CHEERY ROGUE BRINGS COMFORT
Crossover shows cause for popularity
“Wow! What a great color for your Rogue!”
It’s always fun to get an unsolicited compliment from a passing motorist and good to know that our Monarch Orange 2018 Nissan Rogue SL AWD is a head-turner.
Competing in the immensely popular compact crossover category, the sharp-looking Rogue has carved out a spot with other powerhouses like the Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5 and class king Honda CR-V.
Sporting a peppy and fuelsipping 2.5-liter inline 4 making 170 hp, the Rogue is quick off the line and compliant on the highway. You’re not going to win a drag race in a Rogue but I think you’ll find it to be a good commuter. Nissan’s branded Xtronic CVT was accurate and shifted smoothly while spinning the 19-inch alloys. A super-easy driver, the Rogue is a quick handling, maneuverable small ute that proved very city adaptable yet fits right in at the weekend big box store or playing fields.
I liked the three different driving mode options, as always I default to Sport!, that offered some pleasant variation while maintaining the 25/32 mpg split.
A complete rethinking of the SUV in 2017 created a bigger interior cabin and a chis-
eled stance. We had the panoramic sunroof in the tester, making the cabin airy and bright. I found the upgraded Platinum Reserve two-toned leather-appointed interior to be very well done. Both fit and finish where polished and tight with all the important controls nicely positioned for comfort and reach. The straightforward two-gauge dash with the center info box delivers your driving and infotainment details at a touch of a steering wheel control.
The center-stack-mounted 7-inch touch screen with the patented NissanConnect made setting up favorites and a phone easy while HD music is delivered through a 9-speaker Bose sound system. There’s no shortage of cubbies and cup holders so don’t be afraid to pack up the Rogue for a weekend escape. Rear legroom is good.
I really like that so many of the Japanese and Korean cars come standard with a huge array of safety features and our fully loaded $36,915 Rogue is no different. Look for the AroundView monitor, automatic emergency braking (it works!) with pedestrian detection, lane departure, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross detection when shopping Nissan vehicles.
Nissan has been using seats that have NASA design elements in them, providing a very comfortable and supportive ride. It’s great to hop out of your car and not feel like you’ve gone 10 rounds at the Y.
Prices in the compact SUV field are pretty comparable so you’ll be shopping features, comfort and deals. While the Rogue is a very brisk-selling SUV, Nissan engineers continue to refine the truck to meet changing consumer demands.