Nissan Rogue gets upgrades, hybrid model for 2017
After breaking out of the pack and posting sales records with an all-new Rogue that arrived just three years ago, Nissan has brought a long list of upgrades and tweaks to its popular compact crossover for 2017.
There’s a surprise as well: a Rogue hybrid version is coming later this year.
For now, the updated 2017 Rogue gasoline model is now on sale, starting at $23,820 (plus $940 freight) for the base S front-wheel-drive model.
Gasoline-only models range as high as $31,310 for the SL all-wheel-drive version, which we tested for this report. Prices for the new hybrid, which arrives late this year, have not been announced yet.
The other gasoline trim levels are the SV FWD, $25,240; SL FWD, $29,960; S AWD, $25,170; and the SV AWD, $26,590.
Seating is available for up to seven in base and midlevel gasoline-only models, with an optional two-person thirdrow seat.
But the third row is offered only on the S and SV gas models; it’s not available on the top model, the SL, because that would put it into price competition with the midsize Pathfinder, which comes standard with three rows. And the battery pack for the hybrid model won’t allow for a third row in that version.
Otherwise, there is seating for up to five people, and there is plenty of leg and knee room for middle-seat passengers.
The gasoline-electric hybrid will be offered in just two trim levels, SV and SL, and will come standard with frontwheel drive. But all-wheel drive will be available.
All of the gasoline-only models come with a 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, with 175 footpounds of torque. It’s connected to the newest generation of the Rogue’s continuously variable automatic transmission.
The hybrid models will get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, rated at 141 horsepower and 144 foot-pounds of torque, paired with a 40-horsepower electric motor and a special continuously variable automatic transmission. While the vehicle is running in electric mode, the hybrid drive system will get power from a lithium-ion battery pack behind the second row of seating.
Total output for the hybrid system will be 176 horsepower. The hybrid also includes an Idle Start/Stop system and an Intelligent Regenerative Braking system.
Among Nissan crossovers, the compact Rogue is below the midsize five-passenger Murano, which got its own redesign for 2015, and the full-size, seven-passenger Pathfinder, which was all new three years ago, but also gets some 2017 updates.
Rogue exterior changes for 2017 include a revised front end with design cues that match other newer models in the Nissan lineup. The new front fascia has integrated fog lights; the bumper includes Nissan’s signature “V-Motion” grille; and there are new headlights with LED daytime running lights.
There’s also a new rear bumper design, along with boomerang-shaped LED taillights. There are new chrome side door moldings, as well as 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, included only on SL models.
Also new for 2017 is the Motion-Activated Liftgate, similar to ones found on competing vehicles such as the Ford Escape, along with Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, and Intelligent Cruise Control, which paces the car to the vehicle it is following.
The Motion-Activated Liftgate is standard on the SL, so it was included on our test vehicle, and it came in handy when I was trying to load some cargo with my hands full. It has a kicksensor system to provide hands-free operation of the power tailgate – opening and closing.
Besides the SL, this feature will be offered on SV models as part of the SV Premium Package.
Other features of the 2017 Rogue include body-color heated outside mirrors with available integrated turn signals, a rear spoiler, privacy glass and roof rails — all included on my SL model.
There is also a power-operated panoramic moon roof, with a front glass panel that slides and tilts, which is standard on the SL. The rear glass panel does not open, so when the front panel opens, it slides under the second glass panel.
Nine exterior colors are offered: Midnight Jade, Brilliant Silver, Gun Metallic, Magnetic Black, Pearl White, Glacier White and new Monarch Orange, Caspian Blue and Palatial Ruby.
Even at highway speeds, the Rogue’s cabin is very quiet, an improvement over the previous generation. The electric power steering was tight and responsive, and with the fourwheel antilock disc brakes, braking was safe and confident.