfactory rating given by experts was for insufficient illumination of the road by the car’s headlights.

The Edge also received Excellent rating from the IIHS for its active safety systems, particularly its forward collision warning system.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2021 Edge an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5, including 5 stars in frontal and side crash tests and 4 stars in the rollover test.

Pros:

+ The base engine is just 2 liters.
+ The 2-liter engine of the Edge is more powerful than the 2.5-liter engine of the Rogue (250 hp versus 170 hp).
+ 12-inch touch screen (еру Rogue has an 8-inch one).
+ Spacious and comfortable interior with good sound insulation.
+ Larger trunk than the Rogue’s (by 76 liters).

Cons:

- Increased fuel consumption for all-wheel drive options
- The interior looks somewhat old-fashioned and minimalistic.
- Rear view is not great due to wide pillars (although compensated for by electronic assistants).
- Climate control management is located at the very bottom of the touch screen so if you need to adjust it, you are distracted from the road.

Price with delivery from the US: starting from $17,900

 
2. Nissan Rogue (2021)

Engine: 2.5 L, 181 hp

Transmission: CVT

Drive: front, full

Fuel consumption:

• Front-wheel drive: 6.9 - 9.0 L/100 km (highway - city)
• All-wheel drive: 7.4 - 9.4 L/100 km (highway - city)

It’s curious that the Japanese manufacturer positions this mega-popular SUV as a compact on the American market – with a length of 4.65 m, a width of 1.84 m and a height of 1.70 m. However, in comparison with its competitor from Ford (4.8 m long, 1.93 m wide, and 1.74 m tall) it is indeed a little shorter and narrower. Thanks to the truncated wheelbase (2.71 m versus 2.85 m for the Edge), the car is much more maneuverable, which is a definite pro for urban use.

The Nissan Rogue received a major update for the 2021 model year. The third generation of the popular SUV got a new, more powerful base 2.5-liter engine (181 hp versus 170 hp in the 2020 model), an infotainment system touch screen enlarged to 8 inches (up to 9 inches in higher trim levels), Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support, wireless charging for gadgets, a digital instrument panel and three-zone automatic climate control in higher trim levels.

The Rogue had a total of 4 trim levels in 2021: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. They all came standard with a 181-hp engine, continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive. The AWD version was optionally available in all trim levels.

The Nissan Rogue’s counterpart of the Edge’s SEL configuration is SV. They are similar in equipment: power driver's seat (both front in the Edge and heated as well), 6-speaker stereo, Wi-Fi hotspot, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, remote start (optional in the Edge) plus Nissan ProPilot Assist active safety and driver assistance features  including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping system, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert.

But synthetic leather upholstery and heated front seats - like in the Edge - are optional extras on the SV. As is the sunroof, heated steering wheel and power tailgate for both.

The combination of the 181-horsepower engine with a variator makes for an exceptionally quiet ride, reacting to the gas pedal with plenty of noise. But thanks to the use of CVT, the Rogue consumes less fuel. Even an all-wheel drive model consumes 9.5 liters / 100 km in the city. The Rouge is probably one of the most fuel efficient cars in the class of mid-size SUVs.

Cabin and trunk

The interior of this Nissan’s SUV is quite spacious and comfortable. The Zero Gravity seats, which were created by designers and engineers taking inspiration from NASA seats, deserve special praise - they are truly comfortable, especially on long trips.

The Rogue's interior is modern, stylish and looks expensive. The trim isn't as utilitarian as the Ford's. The interior design and soft-touch surfaces will appeal to many.

The trunk, although slightly smaller than that of the Edge, is well organized: it is two-level, with the so-called Divide-N-Hide cargo storage system.

Safety

The IIHS has named the Nissan Rogue the safest car of the year for several years in a row, awarding it a Top Safety Pick+ rating, the organization's highest honor. And the 2021 Rogue is no exception, earning the top rating of Good in six crash tests, as well as the rating of Acceptable in the repeated side crash test. The Rogue's headlights also earned a Good rating.

The car earned an Excellent rating for the performance of its active safety systems.

NHTSA gave the 2021 Rogue an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars - 4 stars in frontal and rollover tests and 5 stars in side crash tests. 

Pros:

+ Lower fuel consumption than the Ford.
+ More compact car size and better maneuverability.
+ Higher vehicle safety rating.

Cons:

- Larger base engine than Ford (2.5 liters versus 2 liters).
- At the same time – less power (170 hp versus 245 hp)
- Noisy due to CVT.

Price with delivery from the US: starting from $19,350

So which one should you buy? To summarize, both cars are worthy of attention. If you need a more spacious and powerful car, your choice is Ford. If you are looking for an economical and more aesthetic option, take a closer look at Nissan. It’s funny that the Japanese car looks more sporty than the American, but in reality everything is exactly the opposite.

If you still have doubts, stop by the Columbus offices and our managers will help you choose the best model!

What does ChatGPT say?

Following the current trends, we asked AI for its opinion on the important differences between the Nissan Rogue and the Ford Edge. And here is the answer we got.

Nissan Rogue:

1. Size and Class: The Nissan Rogue typically falls into the compact crossover class, and may be slightly smaller in size compared to the Ford Edge.

2. Efficiency: The Rogue is known for its fuel efficiency compared to larger crossovers.

3. Technology: The Rogue is equipped with various tech features, such as safety systems and various driver aids.

Ford Edge:

1. Size and Class: The Ford Edge is generally considered a midsize crossover and may offer more interior space compared to the Rogue.

2. Performance: the Edge may offer more powerful engines and options for those who value high performance.

3. Options and Configurations: The Edge generally offers a wider range of options and configurations (different trim levels and additional features).

“Your choice between the Nissan Rogue and Ford Edge will likely depend on your individual preferences and budget. It is recommended to test drive both models in order to better evaluate their characteristics and make sure they meet your needs,” the AI concluded.

Sources: Akinsford.com, 94nissan.com