The Rogue, with its first redesign since 2014, feels more substantial, similar to the transformation we saw with the latest Sentra sedan. We found the Rogue to be taut and agile, relatively quiet, and user-friendly, making it a compelling small SUV.
Recent updates include a new 201-hp, 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder engine that’s teamed with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This combination produces hardly any turbo lag and supplies a healthy midrange punch. We noticed some idle vibration, though, which takes away from refinement.
The CVT does an excellent job mimicking the shifts of a traditional automatic when accelerating, but it also exhibits the “rubberbanding” sensation that often plagues the genre, with the revs rising and falling too often. Compared to the 2.5-liter engine that the 1.5 replaced, we found fuel economy nearly identical across the board (city and highway). We measured 25 mpg overall on regular fuel, which is 2-3 mpg behind the more frugal entries in this class.
The Rogue performs well when the road gets curvy, with quick turn-in response and minimal body lean. The suspension has an underlying firmness, which lends to the SUV’s more substantial feel, but the flip side to this newfound solidity is that passengers will be quite aware of broken pavement. The Rogue’s cabin is one of the quietest in the class, though, with muted road and wind noise.
Front headroom is generous and the armrests are well-padded, but the center console intrudes on the driver’s right knee space. The low center dash vents end up cooling the driver’s elbows and knees more than their upper body. The rear seat is also roomy but is short on thigh support. By virtue of a rear door that opens 90 degrees, getting into the back seat is a cinch. Of note, the Rogue is no longer available with a third-row-seat option. Interior quality is a solid step up from its predecessor, and a top-shelf Platinum trim brings upscale touches, such as quilted leather seats, a head-up display, heated rear seats, and an upgraded infotainment system.
We like the physical buttons and knobs for most infotainment and climate-control functions. The screen has simple-to-read fonts flanked by convenient volume and tuning knobs. It may take some time to get used to the operation of the electronic gear selector.
Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, and lane departure warning all come standard. Nissan’s ProPilot Assist active driving assistance system—which comes standard on the second-tier SV trim and higher—brings adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance.