2021 Rogue goes rogue
THE automotive industry has always been highly competitive and this is readily apparent in the midsize utility vehicle (crossover) category where the Rogue is Nissan’s rock.
The 2021 model, which not surprisingly is the automaker’s best-selling model, is chock-full of styling and performance upgrades to maintain pace with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape, to name a few.
For starters, the Rogue has abandoned the rounded shape that has been around since the first-generation model hit the streets for the 2008 model year.
The exaggerated flared fenders have given way to cleaner and crisper shapes, while the double-vision grille has been replaced by one less complex in execution. The squaredoff rear end adds to the purposeful look.
In addition, the rear doors now open nearly 90 degrees to the body for easier entry and exit, and new LED headlights are standard for all trim levels.
The tautness of the overall design results in a 1.5-inch reduction in overall length along with a slight lowering in body height. Unchanged, though, is the distance between the front and rear wheels, which isn’t entirely unexpected since the vehicle is built on a modified version of the outgoing Rogue’s platform. With the back seat folded flat, there is a slight gain in cargo volume, which is a bonus.
The new Rogue’s interior benefits from a number of improvements
including a new 12.3-inch digital dashboard as well as a control panel with a larger touch screen that’s prominently positioned beside gauges. Nissan claims the optional 10.8-inch head-up display — that projects speed and turn-by-turn directions onto the windshield — is the largest in the segment.
Among the other changes is a pistol-grip-style electronic shifter that replaces the traditional T-handle and allows twin cupholders to be placed farther forward of the new split-opening armrest/storage-bin lid. There’s also a newly created stowage spot to be found beneath the “floating” center console.
Nissan’s comfy and supportive Zero Gravity front and rear seats continue to be a welcome touch, especially for long trips.
For 2021, Nissan retains the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but it’s up-rated to 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque (pre
viously 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet).
Fuel economy is rated at 26 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway and 29 combined.
A continuously variable transmission directs power to the front wheels, although all-wheel-drive is optional. The system is available for all grades — S, SV, SL and Platinum — and comes with driver-selectable Off Road, Snow, Standard, Eco and Sport modes (front-wheel-drive
Rogues get Standard, Eco and Sport modes). All-wheel drive also comes with torque vectoring, which can apply light braking to the inside rear wheel when turning. This increases cornering precision.
Among the Rogue’s other mechanical improvements is a new power-steering system designed to reduce driver corrections, and a new multi-link independent rear suspension.
Pricing ranges from $26,750 for the S trim (including destination charges) to $37,900 for the top-end Platinum. All are equipped with dynamic-safety technologies as part of Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 grouping, such as automatic front and rear emergency braking, pedestrian detection, driver-attention alert, lane-departure warning and blindspot warning with rear cross-traffic alert.
Standard with the Rogue Platinum is Propilot Assist (with navigation) that automatically adjusts your speed in stop-and-go driving, and maintains a safe distance from the vehicles in front while keeping you centered in the lane. The system also “reads” traffic speed-limit signs and decreases or increases your velocity accordingly.
Other Platinum content includes tri-zone climate control, heated quilted-leather seat coverings, 360-degree surround-view camera, motion-activated liftgate and pullup rear-window sunshades.
Keeping current would seem to be a singular focus for Nissan as it tends to the expectations of current Rogue fans as well as potential buyers. The redesigned vehicle meets those, without question, while upping the style and value proposition.