The Rogue is presently Nissan’s best-selling car by a protracted shot, and client demand for compact crossovers exhibits no signal of slowing down. Needless to say, the “don’t screw it up” issue is fairly excessive with the redesigned 2021 Rogue, which rolls into dealerships later this 12 months.

LikeQuiet, snug cabinDecent gas economyAvailable digital gauge clusterEnhanced ProPilot driver-assistance tech

Don’t LikeWeak engine performanceStyling is not for everyoneBest tech options are solely out there on the most costly trim

Smartly, Nissan opted to take a conservative method to the Rogue’s redux, although you may not assume so upon first look. The boldly styled entrance finish actually is not for everybody — I’m not a fan, personally — however it’s not less than expressive, which is not one thing I may say about prior Rogues. The remainder of the crossover’s look is unsurprisingly standard, though new two-tone shade choices can be found to provide that upright, two-box form added visible curiosity. All informed, the 2021 Rogue is about an inch shorter in each size and peak than its predecessor.Inside, 2021 Rogue loses half an inch of headroom and 1.5 inches of legroom up entrance. Rear-seat occupants, then again, take pleasure in barely extra headroom and legroom than earlier than — 0.7 and 0.6 inches, respectively. A 3rd row of seats is not out there, and whereas that may look like a given contemplating the Rogue’s small dimension, remember that Nissan supplied a holy-crap-that’s-cramped possibility from 2014 to 2017. Trust me, the Rogue is healthier off with out it.

The SUV’s again doorways now open to a full 90-degree aperture, which makes getting out and in simpler and offers you extra space when finagling automotive seats or different cumbersome gadgets. An analogous little bit of helpfulness is discovered within the cargo space, the place there’s an adjustable divider within the two-tier load flooring. Only out there on SL and Platinum grades, this two-piece partition provides you a most of 36.5 cubic toes of cupboard space behind the second-row seats, whereas the Rogue S and SV make do with 31.6. Regardless of mannequin, folding the again seats flat ends in 74.1 cubic toes of room, which places the Rogue forward of the Toyota RAV4 (69.8) however behind the Honda CR-V (75.8).Generally talking, the Rogue’s inside is completely good. Nissan’s cozy and supportive Zero Gravity seats are customary for each entrance and rear passengers, got here wrapped in leather-based on my SL tester and is out there with quilted, semi-aniline hides on the bougie Platinum. All of the plastics and wooden appliqués are properly grained and not one of the car controls really feel low cost or flimsy. Well, largely.

The new digital gear selector is a very awful a part of an in any other case well-built cabin. It seems low cost and feels cheaper. On the opposite hand, no mechanical linkage to the transmission frees up house beneath the console for added storage, however contemplating how cavernous the compartment aft of the cup holders is, I do not think about needing that additional house all that usually.

