Overview & Reviews

Like many of the two dozen or so compact crossovers on the market today, the Nissan Rogue seeks to provide the all-weather capability and commanding driving position of an SUV, along with the maneuverability and fuel efficiency of a typical car. It does this quite well, and it also adds bold, son-of-Murano styling to make it desirable for its form as well as its function.

Although the Nissan Rogue has never delivered an especially inspiring engine and transmission combination, performance has always been passable, and the current generation is notable for its stellar fuel economy. The second-generation Rogue also has a spacious interior with a large cargo hold and, rare for this class, an available third row of seating. Earlier Nissan Rogues weren't as roomy, but they were more nimble to drive through turns. Overall, we think a new or used Rogue presents a compelling overall package that merits consideration alongside traditional segment leaders.

Current Nissan Rogue
Completely redesigned for 2014, the current Nissan Rogue is a compact crossover SUV with seating for five or seven, depending on how it's equipped. Compared with the previous Rogue, it offers a much larger backseat, significantly more cargo capacity, higher fuel economy ratings and a longer list of safety features.

All Nissan Rogues are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard, and buyers have a choice between front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. With either drivetrain, fuel economy ratings are above average for this class.

The Rogue is available in three trim levels: S, SV and SL. Standard equipment on the base S includes 17-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, iPod/USB connectivity and a four-speaker sound system. The SV adds 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, keyless entry and ignition, a power-adjustable driver seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, smartphone integration features and a six-speaker sound system. The SL comes with all that plus 18-inch alloy wheels, foglights, heated mirrors, leather upholstery, heated front seats, voice controls, a 360-degree parking camera system, a navigation system (with a 7-inch touchscreen) and a nine-speaker sound system.

Key options include a two-passenger third-row seat (S and SV models only), a power liftgate and a panoramic sunroof. Optional safety equipment includes a blind-spot warning system, a lane-departure warning system, a forward collision warning system and "moving object detection" (which works in conjunction with the multi-view parking cameras).

One thing we always liked about the original Nissan Rogue that has carried over to the second generation is the smooth ride quality. Neither the steering nor the handling is particularly sporty, but most buyers will appreciate the Rogue's relaxed demeanor. In reviews, we've found the Nissan's 2.5-liter engine adequate to the task of commuting. During harder acceleration, there's a noticeable growl from the engine as the CVT maintains a constant high engine rpm to provide the motivation needed for passing and merging. This makes for a noisier cabin environment than in some competitors.

Otherwise, the Rogue's cabin is a pretty nice place to be. Materials quality is high, and everything is put together with care. Nissan's available infotainment interface is quite easy to use as well. Seat comfort is excellent in the first two rows, and thanks to 9 inches of fore/aft adjustment, the 40/20/40 second-row seat is adult-friendly. The available third-row bench is a kids-only proposition, but the fact that Nissan offers one at all gives the Rogue a leg up on its rivals from Ford, Honda and Toyota.

Used Nissan Rogue Models
The first-generation Rogue debuted for the 2008 model year and was produced through 2013. After 2013, this Rogue continued on as the Nissan Rogue Select (reviewed separately), which is identical save for its abbreviated options list.

The original Nissan Rogue used the same 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine as the current model. All versions were offered in both front-wheel- and all-wheel-drive configurations, and a CVT was standard.

First-generation Nissan Rogues were available in two trim levels: S and SV (known as the SL from 2008-'10). You got the basics with the S, including keyless entry, air-conditioning and full power accessories, along with an iPod interface. However, things like privacy glass, a rearview camera, Bluetooth and satellite radio were available either within an option package or on the SV. Higher-end items like heated leather seats, a navigation system and a Bose sound system were available as options on the SV as well.

Like the current crossover, the first-generation Rogue offered a smooth, comfortable ride. Handling was actually a bit sportier than on the current version, while acceleration was fairly quick for a small four-cylinder crossover. However, engine noise was a persistent annoyance during passing maneuvers, as the CVT kept engine revs high to maximize the available power.

Styling is a subjective matter, of course, but to our eyes, the first-gen Rogue cut a rather dashing profile compared to its compact crossover brethren. Rear visibility consequently suffered, as did cargo capacity and rear-seat accommodations. Although this Rogue represents a good value as a used vehicle, shoppers needing room for child safety seats or a large dog will likely find it short on space.

Changes to the Nissan Rogue were minimal during this generation. It received minor styling updates for 2011, and trim levels and option packages were reshuffled over the years. For 2010-'11, the Rogue was offered in a Krom Edition model, which added larger wheels and cosmetic enhancements, including centrally located exhaust outlets.

