Nissan’s signature V-Motion grille design dominates the Rogue’s entrance finish.
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Despite quite a lot of noticeable grey hairs, Nissan’s trusty Rogue SUV retains on chuggin’ alongside. For a number of years now, it has been the automaker’s best-selling mannequin in America, outpacing even the model’s conventional chart-topper, the Altima midsize sedan, by a large margin. Sure, the Rogue may definitely profit from a redesign or a minimum of a wholesome refresh, however age would not routinely translate into awfulness.

LikePlenty of out there driver-assistance techSnappy infotainment systemVersatile cargo holdSpacious backseat

Don’t LikeInterior is displaying its ageSlightly bold pricingLackluster dynamicsGrumbling engine

That maturity does, nonetheless, imply Nissan sellers most likely should work slightly more durable as of late to maneuver steel, because the competitors hasn’t been in park sitting on the shoulder. Given this phase’s near-pandemic reputation, there is a horde of a lot brisker compact crossovers on the market, fashions like the wonderful Honda CR-V, the redesigned Volkswagen Tiguan, Toyota’s fresh-faced RAV4 and the brand-new Ford Escape to call just a few. Still, there is a purpose individuals purchase the Nissan over different fashions. Perhaps it is because of the car’s comparatively easy trim construction, which makes the purchasing course of slightly simpler. The Rogue is obtainable in simply three grades: S, SV and SL. Each of these trims might be had with both front- or all-wheel drive. Further cleansing issues up, the slow-selling hybrid mannequin has been discontinued for 2020.

Highfalutin’ SL fashions, just like the tester I’ve right here, include a spread of facilities together with leather-based seating surfaces, 19-inch wheels and a “premium” Bose audio system that, regrettably, sounds about as good an vintage phonograph. The SL can also be geared up with distant begin, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.One intelligent function that is normal throughout the Rogue vary is Nissan’s Divide-N-Hide cargo-storage system, which permits almost any driver entry his or her internal Marie Kondo. With folding rear-seat backrests and two repositionable flooring panels, this good little bit of engineering permits the cargo maintain to rework in 18 alternative ways, enabling you to cover delicate gadgets, carry taller issues, stash dirty articles and far more.

Fold that second-row flat and the Rogue opens extensive, serving up 70 cubic ft of junk-hauling cupboard space. Keep it upright and there is nonetheless greater than 39 cubes within the rear. With slightly rejiggering, the entrance passenger seat ideas rearward, permitting you to schlepp eight-foot-long gadgets with relative ease.

When it is time to haul passengers, the again bench’s decrease cushion is mounted unexpectedly excessive off the ground. This theater-style positioning offers riders commanding views of the highway forward. Nissan’s “NASA-inspired” Zero-Gravity seats are nearly at all times supremely comfy, providing loads of assist with simply the correct amount of flexibleness. Unfortunately, this software is a uncommon miss. For me a minimum of, the main edges of the underside cushions are slightly too low and so they will not tilt up sufficient to correctly assist my issues for long-haul consolation. No, they are not horrible, however they might be improved.The remainder of this car’s inside is serviceable. Some of the plastics are beginning to look slightly dated and there is proof of pinched pennies right here and there however nothing feels insultingly low-cost or like it will break two months after driving residence from the dealership.This inside… it is OK.
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In-cabin know-how is one other space the place the Rogue trails a few of its rivals. Front and middle on the dashboard is a comparatively small 7-inch coloration display screen. A navigation system is built-in, as are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.This show is residence to a Nissan Connect infotainment system, which appears historic, nonetheless, it is comparatively straightforward to determine. It’s additionally unexpectedly snappy. Pinch-to-zoom on the map, as an example, responds with the zippiness of a contemporary telephone.Other tech of observe, SL fashions function keyless entry with push-button begin, dual-zone local weather management, a motion-activated liftgate and a 360-degree digicam.Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite is normal on the midlevel Rogue SV and top-shelf SL. It consists of six priceless security and safety features: automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automated braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and automated excessive beams.One different essential little bit of know-how is Nissan’s ProPilot Assist. This adaptive cruise management system with lane-centering tech is normal on SV and SL fashions. It’s a snap to make use of and very efficient. In reality, it is most likely top-of-the-line of its breed out there available on the market at this time, a minimum of on the value level. It seamlessly controls acceleration and braking, routinely adjusting to site visitors circumstances, plus it gives steering help, conserving the car in the midst of its lane with not one of the back-and-forth ping-ponging you get with some rival programs.That surfeit of driver-assistance tools helps the ageing Rogue hold tempo with more-modern rivals. But as quickly as you begin driving this car, its dynamics betray its advancing years.Devoid of any thrills, the Rogue’s engine will get the job executed.
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Nissan’s trusty 2.5-liter inline-four nonetheless motivates this crossover and is the one engine supplied. This time-tested workhorse will not be significantly nice. It sounds haggard beneath load and feels a contact gritty, however a minimum of it will get the job executed with affordable haste.With 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque on faucet, this car’s efficiency is completely wonderful. Don’t anticipate the Rogue to outrun a few of its turbocharged rivals, however acceleration remains to be ample for regular use. Putting it in Sport mode noticeably livens up the throttle response, although bear in mind, this isn’t a sporty SUV.I’ve made my peace with Nissan’s repeatedly variable transmissions. They do an excellent job of maximizing efficiency and effectivity, plus they simulate gear modifications beneath heavy acceleration, so the engine would not drone… nicely, it would not drone an excessive amount of.One main purpose automakers love CVTs is as a result of they might help enhance gas economic system. The all-wheel-drive Rogue SL examined right here is rated at 25 miles per gallon metropolis, 32 mpg freeway and 27 mpg mixed. These scores examine favorably to comparable variations of the CR-V, Escape and RAV4.When it is time to carve corners, the Rogue’s fashionable, flat-bottom steering wheel suits properly in your palms. It’s meatier than a aspect of beef and, sadly, it feels simply as lifeless. This crossover’s steering ratio appears fairly sluggish and that tiller telegraphs mainly nothing to your palms about what the entrance tires are doing. Like ready in line on the put up workplace, it is a no-fun zone.This ain’t too dangerous an angle, eh?
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The Rogue is obtainable with Nissan’s so-called Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, and it does one thing intelligent, if not earth-shattering. When taking off, it sends torque to each the entrance and rear wheels, however as car velocity will increase, it routes 100% of accessible twist to simply the entrance axle for improved effectivity. This system can cut up torque as much as 50:50 entrance to rear as required by driving circumstances.The Rogue begins at $26,000 and alter, a determine that, regardless of its age, is in lock step with the bottom pricing of main rivals. That outlay will get you an entry-level S mannequin with front-wheel drive. As for the SL all-wheel-drive model I evaluated, it checks out for $36,095, a determine that features $1,045 in vacation spot fees.Not to proceed bludgeoning a deceased equine, however the Rogue is getting outdated, and it is most likely outclassed by most opponents. Still, there’s nonetheless lots to love. It’s fairly fashionable, gives a number of useful know-how together with ProPilot Assist and is each spacious inside and unexpectedly versatile. I can completely see why Nissan delivers so a lot of them annually.