The Nissan Rogue is a popular compact crossover SUV that seats five and has plenty of cargo space. Redesigned for 2021, the new Rogue’s interior and exterior styling have improved significantly. The seats are still amongst the most comfortable in their category, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. The Nissan gets an EPA-estimated 29 mpg with front-wheel-drive, and all-wheel-drive is available.
What’s New:Completely redesigned for 2021; More angular and truck-like body styling; Cabin gets modern touches; Handling and ride have improved
Pros
Spacious and user-friendly interior; Many standard and available tech features; Good handling and a quiet ride
Cons
No hybrid engine offered; Some rivals are sportier to drive
The Rogue starts around $26,000 for the S trim, coming standard with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, rear parking sensors, automatic LED headlights, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, push-button start, cloth upholstery, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, an eight-inch touchscreen with voice recognition, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth.
For $27,500, the SV trim adds dual-zone climate control, heated side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, proximity keyless entry, a power driver’s seat, NissanConnect driver services, and a WiFi hotspot. Also included is ProPILOT Assist, a semi-autonomous system that can take care of most of the driving duties.
The SL costs about $32,000, and it has key features like a motion-activated liftgate, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and tri-zone climate control.
The Platinum trim has dazzling features for its $35,500 starting price. Those include navigation-linked ProPILOT Assist, quilted semi-aniline leather seats, a digital dashboard with digital instrument gauges, a nine-inch touchscreen, a Bose premium audio system, and wireless Apple CarPlay integration. Premium Packages are available for the SV and SL trims, including popular features typically standard on the above trim levels.
The Rogue is powered by a 181-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which is slightly more than last generation. It makes 181 pound-feet of torque. EPA fuel economy has remained virtually the same: 26/33/29 mpg city/highway/combined.
Those are good numbers for a compact SUV, though some rivals offer hybrid powertrains that get up to 40 mpg combined. The Rogue continues to use a single-speed, continuously variable transmission. Front-wheel-drive comes standard; all-wheel-drive is available for about $1,500 extra, and it affects efficiency only marginally while providing extra peace of mind in lousy weather.
The Nissan Rogue is an excellent choice for families wanting a comfortable and tech-driven SUV. Its spacious interior, standard infotainment features, and a suite of driver aids for around $26,000 make it a value buy. Its modern interior and exterior styling give the Rogue a rugged appeal, while semi-autonomous driving technology comes standard on the SL and above trims. Competitors offer hybrid powertrains that get better efficiency, as well as turbocharged engine options that make them more fun to drive. Overall, the Nissan Rogue offers a lot of space, comfort, and tech features for the price, making it a great choice for a broad range of shoppers.
