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Nissan Rogue review

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-HOW DOES IT LOOK.

Well. This is really a matter of opinion, but I was never crazy about the Rogue design when I first saw it.

Especially compared to its better and cleaner European looking cousin, the Nissan Qashqai.

The Rogue has a melted look that plagues so many Japanese designs.

But I must say, I did get used to it during my week long drive.

And quite a few people noticed it. Which was kind of weird because it’s not such a rare car.

So I guess I am in the minority there…





-HOW IS IT INSIDE.

I really like the interior design. It is just a very nice place to spend a long time.

The seats are comfortable, and everything seems very well put together and solid.

For my taste, the driving position was just a bit too high. Even with the seats all the way down.

The one really bad thing about the interior is the stupid “keyless but not really” system.

And idiotic device I had previously experienced in the Miata.

It’s not a push button start, like the one used in most Nissan cars, but some fake piece of plastic that you have to turn, just like a regular key.

Except you don’t have to carry it with you.

It’s the worse of both worlds, that’s what it is…



-HOW DOES IT DRIVE.

-Ride.

It is a comfortable car. But as I said before, it does feel a little high for me.

Not quite as secure as a regular, lower car.

Otherwise it is smooth and quiet.

-Steering.

Nothing weird to report here either.

Not much of a road feel, but better than the video game feel you get in other cars these days.

-Engine

There is enough power for most uses. But the 2.5 Liter does get pretty noisy when revved up.

Something many of my riders noticed “What is that noise?. Well… That’s the engine”

-Transmission.

Well. There it is.

The deal breaker for me.

I have experienced quite a few CVTs over the past few years. Some fine, like in the Ion Coupe (Hard to believe for some, I know), and the Altima Hybrid.

Some horrible, like in the Ford Freestyle or the Audi A4 2.0.

The one in the Rogue is pretty bad I would say.

It is fine as long as you don’t require any power from the engine. It does deliver a super smooth experience, of course.

But as soon as you push it a bit, all you get is noise, a long delay, and then, finally, more power. With plenty of engine noise.

For me, this is not really acceptable. It drove me nuts. And I never really got used to it. the only way to “make it work” is to really floor it when you need power. Don’t be shy.

But by then, the engine gets really noisy and the whole thing is unpleasant..

What is so wrong with a 6 speed auto???

-SO?

Well. The Rogue is a fine small crossover. Well made, comfortable and roomy. But the CTV is really something you need to drive quite a bit to see if you like it.

Sure, I did average around 25MPG in my regular mix of about 35% HWY, and the rest in the city.

So it is pretty good for that kind of high wagon.

But I’m not sure most people would be better off with something like a Mazda3 hachback. For much less money.

The Rogue seems pretty attractive at $21 000. But my SL AWD with a few options was pushing $27 000. Still without a sunroof.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice car. But it’s not that inexpensive.

Plus, the CVT isn’t for everyone.

Check out the CRV , Vue, RAV4 and others before you buy.

Or, and this is a crazy idea, how about a car???? A regular one.

Conversation 35 comments

  1. Good to see a report about this machine, but most CVTs, even those found in the Mini give that impression that something is wrong by noise or feel, but it isn’t the case. Other reviews mentioned this is the best CVT out yet, I think it was better than the Mini and both are made in Japan. Figure that one out.
    The shifting in the CRV was maybe a bit more smoother and quieter but only at lower speeds. A lot of exterior noise intrudes into the cabin above 2,000 rpms.
    I really like the Rouges overall feel and look inside and out, but I think the Forester seems to be the most refined out of the bunch:that is, RAV4, Rogue and CRV.

    PS- I would rather have the Sunroof over the leather and now you can buy one for less.

  2. The keyless device is good for holding coffee in your hands wile entering thee car in the mornings.

  3. My wife and I test drove the exact list of CUVs you mentioned to look at when she was in the market for a new car.

    She liked the looks of the Rogue but I hated them, well she wins so we went to test drive it.

