Ticks the right boxes at the right price
While Rogue isn’t perfect, affordability gives an edge over rival compact SUVs
For many people, the search for the ideal vehicle is simple. It has to do with what’s needed, at the right price. And for many, that will be Nissan’s Rogue.
For 2016, Nissan adds a new trim line, SV Special, which further adds to the value proposition. The SV trim level starts at $30,548 with all-wheel drive, slotting above the base S ($26,648) and below the top-line SL Premium ($35,248).
The SV Special, at $29,548, has most of the SV’s features but lacks its panoramic sunroof, bringing down the price for those who don’t care for glass tops.
The S and SV Special can also be ordered with front-wheel drive, with the SV Special ringing in at $27,548.
And while the SV can be optioned with three rows of seats, or with a package that adds navigation, blind spot monitoring and a power liftgate, you can’t get those on the SV Special. It’s strictly a single product at a lower price.
The Rogue uses a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower, mated to an automatic continually variable transmission (CVT). It can be sluggish and noisy on acceleration, especially if you keep it in the fuel-saving Eco mode where it just bogs down, but once you get going, it happily cruises along without any fuss.
The suspension soaks up bumps and road imperfections, and the ride is very smooth and quiet.
Handling is about average for the segment, but I’m very impressed with its tight turning radius. The allwheel system runs primarily in front-wheel drive, but will send power to the rear wheels when needed. A button on the dash locks it into allwheel drive at low speeds when you require a little help with heavier snow or slippery surfaces; it automatically reverts to regular operation once you hit 40 km/h.
The Rogue’s redesign a couple of years ago fixed the previous problem of its cramped rear seat, and despite the trucklet’s compact dimensions, the cabin is roomy both in the front and rear. I’ve never been in the threerow version, but I don’t imagine I’d want to spend much time in those third-row seats.
I’ll give Nissan top marks for the Rogue’s front seatbelts. While you can adjust their position on many vehicles by sliding the attachment bracket on the side pillar up or down, most don’t go low enough for those of us who are short. The Rogue’s bracket slides down almost to the bottom of the window, helping to prevent that all-too-common seatbelt stranglehold that we “vertically challenged” drivers know so well. The SV Special includes a power driver’s seat, too.
The Rogue is also well equipped to handle cargo. The second-row seat in all trim lines slides back and forth, maximizing passenger or cargo space as needed. All trims have a reconfigurable cargo floor. When pulled out and moved between the height adjusters, the floor can be lowered for tall items, turned into a cover for hiding valuables, made into ashelf or set upright to corral grocery bags from sliding around.
All models include a rearview camera, but a larger bird’s-eye version is only available on the upper trim levels. My tester’s camera was better than nothing, but its low-resolution screen and limited angle made it useful primarily for that final “just how close is that curb?” check.
Value-wise, my SV Special rang in around the middle of the pack. To get most of my tester’s features, I’d have to pay between $875 and $2,100 more to get into a Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 or Toyota Rav4, while I’d save $150 to $549 in a Mitsubishi RVR or Ford Escape, respectively. The Rogue is far from perfect, but that combination of price and practicality may well make it the right vehicle for many buyers. Jil McIntosh is a regular contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. The vehicle for this story was provided by the manufacturer. For more Toronto Star automotive coverage, go to thestar.com/autos.