With dozens of similarly priced, similarly equipped, similarly designed crossovers on the market, making the “right decision” can sometimes boil down to just one eensy-weensy feature or detail. It’s a game of inches (or cubic feet) in some instances; in others, it’s mileage, safety, comfort, or straight-up price. (Ah, the unenviable plight of an SUV shopper!)

In any event, the 2021 Honda CR-V helps make your decision easier by offering more of those eensy-weensy details. Check out why the popular CR-V is a better buy than the 2021 Nissan Rogue.

Pricing

Comparing MSRP for base trims, the new Honda CR-V LX bests the Nissan Rogue S by a few Benjamin Franklins. The 2021 CR-V LX (2WD) starts at about $25,350, while the Nissan Rogue S costs $25,650.

At the top of the line-up, CR-V widens the MSRP gap; range-topping 2021 Touring 2WD models are priced at $33,650—about $2k less than the Nissan Rogue Platinum ($35,430). Not wanting all the fixings? You still get a lot out of the penultimate $30,450 CR-V EX-L, which is more affordable than the comparably equipped Rogue SL ($32,000).

When you want to appease your budget, circle the CR-V.

Interior

Cargo Space

For all intents and purposes, both the CR-V and Rogue are cargo-carrying experts—but Honda’s SUV, which is the class-leader in cargo volume, accommodates a few more suitcases than Nissan’s. Enjoy up to 39.2 cubic feet* of cargo volume in the rear and 75.8 cubic feet* up to the front in the 2021 CR-V. Those numbers span across all gas-powered CR-V models, too.

That’s not the case with the Nissan Rogue. Choosing a Rogue with a moonroof cuts available cargo capacity from 36.5 to 36.3 cubic feet (rear) and 74.1 to 72.9 cubic feet (max). Either way, both Rogue options pale in comparison to the CR-V in terms of cargo volume.

Passenger Space

As one of the segment’s most spacious SUVs in the country, the new CR-V offers a great deal of room for riders—particularly those in the back row. Its 40.4 inches of rear legroom is above average for the class and certainly more than Rogue’s 38.5 inches. CR-V also has more front headroom, hiproom and shoulder room.

Overall, CR-V’s passenger volume (105.9 cu. ft.) just outpaces Rogue’s by half a cubic foot, though a moonroof-equipped Rogue loses to the CR-V by 5.5 cubes.

Numbers only tell part of the whole CR-V vs. Rogue story, however.

Rider Comfort

When all’s said and done, you want both a spacious SUV and one that’s comfortable for everyone. The CR-V delivers on all fronts. It comes with excellent, supportive seats from the driver’s row to the back, an available leather-wrapped heated steering wheel that’s a cheaper upgrade than Rogue’s, and even a few more LATCH connectors than Nissan’s SUV. (Hey, we did say all riders.)

Driver-Assist Features

Adaptive Cruise Control

The 2021 CR-V comes standard with Honda Sensing, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow. Easily maintain a set following distance between you and the vehicle directly in front of you—all without touching a pedal. When traffic slows down, your CR-V slows down. When traffic stops, your CR-V stops. When traffic picks up again, your CR-V…you get the idea.

Nissan’s equivalent, ProPILOT Assist, is not offered on the base Rogue S model; instead, to benefit from Nissan’s form of adaptive cruise control, you’d have to shell out $2k more for the more expensive Rogue SV.

Road Departure Mitigation

With Road Departure Mitigation, CR-V keeps track of your driving miscues, even (and especially) when you aren’t. The system detects when your CR-V crosses lanes without signaling, then guides you back or applies the brakes if you’re about to go on an impromptu off-road excursion.

Road Departure Mitigation, standard on the base CR-V LX, has no direct Nissan Rogue comrade. Consider that a “W” for Honda’s compact SUV.

MPG

When downtown and on cul-de-sacs in urban sprawls, CR-V ekes out a win over the Rogue. The 2021 2WD CR-V returns 28 mpg in the city, while its AWD sibling returns 27 mpg. That’s one mile per gallon better than the Rogue S’s FWD and AWD ratings, and two mpg better than SL, SV and Platinum FWD and AWD numbers.

Although comparable to the Rogue in EPA-estimated fuel economy, the 2021 Honda CR-V does have one huge advantage over its SUV from across the aisle: its Hybrid model. The new Honda CR-V Hybrid returns a staggering 40 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg combined, which beats up Nissan Rogue S’s best 27 and 30 mpg ratings, respectively.