    After the drive we both HHAAAATTEEDDDD the vehicle. The interior had a ton of cheap bits and the fit and finish was not up to par. The seat cushions felt thin and were uncomfortable.

    That CVT transmission is absolutely terrible, I agree with you Vince. Since the engine isn’t all that refined to begin with when it revs up the noise just stays constant and I could never figure out the logic of the damn thing. Everything was made out of a cheap looking hard plastic. Other than the handling I couldn’t really find anything that I liked about this vehicle.

    The Vue got awful gas mileage, my wife hated the dash of the RAV4 and it, too, had a ton of cheap bits.

    In the end we bought the CR-V which we both felt was the best of the bunch. It has enough power and the interior quality trumps all the others we tested.

  4. Very good review. I am a Rogue lover and have 2 in my family. They were purchased to replace Honda CRVs. The Rogues, we find are better in every way than the CRVs. For us Vince, we love the CVT transmission the most. It’s smooth and quiet and it’s design features such as being small and lightweight offer more room inside and better fuel economy. The Rogue is a real winner in our books. I am a huge Nissan Fan now!

  5. How much did Nissan pay you to say that, John?
    I LOVE the Quashqai/Dualis, but this thing is just
    so ugly. It has this wierd look that all of the
    American Japanese cars have. Why does America
    need a different model (an uglier one) when the
    Dualis would have sold just fine there?
    Probably to give something to do to their
    American design studio.

  6. very well finished, very quiet, excellent fit and finish etc…. well priced, very cute. This is a great seller. I see them everywhere and I understand why. Just sorry I’m selling hondas.

  7. Vince – any comments on rear window visibility? My sister test drove one and said the rearward visibility made her feel thoroughly unsafe.

  8. This car is invisible to me. A secretary in my office bought one before the holidays and she loves it. But she traded up from a five year old Corolla which she hated, so it is an improvement for her. The front of the Rogue looks like a swollen Sentra economy car and the interior is bargain basement… on par or maybe worse than a Ford Escape Taxi. I sat in it to take a look but didn’t have the “opportunity” to drive in it. Based on what I saw, it just doesn’t seem like a car that would be good to drive, so I’ll take Vince’s word on the refinement of the mechanicals.

  9. You are 100% right about the rearward visibility. I forgot to mention it.
    The really small windows behind the doors are useless.
    So visibility isn’t good when you’re looking over your shoulder. But I also must say, this is something you do get used to.
    I’ve driven much worse….

  10. All the sex appeal and high style of my Rambler Rogue. Finally, after all these years, a comparable replacement. And now that Nissan is run by the french, I can expect the same quality and rust-free reliability that Rambler was providing in the '50's & '60's. Viva la Rogue! I feel like a born-again Peter Sellers!!!

  11. The Honda CR-V has been the best selling SUV in America for three years in a row now…

    You can’t see anything out of the rear of the Rogue and the plastics are terrible.

  12. “And now that Nissan is run by the french, I can expect the same quality and rust-free reliability….”

    What kind of logic is that? Clearly you haven’t experienced French engineering. Or you must be high!

  13. The ugly “D” pillar is a deal-killer for me.

    I think Nissans are good cars, but if I were buying a similar car to the Rogue, I’d pick the Honda CR-V.

  15. If only this came in a 6-speed manual. The new Chevy Equinox is not weakling looking like this is.

  16. imagine the ignorance of a comment against a whole race of people. hey hitler, that’s very out of touch of you. The French, especially Renault that developes cars with world renown Nissan is top quality . Nissan / Renault are the world leaders in CVT technology, and direct injection/turbo diesels. Also, they are hugely reliable. Nissan Renault build the best cars in the world….Period.

  17. The rearward visibility is AWFUL.

    My girlfriends roommate has the SL model with all options, I got to drive it 60 miles to pick her up at BWI. The CVT really is awful and it has some random squeaks and rattles that my 9 (nearly 10) year old CR-V doesn’t have. The only thing I liked about it was the heated seats and the Bose stereo which still wasn’t better than my aftermarket stereo that I spent less than $400 on.

