CROSSOVER IS CAPABLE FAMILY HAULER
Nissan’s refreshed Rogue is comfortable, has ample space and sports novel safety technology, Graeme Fletcher reports.
Once the poor relation in the segment, the Nissan Rogue has grown is stature and adopted a stronger look. It is now big without feeling bloated, feels much more comfortable and has a host of advanced safety technologies.
The styling is bolder and it arrives with better sound insulation and aerodynamics, both of which improve its highway comportment appreciably. Likewise, the cabin is marked by the quality of the soft-touch materials and two of the most comfortable seats in the segment. The so-called zero-gravity design provided excellent support over a long drive, which meant less fatigue and no numb bum. The SL Platinum tested also arrived with all the gear demanded of a modern crossover. Along with the power leather seats, moonroof and upgraded sound system, comes a 360-degree camera, navigation and a full suite of connected apps.
It also counted the right safety gear, including lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, blind- spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert and forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, which can bring the Rogue to a halt if the driver takes no action to avoid a crunch. It is an advanced package only available on the top SL model.
The one thing the Rogue does need is a heated forward-facing radar cover. The instant snow and slush accumulated on the front end, the system stopped working. This did away with the forward emergency braking and rendered the adaptive cruise control inoperative. On a long drive, that proved to be a pain.
The Rogue offers seating for up to seven and plenty of cargo space. Minus the third row, the cargo area features Nissan’s Divide-NHide cargo system, which can be configured to suit just about any needs. It also comes with generous capacity. There are 1,112 litres of space with the seats up or 1,982 with them flat, all of which is accessed through a power liftgate that opens automatically when a boot is waved under the rear bumper. The ability to fold the front passenger seat forward allows the Rogue to accommodate longer items (up to 244 centimetres) inside with the tailgate closed. This means carbon monoxide does not enter the cabin; it is an advantage more manufacturers should seriously consider.
The Rogue’s downside proved to be the limited rearward visibility. While all models get a rear-view camera, which helps mitigate parking problems, having a set of electronic eyes to monitor the blind spots was very reassuring.
The Rogue arrives with a 2.5-L four-cylinder engine that pushes 170 horsepower and 175 poundfeet of torque and Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission. This CVT works better than most, because it has predetermined shift points under normal-to-moderately hard acceleration. This does away with the usual drone so many hate. It also has a manual mode, but it did not see much use.
The downside proved to be the momentary lag between a deep stab at the gas and the delivery of power. This showed up in the acceleration time; it takes the Rogue 10.4 seconds to get from rest to 100 km/h. It takes 7.1 seconds to accomplish the 80-to120-km/h passing move.
The SL tester arrived with a smart all-wheel-drive system that proved to be commendable in its ability to get the power to the wheels that can put it to the best use. It splits the power evenly when pulling away but once up to speed, it drives the front wheels to conserve fuel. Part of its ability is down to the use of the brakes to force the power away from a spinning wheel to one with grip.
It all comes together seamlessly to improve traction without driving up the fuel economy; the all-wheel-drive model consumes just 0.4 litres per 100 km more than the front-driver. The system also gives the Rogue some off-road ability, thanks to hilldescent control and a differential lock mode, which holds a 50/50 front/rear torque split. The system is standard on the SL, but for those shopping the Rogue S or SV, the system is well worth the $2,200 option cost.
The Rogue is tuned to favour ride comfort over handling. As such, it wafts along the highway just as well as many luxury cars. The ride is cushioned, and this in spite of the large P225/55R19 tires. The suspension does a fair job of limiting body roll through a fast corner and the steering delivers decent feel and feedback. For the sportier driver, the dynamics will likely miss the mark, but as a family hauler it does what’s expected. It is competent and composed, even when loaded.
The 2017 Nissan Rogue takes some big steps in the right direc-
tion. It has an accommodating cabin and a high level of technology in the SL Platinum. True, it is not for all, but if comfort and an available third row are important features, the Rogue works. Driving.ca