Most Rogues will roll out with an 8-inch shade touchscreen show within the middle of the sprint, operating the latest model of the NissanJoin infotainment system. A bigger 9-inch high-definition display screen is non-obligatory on the SL and customary on the Platinum, with the identical NissanJoin software program inside. This system is not my favourite, with its often laggy response occasions, however the graphics are however colourful and crisp — on the HD show, not less than — and it is a step up from the Display Audio and Entune programs supplied within the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, respectively.If you need the mega-tech expertise, go for a Rogue Platinum, which comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.8-inch head-up show, in addition to a wi-fi charging pad. It sort of sucks that you need to spring for the most costly Rogue — $36,525, together with $1,095 for vacation spot — to get these niceties, however so it goes. At least Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are customary throughout the board. What’s extra, wi-fi CarPlay is non-obligatory on the SL and customary on the Platinum, and each Rogue save for probably the most primary S has an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot in addition to 4 USB retailers (two A, two C).The Rogue’s inside is clear and trendy.
Steven Ewing/Roadshow
An entire bunch of driver-assistance applied sciences come customary on each Rogue, together with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver alertness monitor, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning and computerized emergency braking. Nissan’s wonderful ProPilot Assist joins the usual roster on SV trims and better, combining adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping help for easy-breezy freeway commuting. A newly enhanced model of this tech, ProPilot Assist with Navi-Link, is non-obligatory on the SL and customary on the Platinum. It makes use of navigation information to regulate the Rogue’s velocity for issues like tight freeway curves and busy intersections, and it could actually even maintain the steering help lively on freeway exit ramps. The uplevel ProPilot software program additionally contains speed-limit adaptation, which is one thing usually reserved for higher-end luxurious vehicles.Unfortunately, the remainder of the Rogue’s driving expertise is not so techy; you will not discover turbochargers or electrical help below the hood. Buyers in search of extra punch ought to take a look at a Mazda CX-5 with the two.5-liter turbo, and if you happen to’re all about fuel-sippin’, the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 could be had with hybrid powertrains. The Escape and RAV4 even supply plug-in choices.The Rogue, in the meantime, makes use of a reworked model of Nissan’s long-standing 2.5-liter I4, making 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, will increase of 11 hp and 6 lb-ft over the 2020 mannequin. A constantly variable transmission is obligatory throughout the board, and patrons can select between front- and all-wheel drive on each trim stage.The extra upright form ends in elevated rear-seat headroom.
Steven Ewing/Roadshow
Nissan’s CVT is likely one of the higher transmissions of this kind, largely fading into the background with out roughness or loud droning throughout acceleration. But the Rogue undoubtedly is not fast, and it often suffers on steep grades. Climbing California’s infamous Grapevine on the I-5 freeway at 75 mph requires a heavy proper foot, particularly because the 2.5 has a dearth of low-end torque. The expertise can be worse with passengers and/or extra cargo onboard, too. This is the place the low-end torque from a turbocharger or added electrification can actually assist, however rivals typically additionally make you pay additional for his or her more-powerful engines. Nissan supplied a Rogue Hybrid beforehand, so maybe a extra {powerful} engine possibility will come alongside sooner or later.Fuel economic system rankings of 27 miles per gallon metropolis, 35 mpg freeway and 30 mpg mixed are on the higher facet of common for the compact crossover class. Opting for all-wheel drive reduces these figures by one to 2 mpg relying on trim stage, however once more, that is not unusual for small SUVs. After a number of days of testing in combined circumstances, my Rogue’s onboard pc exhibits 28.5 mpg. The engine itself could also be fairly mediocre, however general, the Rogue drives with confidence and composure. The redesigned rack-mounted digital energy steering is lots higher than in outdated Rogues, with improved weight and extra pure turn-in that does not really feel overboosted. Even so, so far as steering really feel is worried, the Rogue, like most different small SUVs, is as useless as your childhood goals.Of all of the compact crossovers on sale right now, the Nissan Rogue is unquestionably one in every of them.
Steven Ewing/Roadshow
A brand new, stiffer body provides the Rogue a stable on-road demeanor, and the suspension is properly tuned to take in the form of tough pavement and occasional pothole you will expertise in on a regular basis driving. The base Rogue S rides on 17-inch wheels, however 18s and 19s, like those on my tester, can be found. Brake really feel is stable and simple to modulate, and if you happen to hustle the Rogue via a nook you will discover predictable quantities of physique roll. But for the important thing missions of a Nissan Rogue — operating errands, commuting to work, taking the children to the lake — this car is appropriately tuned.Pricing for the 2021 Nissan Rogue begins at $26,745 together with vacation spot and all-wheel drive is a $1,400 upcharge on each trim. Like each different side of the Rogue, this places Nissan’s CUV squarely in the midst of the compact crossover class.It’s laborious to fault Nissan for enjoying it straight with the 2021 Rogue. The present mannequin is doing rather well for the automaker, and it is the phase’s third best-selling mannequin behind the Toyota and Honda. Frankly, contemplating Nissan’s big-picture troubles, it is in all probability not a good suggestion to shake up a successful components. Is the Rogue probably the most enticing, most fun-to-drive small SUV? No. But it is snug, spacious, economical and priced proper, and people are fairly sturdy laurels on which to relaxation.