    I really didn’t like the Rogue at all. I find it unacceptable for such a new car to have squeaks and rattles and the rearward visibility is NIL!

    When it comes time to replace my CR-V it will be another CR-V.

  18. Arguably, Consumer reports rates the Forrester and RAV4 higher. I think the CRV is underpowered and does not give an option for more ponies.

  19. “Nissan Renault build the best cars in the world….Period.”

    The reality is that the French are known for building shoddy vehicles and Nissan’s record is pretty spotty as well. Good wine, good food, beautiful culture, bad cars. In the US, Renault failed and exited the US market completely, and no one cried over the loss. In the US and Europe, Nissan quality rankings show huge swings from model to model, from year to year. Nissan doesn’t live up to the typical Japanese reputation of quality. Especially when speaking about their lights trucks, they rank very low. It’s going to take a lot more than calling people “ignorant” to overcome that.

  21. “”Nissan Renault build the best cars in the world….Period.”

    The reality is that the French are known for building shoddy vehicles and Nissan’s record is pretty spotty as well. Good wine, good food, beautiful culture, bad cars. In the US, Renault failed and exited the US market completely, and no one cried over the loss. In the US and Europe, Nissan quality rankings show huge swings from model to model, from year to year. Nissan doesn’t live up to the typical Japanese reputation of quality. Especially when speaking about their lights trucks, they rank very low. It’s going to take a lot more than calling people “ignorant” to overcome that.”

    Exactly.

    Nissan is FAR from building the best cars in the world, and Renault is even farther behind. Nissan hasn’t even reached Honda and Toyota levels yet, what the hell are you talking about “best cars in the world” for???

  22. “Anonymous said…
    Arguably, Consumer reports rates the Forrester and RAV4 higher. I think the CRV is underpowered and does not give an option for more ponies.”

    But not everyone needs or wants the horsepower. I certainly do not need 260+HP in a small SUV. My name is not Paul Walker and I do not live my life one quarter mile at a time. 160-180HP is sufficient for my family and I, even when towing a 1800 pound boat.

  23. hello simpleton and simple folk in general. Reading is a basic function you should be using more often. Like for example, reading a consumer report. It rates The Altima #1 in both 4 cyl. category and V6 as well. Yes over every other car made. Yes over Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord. Shoddy they are not, #1 they are!, now you are just ignorant beyond compare, shooting off at the mouth with little or no research. The Altima is the car my simple people and Nissan is the Company. Read a book, drive a nissan….enjoy life in the educated lane.

  24. The CVT has no shift points, it’s seamless, it’s quiet, it’s smooth, it has infinite gear ratios, it’s lightweight, it takes up little space, it produces better fuel economy, it’s relatively trouble free compared to conventional transmissions. Toyota uses them in Camry hybrid but feels it will outprice regular camrys. that’s the only reason you don’t see it everywhere in their lineup. Nissan Wins again….poor simple folk that wish the wheel was still wooden and the tire solid rubber. Please get with the times. it’s embarassing for you.

  25. “My name is not Paul Walker and I do not live my life one quarter mile at a time.”

    Then ride a bicycle or drive a Smart instead. Ratings by independent magazines are the only way to resolve the “my word versus yours…” conundrum. The fact does not change that most models that offer a V6 rate on average higher than a 4. It is obvious anyway and has nothing to do with your needs.

  26. “To The Ignorants out there said…
    hello simpleton and simple folk in general. Reading is a basic function you should be using more often. Like for example, reading a consumer report. It rates The Altima #1 in both 4 cyl. category and V6 as well. Yes over every other car made. Yes over Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord. Shoddy they are not, #1 they are!, now you are just ignorant beyond compare, shooting off at the mouth with little or no research. The Altima is the car my simple people and Nissan is the Company. Read a book, drive a nissan….enjoy life in the educated lane.”

