When the Rogue was first introduced in 2008, it was Nissan's long-awaited answer to vehicles
like the RAV4 and CR-V.
Now for its 2nd act the Rogue aims to elevate the class by going bigger and smarter.
Resembling a baby Pathfinder, the Rogue sheds its dowdy body for this self-assertive design
beaming with chrome, LEDs and turbine wheels.
It rides on a lengthened wheelbase and is wider and taller than the outgoing model,
which lives on as an import from Japan -- at least for now -- as the Rogue Select.
This Rogue is born in Tennessee and is shorter than before, loses about 1" of ground clearance
and tops 3,600 pounds for the first time.
It's obvious Nissan engineers focused on 3 key areas of improvement; styling, flexibility
and fuel economy, the later having been improved by about 15% with the aid of a next generation
continuously variable transmission and numerous aerodynamic tricks, including firsts such
as this muffler spoiler.
For lower trim models like the S and SV, there's the Family Package which gives you a 3rd row
seat.
The benefit of not having it though is this: the Divide-N-Hide Cargo System that provides
out of sight storage and a lower deck to handle taller items.
This top level SL trim comes standard with Divide-N-Hide and I love it.
The oft forgotten about cargo space is revolutionized here allowing for the easy creation of various
sections to keep items separate, a deeper well to give you a few more inches of clearance
and a 40/20/40 split to the rear seats.
You can create a shelf with removable handles and the front passenger seat reclines to a
nearly flat position for carrying longer items.
And with the EZ Flex seating System, 3 rear passengers can ride in comfort with slide
and recline features.
All told, Nissan has does what so many others ignore -- emphasize the U in SUV.
But something encouraged Nissan to forgo the more luxurious driving feel of the previous
model, instead opting for faux sportiness.
My main problem with the Rogue lies in its brittle ride quality over rough surfaces.
The powertrain is noisy and a bit unrefined and though it's plenty powerful it drives
big and just doesn't feel as maneuverable as it used to.
The 170 horse 2.5-liter 4-cylinder carries over but the CVT leads to unpleasant acceleration
sounds and despite a host of new chassis control measures the Rogue has largely lost its polished
drivability.
Towing remains maxed at 1,000 pounds.
That being said, the good considerably outweighs the bad and most shoppers will likely favor
the Rogue's generous space, usefulness, bold styling and exceptional fuel economy over
how it feels from behind the wheel.
Gas mileage for this all-wheel drive example is 25mpg city/32mpg highway.
The SL model with the benefit of the $2,000 premium package contains all of today's high-tech
safety features including blind spot warning and an around view monitor that'll be your
best friend in parking lots.
On the luxury side, this new infotainment unit is MUCH better than in other Nissan's
I've tested recently and includes smartphone apps, there's a huge moonroof, Nissan's acclaimed
Zero-Gravity front seats with specialized warmers, a Bose audio system and eye pleasing
modern displays.
The only demerits come in the big, floppy sun visors and a poorly placed parking brake
pedal.
Otherwise the Rogue SL AWD has all of the goodies.
Pricing starts at $23,350 and climbs to $32,395 for a fully optioned SL AWD like this.
Depending upon where your priorities lie, the 2014 Rogue could be just what you need.