The Nissan Rogue was already a powerful contender earlier than final 12 months’s overhaul, which added a brand new look, new facilities and tech, elevating the compact SUV to its present place of “best-selling” mannequin in Nissan’s lineup. Now, only one mannequin 12 months later, the 2018 mannequin has acquired one more vital replace, bringing much more security within the type of the automaker’s ProPilot Help driver assist know-how.

Nonetheless, whereas I can perceive the Rogue’s mass attraction and see why it is such a powerful vendor, I’ve struggled when recommending even the brand new 2017 mannequin; it is a stable trip however has executed little to make it stand out over competing compact SUV fashions with higher dashboard tech or driving dynamics. Will the brand new security tech improve present the Rogue with the sting it wants? I hit the street in a 2018 Nissan Rogue SL AWD to search out out.

ProPilot Help

First, let’s discover out what all the fuss is about and check out the SL Platinum package deal’s new ProPilot Assist system.

In a nutshell, ProPilot Help is a mix of an adaptive cruise management system, lane-keeping steering help and a driver alertness monitor into one easy function that may be activated in simply two fast faucets. Merely hit the blue “power subject” button on the steering wheel and set your required velocity and the help system goes to work, preserving a protected following distance behind a number one automobile and including steering assist to assist preserve the Rogue from drifting out of its lane.

The steering help is attention-grabbing, you’ll be able to really feel it working by means of the steering wheel whereas driving, nudging right here and there to assist preserve the automobile centered within the lane. The help type of feels much like when a automobile follows a deeply rutted street, nevertheless it by no means feels overwhelming and the slight resistance was simple to beat if I wanted to rapidly evade an object. The motive force’s intentions are all the time prioritized over the help.

ProPilot Help is designed to work at freeway speeds, however its adaptive cruise factor can carry the automobile to a whole cease, so you can also make use of it in stop-and-go site visitors.

Nonetheless, ProPilot Help is just not an autonomous driving system — although it does supply some semiautonomous options that we’ll get to shortly — and Nissan appears to have gone out of its technique to educate the press and its drivers to not deal with it as such. Like all fashionable ADAS, this know-how depends on having a human in management always.

ProPilot Help displayed some attention-grabbing behaviors once I ignored Nissan’s warning and tried to go hands-off. Relying on how straight the street was, I might obtain audible and visible warnings after only a few moments. Let’s fake I am a really distracted driver or I’ve fallen asleep on the wheel and proceed to disregard the system. Subsequent, the Rogue would briefly, however sharply, faucet the brakes to shake my consideration again to the street forward. I will be trustworthy, it was arduous to not seize the wheel at this level, however I refrained only a bit longer. At this level, the system will assume that the drive has been incapacitated and activate the automobile’s hazard lights and try to soundly carry the Rogue to a cease in its lane.

Personally, I feel the best way ProPilot Help responds to this simulation of an incapacitated driver is what makes it stand out from different ADAS choices at this class/worth. Each different system I’ve examined in need of the highest luxurious choices simply shuts off when it detects that the motive force’s arms have left the wheel, which may create an unsafe scenario if that driver has dozed off or had a seizure. Nissan’s system is not good sufficient to drag to the shoulder, however no less than it will not ship you flying off a cliff.

NissanConnect dashboard tech

A 7-inch show audio system is now normal tools for the 2018 Rogue, up from the 5-inch rig from last year. Additionally new for 2018 is normal Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, in addition to Nissan’s personal handful of NissanConnect app integrations together with Pandora, iHeartRadio and Fb.

Our instance was a top-trim SL mannequin that steps as much as an upgraded 7-inch NissanConnect infotainment system that provides respectable navigation software program with voice recognition. There’s additionally the flexibility to seek for locations on-line by way of Google when linked to the automaker’s personal smartphone app. Traditionally, tech hasn’t been the Rogue’s sturdy go well with, however the addition of Android and Apple software program to the combo goes a great distance towards gaining parity with the competitors.

Together with the infotainment options, we’re additionally packing premium Bose audio and Nissan’s Round-View digicam system, which stitches feeds from 4 cameras mounted across the Rogue Hybrid into one 360-degree view of the realm across the automobile. With motion-detection software program, the cameras may also audibly alert drivers in the event that they get too near an individual or pet.

That is along with the usual S trim-level tools that the Rogue rolls off of the road with, together with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and ahead precollision alerts with computerized emergency braking and pedestrian detection.

Divide-N-Cover

Our Rogue SL was the best trim degree, which provides leather-based trim and computerized excessive beams and makes many choices obtainable in lower-trim packages into normal options. I used to be handled to a heated steering wheel and heated entrance seats on cool mornings and aided in loading cargo by an influence opening and shutting rear liftgate with hands-free kick-to-open entry.

In that rear storage space, I used to be additionally in a position to take a look at the brand new Divide-N-Cover cargo system, which was lacking from the Rogue Hybrid I examined earlier this 12 months. Annoying in title, however intelligent in operation, the system consists of a pair of panels and a sequence of channels molded into the wall of the rear hatch that work collectively to create a wide range of configurations for managing your junk.

In a single configuration, there is a tall vertical house with a small hidden underfloor space. In one other, there are a number of cabinets for organizing small gadgets. But a 3rd retains issues from rolling ahead when the second row seats are folded flat. All in all, there are a couple of half-dozen storage modes to select from.

You may try our video evaluation to see a couple of of the configurations in motion.

Efficiency and effectivity

Underneath the hood, the Rogue includes a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making a good 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. That torque reaches the entrance wheels by way of the usual Xtronic repeatedly variable transmission (CVT) until outfitted with an elective on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) system like our instance’s. AWD fashions function a capability to lock in to full-time four-wheel drive, which turns out to be useful in snowy or icy situations, however would not rework the Rogue into any type of rock crawler.

In the meantime, the SUV additionally options Sport and Eco drive packages that alter the transmission shift factors and the throttle mapping. The distinction between these and the usual drive mode is nowhere close to as pronounced as I noticed on the Hybrid mannequin earlier this 12 months, however there’s a noticeable distinction within the Rogue’s character.

Our Rogue SL AWD acquired a 27 mpg mixed estimate from the EPA, which breaks all the way down to 32 mpg on the freeway and 25 metropolis mpg. In the true world, I averaged 25.6 mpg, which is suitable, however not notably spectacular among the many Rogue’s friends.

Worth and competitors

The 2018 Nissan Rogue begins at $24,680, coming pretty properly outfitted with the brand new Android Auto- and Apple CarPlay-enabled NissanConnect receiver, in addition to respectable energy and effectivity. Our SL AWD mannequin was just about absolutely loaded, testing at $36,625.

At that worth and on this compact SUV class, the Rogue continues to face stiff competitors and, for essentially the most half, nonetheless sits in the midst of the pack. Honda’s CR-V is extra environment friendly and competes intently on cabin tech. Mazda’s CX-5 affords higher driving dynamics, however worse tech. In the meantime, the Rogue continues to extend its benefits over competitors from Toyota, Ford and Volkswagen. By stepping up its recreation with new NissanConnect dashboard tech, extra facilities and the distinctive ProPilot Help security system, I feel that the Rogue has lastly discovered the sting that it wants to face out from the group.