    Simple people take CR car rating, not reliability studies, to heart. Their reliability studies for vehicles, and their tests for appliances are the only useful things they publish.

    If you want a REAL car review done by REAL automotive journalists, stick to Car and Driver or Motor Trand and not Consumer Reports.

    Also, they are the ONLY publication that rates Nissan as #1, and I do mean the only one. Everyone else who actually matters says that they are priced too high and the interior quality lags behind the competition which it honestly does.

    So what were you trying to say about reading comprehension? I understood everything you said and countered every point with a useful one.

  27. hey ignorant honda/toyota salesman. Nissan wins many awards , thats just one. It has one Ward’s 10 best engines for 14 years in a row. A very well respected establishment. Consumer Reports, means Consumers Report on their experiences. Not people who are swayed by lavish trips and hotels and demos. Nissan has the best built car lineup in the world. Also they are judging by incidents of repair in consumer reports. Once again, please read. In this case you weak simple honda/toyota sheep, read how consumer reports actually works .

  28. Interior decibal sound tests have shown that this Rogue is much quieter inside at 50 mph, on the same stretch of road at the same time and same location as any near competitor. Test by Auto Research Institute of Indiana.

  29. Just like I said. It cruises very quietly. And at 50MPH, pretty much anything is quiet.
    But if you ever need to pass, the CVT is then dangerously slow to react, and the engine becomes very noisy.
    Cruising at 50 MPH was never a problem.

  30. “Poor Idiot You said…
    hey ignorant honda/toyota salesman. Nissan wins many awards , thats just one. It has one Ward’s 10 best engines for 14 years in a row. A very well respected establishment. Consumer Reports, means Consumers Report on their experiences. Not people who are swayed by lavish trips and hotels and demos. Nissan has the best built car lineup in the world. Also they are judging by incidents of repair in consumer reports. Once again, please read. In this case you weak simple honda/toyota sheep, read how consumer reports actually works .”

    Honda and Toyota are two of the MOST AWARDED Japanese automotive manufacturers. You cannot argue that, if you do you are uneducated and should do some research. Since when is Wards an “establishment”? You sound like an angry child.

    Lavish trips? To where and funded by who? Do you have proof of these trips or is this just more uneducated, biased fodder coming from your direction?

    Nissan has the best built lineup in the world? What? Measured by WHO? The Versa is a terrible car, and doesn’t get reviewed well by anyone. The Sentra is a slow seller and hasn’t placed well in any comparison test performed by a reputible automotive publication. The Altima is decent. The Maxima is bloated and overpriced and it is also not a favorite of automotive journalists/publications. The Titan is outdated and never was a decent truck to begin with. The Pathfinder is a slow seller, and isn’t highly regarded. The Xterra is a somewhat of a niche vehicle and rated very poorly by your vaunted CR. I could go on…

    Also, I know exactly how CR performs their studies. Incidents of repair (or frequency) is a very good indication of reliability. Since Nissan has a higher frequency they are less reliable. Honda and Toyota have higher resale values, require less rebates to move their vehicles, and garner more praise than Nissan. Let’s not forget that Honda has a higher consumer satisfaction score overall compared to Nissan.

    Those are all points you can’t argue, they are not opinion, they are FACT.

  31. What kind of logic is that? Clearly you haven’t experienced French engineering. Or you must be high! No, not high. But I had a friend who was — almost. He boarded the French SST to get “high” and burned up on takeoff. Oh that French engineering! What a feeling?

  32. freak of the year, listen up. and google it to confirm. Toyota is the only Japanese company that has been scolded publicly by their own government for poor quality and for ignoring dangerous recalls. Not nissan. That speaks volumes to the fact that in fact, Toyota, according to the Japanese government, is the worst car company out of Japan. Once again, get with the times. And before you embarass yourself again, google it baby!

  33. The bottom line on the Rogue is the harsh ride, slow to react transmission, cheap plastic keyless ignition knob and tiny cargo capacity. What’s not to love here?

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