User Reviews:

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  2008 Nissan Rogue - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By mike - April 4 - 6:03 am

  So far this has been a great vehicle in every way. Fuel economy has been right on and performance is also great.

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  Very pleased with purchase - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Rich - March 16 - 5:33 pm

  I wanted to wait a bit before writing a review to see how well the Rogue held up. I bought it in February 2008 and it now has about 18,000 miles on it. Im very pleased to report that I have not had to return it to the dealer for any reason. I was a little nervous purchasing a 4 cylinder, but the Rogues CVT has performed very well and Im quite comfortable pulling into traffic, even with the A/C on. The Rogue is remarkably quiet cruising on a high speed interstate. Ive been pleased with the gas mileage and it has improved about 2 mpg overall since it was new. My driving is a mix of highway, city and county roads (45mph). I seem to get about 26 mpg doing that and 29 all highway.

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  Considering a Rogue? - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By willbearepeat - March 8 - 2:45 pm

  Purchased new SL in September 2010 and have been very pleased. Looked at CRV, RAV4 and Mazda CX7 and chose the Rogue and have no regrets. Now have almost 20K miles and have had no problems other than loose gas cap caused Check Engine Light to come on. In city gas mileage is right at 24 and best highway has been 31 when driving at 55mph with no AC. Im 62" and fit comfortably in the drivers seat. My 16 yr old son who is also 62" fits comfortably in the back. This is not a sports car and doesnt drive like one. It is a small SUV that is a pleasure to drive, even on long trips.

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  Nissan Rogue SL 2008 Review - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By valleyca2 - February 15 - 7:03 pm

  Bought Rogue SL 2WD with the premium package last weekend. Have driven about 600 miles so far. The crossover is really fun to drive, handling is superb, very quiet even at 80 MPH on highway. The exterior design is very nice and refreshing, I think Nissan designers have done a great job. It has much better outside appeal then Rav4/Honda CRV. The interior is very well laid out. The second row is comfortable for this size of the vehicle. Has MP3/aux input as standard - what else! The gas mileage on the highway so far has been in 27 and change range, right on mark what shows on the sticker. So far no complaints. Fun vehicle to own.

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  An easy choice - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Krup - February 7 - 12:40 pm

  I was a 15 year Jeep owner. Every 5 years I would ramble into the Jeep dealership and buy my new jeep. No longer. The Rogue won this time over all the Jeeps and other competition on gas mileage, price and looks. This CUV is smooth, quiet and very sharp.

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  3 weeks with a Rogue - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By David - January 13 - 3:06 pm

  Very nice vehicle for the money. Amazingly fun to drive. Handles extremely well. Best car on snow and ice I have ever driven. Two minor shortcomings: no light directly over cargo area, and no rub stripe to prevent door dings. Also, mileage is slightly less than I had hoped for. Otherwise I love this vehicle.

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  Anna Marie - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By Kathryn George - January 4 - 3:27 pm

  Best SUV in its class. I love my Rogue. Very stylish and comfortable.

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  Happy So Far - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By mama_in_tx - December 23 - 6:56 am

  I bought my Rogue used with about 19K miles on it. Im very happy so far. It looks good on the outside, very comfortable and quality interior and fun to drive. The rear visability isnt great, but that would be my only complaint. The highest gas milage Ive seen thus far is about 26, and I average 23 normally. I drive about 20 miles on the highway to work, and have not taken a longer highway trip yet, so I expect maybe to see a little higher gas milage with that. I love the bluetooth feature, it works wonderfully! If youre in the market for a smaller SUV, this is defiently one to check into.

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  Best SUV ever! - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By Connor - December 12 - 10:52 pm

  Ive only had the vehicle about two weeks, but have driven it about 1000 miles. I commute very far to work, and being comfortable is very important to me.The Rouge provides it all, at a great price; Decent performance, havent had a problem passing at highway speeds although everyone else seems to. The interior is what I beleive a cut above the rest as well.

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  A brand new Rogue SL AWD - 2014 Nissan Rogue
  By earthwateruser - December 11 - 10:07 am

  I just purchased a new Rogue and the car performed very well on a long road trip. Highway comfort is excellent, with only a bit of road noise on rough highways. The 2.5L powerplant has enough power and the trade off for fuel economy is one Im happy to make. The CVT is fine, but Im used to one. Highway mileage hovered around 30 mpg w/ my overall economy only slightly lower at 27.5. The car seems to be a great value. We looked at all the competitors in the segment (and some outside it) and the Rogue SL interior was, by far, the nicest. Suspension is very good. Bose stereo also very good. A very nice car all around. Definitely worth a look if you shop this segment.