The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
2018 NISSAN ROGUE
Small SUV features impressive ProPilot Assist feature
With a large (and growing) number of competitors in the compact SUV category, the Rogue has done something unexpected. It’s battling for the top spot, running neck-and-neck with the Toyota RAV4 in 2017 — with more than 400,000 of both vehicles being sold.
That alone is an impressive feat; but Nissan is also pushing things in another area — technology.
While truly automated vehicles are still down the road a bit, Nissan is starting to offer strong tech features in mass-produced vehicles that go beyond the normal safety equipment we are used to seeing offered, including ProPilot Assist, which I was able to sample on the Rogue vehicle I tested.
Looks
Before we dive into the power and technology, first let’s get the superficial out of the way.
The Rogue doesn’t dazzle in terms of exterior design, but it’s still among the better-looking SUVs you can buy and offers some nice color choices.
You get an 8-way power driver seat with lumbar support, and can store settings or the driver’s seat and outside mirrors. LED daytime running lights and LED taillights are included.
For cargo, you have a folding rear seat that leaves a roomy storage area.
Other inside amenities offered include a heated and leatherwrapped steering wheel, and a leather-wrapped shift knob, plus a handy sunroof.
Overall, the inside is well-designed, and comfortable for all five passengers when full, with good legroom for those in the rear seats.
How’s the ride?
The Rogue I tested featured a 2.5-liter, four cylinder engine; and an automatic transmission. Numbers were 170 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque. I had AWD on my tester, but FWD is standard.
The Rogue handles impressively, but struggles with power and speed.
While not a tortoise, it’s also not very fast compared to others in the segment. There’s not the power and get-up-and-go I would like to see. The available sport mode improves the ride quality a little, but not tons.
Eco mode is also offered if you really want to save gas, and a manual shift mode is also offered.
ProPilot Assist
This is the real talking point on the Rogue, so I want to be very clear about what it is.
It’s NOT automated driving, it’s more like an enhanced version of the adaptive cruise control many cars have these days. The system reads highway lane lines and keep you centered between those lines, not only when you’re going straight but also in turns by moving the steering wheel as needed to keep you properly situated.
You can activate ProPilot Assist easily via the steering wheel. And you can also set your desired distance you and the next car. Like other systems that we are seeing on the road to autonomous driving, precautions are taken.
You need to keep your hands on the steering wheel or you will be warned by ProPilot Assist to put them back on with a series of increasingly loud beeps and alerts.
When I used ProPilot Assist on the highway, I had mixed but mostly impressive results.
When I came to long, sweeping turns, it struggled a bit in sweeping long turns and needed my help to stay within the lines. But it steered well in most turns and decelerated as needed due to traffic without any problems.
Occasionally it would be a little too close to either side, but you have the ability to correct the system if you see that.
The key is to remember it’s there to help you on your journey, but not get lulled into the idea that it’s going to do everything for you.
This is a good start for Nissan toward self-driving vehicles that should only get better as the years go on, but they are already well ahead of some competitors.
Tech, safety
Moving beyond ProPilot Assist, which is optional, the Rogue is no slouch when it comes to technology in general.
You get air bags all around, LATCH system for child seats, 4 wheel anti-lock brakes,
traction control, brake assist, and tire pressure monitoring system.
One great option is the Intelligent Around View monitor system that is one of the best in class, really shows the whole story of what’s going on when you are backing out.
Other safety options on the Rogue are:
• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection • Blind spot warning • Rear cross traffic alert • Lane departure warning • Intelligent lane intervention • Intelligent cruise control At the center of the vehicle, a Nissan Connect system with Navigation is offered. While not my favorite overall infotainment system, it has its high points.
It’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for phone mirroring, and includes a 7-inch color display, Bluetooth connection and hands-free messaging.
The navigation gets you where you are going, and responded well to voice commands, even when inputting addresses, which is often the hardest part for systems to understand.
MPG
Official fuel mileage num- bers on the AWD version of the Rogue are 25 city/32 highway/27 combined. I averaged about 25.
These are impressive, category-leading numbers when put head-to-head with the AWD versions of its main competitors (Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape).
Price, bottomline
The Rogue that I tested was very well-equipped with options, and came in just under $37K. By contrast the base price of the Rogue starts about $25K but will be a much more stripped-down version. In between is where most buyers will land, depending on their needs and budget. Whichever version you choose, the Nissan Rogue is a well-designed ride that is tech-savvy and great on safety.
It’s easy to tell why the Rogue ranks so high on the sales charts, and the new tech it’s introducing like ProPilot Assist means the future could be even brighter.