The Nissan Rogue: An Aptly Named SUV That Acts Like a Car

Keeping up with the completion in the Small SUV world can be an interesting and daunting task for any automaker. The Nissan Rogue is no different as it is a small SUV that offers a sleek look like a car, additional seating usually only found in the larger SUV’s and a wagon-like amount of cargo space. Top that all off with the fact the Rogue totes some great hardware awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as a Top Safety Pick Plus for the Small SUV category and this a really an SUV that is worth a full look.

Possessing a great starting price point, and a gas sipping four-cylinder engine the Rogue attracts the shopper who needs to keep their wallet full while still benefiting from all the functions an SUV can perform. As another point of interest, the Rogue offers a fuel savings by being one of the only vehicles in this class that offers a continuously variable transmission (CVT) making this a very unique vehicle to drive indeed.

It has been something of a hit for a while, though not necessarily in sales. Popular in the south and midwest, the range from Chicago to Mobile AL Nissan dealers has been pushing them since inception.

With a complete redesign for 2014, the Rogue is all new, but some areas of unique interest come in where the wheelbase is both longer and wider to allow the third row of seats to be installed. The vehicle also offers up to 18 different storage variations to help with the hauling and cargo toting no matter what the unique shape of the items are to go for a ride.

Driving the Rogue offers a well-controlled ride with an excellent suspension and the steering is really optimal by virtue of the electric-assist power steering. Offering a bit of fun on the open road with its curve handling ability the vehicle performs very well for both on and off road but is much more suited for the pavement than the trails. The one bust in the bunch is unfortunately the lack of power from the engine. The power is sufficient to drive, but really lacks any giddy-up when it’s time to pass making each pass on the highway more of an adventure than is required.

With only one engine option the Rogue lacks a bit of imagination with most of the focus on this power plant going toward fuel efficiency, Nisan really could have helped the Rogue by offering a V6 as an option. The engine that is offered is a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine giving 170 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque. When paired with the automatic CVT the vehicle offers a great fuel economy for this class with 26 city/33 hwy in the front-wheel drive (FWD) and only gives up a little of the fuel efficiency when equipped with all-wheel drive coming in at 25 city/32 hwy mpg. For the versatility and fuel savings along a little sluggish passing might not be an awful tradeoff for those looking for a vehicle that can deliver on both.

Once in the cabin the Rogue is plentiful with soft materials to offer a comfortable drive. The vehicle offers a great deal of roominess for the front and second row passengers, but really lacks any space to speak of in the third row. The one caveat to this point is the third row is meant as an “occasional” seating option and not meant to have a passenger on a regular basis. Across the dash are a host of dials and knobs that are well lit and professionally positioned to allow the driver to focus on the road ahead and not be distracted while searching for a control knob. In the SL model the front seats are heated and clad in leather to add even more comfort to the ride giving the driver and front passenger just a bit more of a luxury feel.

From the outside the SUV shows off with smooth and sweeping curves that extend from the front bumper all the way back to the rear bumper. Adorned with wrap around headlights and excellently designed body curves the vehicle has a smooth and mature look to it. With all these great curves in apparently all the right places the Rogue has had a dramatic increase in aerodynamics and when seated on the spoke inspired wheels the Rogue is a really attractive small SUV.

The standard features list for this SUV isn’t really very extensive, another unfortunate negative since so many of the competitors offer more features standard. Even though the standard features of this SUV are a multi-information display, a 60/40 split rear seat in second and third row, under-floor storage compartments, a four-speaker audio system with an auxiliary port are all standard on the S mode. For the SV a power adjustable driver’s seat, premium fabric upholstery, and a six-speaker audio system with a 5.0-inch color display and added USB port are added. Additional standard features on all models include a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and a host of safety features to keep the occupants safe in case of a collision.

Optional equipment comes bundled into packages to include the expanded electronic safety features that helped to win the IIHS award for this SUV. Other optional features include a panoramic moon roof, seven-passenger seating, Bluetooth connectivity, and AWD. For the S model the Special Edition Package offers 16-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded audio system and a rear backup camera. For the SV model the SL package offers 18-inch alloy wheels, a navigation system, and a nine-speaker Bose premium audio system, Around View Monitoring with Moving Object Detection and leather seats.

Starting out at $23,350 for the very bottom base model S the Rogue can reach up to $28,930 with an SL that has lots of optional equipment.   The available AWD adds $1,350 to any trim level and would be a great addition for anyone to enjoy the added control it offers. For someone who needs an affordable SUV that offers great fuel mileage, the Rogue is a great option to consider along with remembering this is an IIHS safety pick making it a safe and affordable vehicle to own.