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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  My best Christmas Present - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Marcelo Chaparro - May 6 - 5:50 pm

  My wife and I just got the Rogue as a Christmas present. Let me tell you that after doing a lot of research (CR-V, RAV4, Tucson), I found the Nissan Rogue the best SUV/CUV you can find in the market. We fell in love with this SUV the first time we drove it. It is nice and quiet, sporty, cool looking and great features, and the best is 100% Japanese. We just love it.

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  New Suv owner - 2012 Nissan Rogue
  By twotallsixfeet - April 30 - 1:54 am

  Ive been a pickup owner for over 20 years. Now I wanted to have a more car like ride. I did a lot of research online for SUVs and went out into the field to try them all out for test drives. Rogue ended up being my top choice. Finalists in my choice were Mitsubshi Outlander Sport, Ford Escape, and Forester. There were many other contenders that I tried out/drove/& compared price on. I ended up with a Rogue. Ive not been disappointed.

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  Best Vehicle Ever Owned - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Pat - April 24 - 10:16 am

  Its a pleasure to own this vehicle it rides well accelerates smoothly handles great around corners and handles well in snow. I have had some minor issues with the low tire indicator, outdoor temp sensor but thats it. I have put a lot of miles on it by making lots of trips and its been a great car. Gas mileage is great i have averaged up tp 29mpg at 75mph.

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  So far so good! - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By T&J - April 17 - 5:00 pm

  Weve had our new Rogue for 1 week, and already were in love. We were deciding between a crossover SUV (including the Honda CR-V) and a mid-size sedan (including the Altima). By far, the Rogue had the smoothest, most quiet ride and the most comfortable seats compared to any of the others we test drove. In the end, it came down to the Rogue and the Ford Fusion (great car by the way), but the Rogue has a higher fun factor. Ive always hated driving for long periods of time, but Im actually looking forward to a road trip this summer driving our new Rogue.

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  2011 rogue awd - 2011 Nissan Rogue
  By Nissandriver - April 3 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I purchased this rogue after owning a 2008 sentra. Wow what a great vehicle. If I would have known that this was available when we purchased the sentra, we would be reviewing a 2008 rogue. The gas mileage is better than expected and with 1000 miles on the car we are averaging 27 mpg. I always check the gas mileage by filling up at when empty and resetting the trip. This vehicle has a similar ride to the sentra, but you sit up higher. I am 6 foot 8 inches and still have room to be comfortable while operating the vehicle. We test drove a Toyota Rav4 before purchasing and surprising enough the drivers seat in the rogue has more room.

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  Brand New Rogue - McLovin this car! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By wmson2000 - April 3 - 1:26 am

  Tested the CRV and the Rav4. Both were nice but not as good of a value as the Rogue. CRV was close but didnt handle as well. Rogue is slightly smaller. Much better feature list. Quieter than the competition. Sportier feel. Interior looks like a lux car. First 100 miles, 28mpg! Handled nicely in the rain. Zenon headlights are awesome in the dark. This is my 4th Nissan. Big fan of value and reliability of Nissan.

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  Great looking, Great gas mileage, Great functionality! - 2014 Nissan Rogue
  By giants58 - March 24 - 2:02 am

  My wife and I were looking to replace our Town and Country mini van and looked at several SUVs in this class. We wanted good gas mileage, good functionality since we were downsizing and something that looked really good! Ill update you on gas mileage on a future update we havent had it long enough to give an honest reading yet. The ride has been great and the CVT has been a nice surprise, there is some engine noise while accelerating but no road noise, nice and smooth. The cargo area is spacious with many options with the rear seats up or folded down. The exterior looks really good and the interior is very comfortable with all the controls within easy reach.

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  My Rouge 1 - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By E. Wheeler - March 21 - 1:43 am

  I was looking for a SUV with good gas mileage. Found it here. Im getting 28 mixed and 33 plus highway. The AWD works fine in Colorado. If I had to complain, it would be that it has no clothes hanger in the back to put my dry cleaning. Other than that the Rouge is nice for the price.

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  Our first new car in over 10 years. - 2017 Nissan Rogue
  By Tom - February 20 - 12:00 pm

  The only drawback I have is that it is a little difficult to reach the seat belt to pull and connect into the clip. Otherwise I love it. Next vehicle that I am in the market for I will consider Nissan.

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  Nice to look at, fun to drive - 2011 Nissan Rogue
  By vmyers - February 20 - 10:00 am

  After test-driving a Hyundai Tuscon, Subaru Outback, Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander and KIA Sorrento, we decided to buy this vehicle. We traded a BMW 540i in on it, and while it obviously wasnt in that class of vehicle for handling and performance, we were more satisfied with it than the others. It is feels very solid, handles well and is nice to look at, inside and out. The technology was surprising for an SUV in this price range, as well. With under 500 miles driven so far, we cant comment on long-term reliability. But we are averaging 25 mph. in the Ozarks of Missouri (rolling hills). So far, we are very happy with this vehicle.