Dude there are so many compact SUVs! Why would you choose the Nissan Rogue over
all the others?
In years past I would have noted its ultra-cramped, emergency use optional
third-row as a theoretical positive, but it's no longer offered. Also, the current
generation Rogue has been around since 2014, so it's due for a major overhaul,
and yet the Rogue has some notable pluses. First its right sized, not so
large that it's difficult to park but big enough to carry people and cargo
with ease. Luggage space behind the second row peeks at 39.3-cu.ft.
With a long reach you can drop the seat from the rear of the
vehicle creating a 70 cu-ft cargo hold. Simplifying access to that cargo
are wide opening side doors and an available foot-activated liftgate. Note:
due to its bulky battery cargo space on the hybrid drops from 70- to 61.4- cubic
feet. One particularly useful feature is the standard divide-and-hide cargo
system which Nissan claims has 18 different positions, which I will now
demonstrate through convenient montage. They're probably not all of them because
I got places to be.
For even more cargo flexibility you can fold the front passenger seat flat
allowing six-feet of English steel to ride horizontally inside. For non-creepy
people hauling there's comfortable seating in both rows plus plentiful head
and legroom. We're perfecting the human/cargo space ratio. The second row slides
and reclines but only in the standard Rogue. If you buy the hybrid this baby is
fixed. This is the standard row, so I'm gonna have a lot of fun with this.
Elsewhere the cabin delights with generally nice materials, soft touch
points in key locations, a nifty fold-down armrest / pass-through for
carrying long items and standard rear vents and apparently exotic luxury only
recently discovered by the Toyota RAV4. We will have to subtract a few points
for uneven front arm rests. One prime reason to choose the Nissan Rogue is a
standard safety roster that includes lane departure warning with steering
assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and blind spot
warning. Good thing because there is a blind spot that adds a dash of adventure
to lane changes. All Rogues also include rear door alert which reminds the driver
to check for forgotten items in the back seat. You know, dry cleaning, groceries,
your loyal video crew. I've noted it before, but on the fun-comfort continuum
the Rogue lands kind of in the middle. It's comfortable, reasonably quiet and
not particularly fun. Not that it needs to be. I'm personally put off by the
steering system's mushy imprecision. A lot of stuff flying around back there, but
everybody else will appreciate the light steering efforts and low speed agility
that are afforded by its variable electric assist. It sound like I said
cyst instead of assist and that was a mistake,
but man look at that steering. That's not a mistake. More noteworthy than the steering
though is the Rogue's powertrain. Its standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
makes good if not class leading power, but it's paired with a dissatisfying
continuously variable transmission featuring Normal, Sport and Eco modes.
I've wasted too much of my life complaining about continuously variable
transmissions, instead I'm gonna let the car speak for itself.
Yeah, me too buddy. The payoff for all that CVT groaning and
wailing is commendable fuel economy. Add the $1,300 all-wheel drive system
and each of those numbers drops by one MPG. For even better efficiency choose the
Rogue Hybrid, a comparatively rare beast off within limited regions of the US.
Merging an electric motor with a 2-liter four-cylinder engine Rogue Hybrid
delivers ample power, a big city fuel economy bump, and the ability to run
under electric power alone for short distances. The hybrid can also be
equipped with all-wheel-drive. Choose the most elemental S trim and your Nissan
Rogue will include six airbags, cruise control, a semi-dated seven-inch
touchscreen that semi redeems itself with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
integration and a sub $26,000 base MSRP including destination charges. Higher
Rogue trims indulge with a panoramic moonroof, leather upholstery,
navigation, Bose premium audio, intelligent access with push button
start, heated seats, rear automatic braking, and Nissan's oft duplicated
around view monitor. It's an incredibly useful tool for lazy, incompetent or
willfully terrible drivers. Which one are you?
Sounds like a BuzzFeed article.
Rounding out the options is ProPilot Assist, a system that automatically keeps
the vehicle in its lane at a preset distance from the vehicle ahead. Even
more good news for all those terrible drivers. Load up an all-wheel-drive Rogue
SL trim and the MSRP lands near $36,000 Examine the compact SUV competitive
lineup and there are more fun, more rugged, and more efficient choices, plus
many SUVs that offer better value, and superior resale values, but choosing the
right SUV might not come down to a single issue. If all you want is an
inoffensive SUV that's right sized, filled with standard safety features and you
happen to be able to get one at a good price,
the Nissan Rogue might be the play.