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:

• 

  The best smaller SUV on the market now! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By tsar1269 - July 17 - 8:56 pm

  I purchased the AWD SL version in black with a black leather interior. I added all the bells and whistles as options to the car and it rocks! When I went to pick it up in the showroom, there was a crowd of people surrounding it. It is a show stopper! My favorite thing with this car is the bluetooth integration. I love being able to make calls from the car thru voice activation. It has never confused a command I speak or get a number wrong when I speak to it. The leather interior is flawless. You have as much leg room in the back seat as the front. I also love the fact that the glove box is big enough for a laptop if you so wish.

• 

  Totally Awesome - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By Lynnette - July 11 - 6:40 am

  I have never driven anything so smooth and quiet, you cant even feel the vehicle shift. It provides excellent sound barriers from the outside. The seats and ride are so comfortable and the leg room is perfect for the taller population. The investment is definitely worth it.

• 

  Great Small Family CrossOver SUV - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By lovingmyrogue - July 9 - 10:44 pm

  Great car! Looks good and feels good. I did extensive research before purchasing this car. The Rav4 and the CRV was also on the top of my list. But having driven them all, my wife and I feel that the build quality of the Rogue was much better than the others. The interior of the CR-V and the Rav4 feel very plastic like. The other major motivation was the warranties.

• 

  nice crossover if you do not need real SUV - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By stevko - June 26 - 9:51 pm

  I bought this car in Aug11 used from Hertz car rental 15.500$ an 2010 S AWD model with 38000mile on. After 6mon in use I decided to write this review as I used this page to choose the Rouge. I was looking for SUV but did not wanted pay the higher price and more on gas, therefore I was looking at sportage, tuscon, forester and rouge. I choose Nissan as I drove nissan sentra before and rogue is basically lifted sentra kind of w/ AWD and SUV look, car like driving and SUV feel and safety. We live in NortWest so this kind of car is ideal. I doesnot need fancy ride and towing capabilities so city like SUV = Rogue was an good choice. And the price was 1.500 - 2000 lesser than those others.

• 

  OMG What have I done! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Dawn B - June 24 - 9:46 am

  I have had my Rogue for 2 weeks! It has been in the shop twice and I have to bring it in again and leave it for a day and a half. 2 days after buying it the AC died and turned into heat that still came through the vents when off and this was during a heat wave! Then the tire function light came on, then the rattle under the driver side when I start it. Called the dealership, brought it in. (I live over an hour away- my stupidity) The tech came out after 2 hours of waiting to tell me they figured out what was wrong but the parts wouldnt be in for a couple days. Now there is another noise from the CVT, it hesitates on acceleration and is wheezing. Thank God my husband is paranoid and we bought the extra coverage. So what do we do? Havent even made a payment yet! I am disabled and we traded my Rav for the Rogue~ I drive to PT twice a week, an hour each way. I need a dependable vehicle that im not going to get heatstroke in while driving. I live in Mass so I have the Lemon law on my side to a point. Im going through all the complaints, making a list, checking recalls, making sure they have been taken care of against my vehicle. When I go in to drop it off I will be armed with all this info and just may demand another vehicle. I should of checked here before shopping, Im so P/Od!

• 

  Completely Satisfied - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Alexsh - June 23 - 11:33 pm

  Ive purchased Rogue 6 weeks ago as my wife commute car, but prefer to drive it myself to complete break in and check out vehicle performance. And I like to tell you that Im absolutely satisfied with my purchase. It performs like a charm. The fuel consumption is top notch. Im managing 28.7 mph average for last 600 miles. My commute is 80%/20% including multiple stop and go at rush hours. Internal design is perfect, comfortable seats, nice dash, and good quality material. Everything works perfectly. I highly recommended it to any one.

• 

  ok - 2016 Nissan Rogue
  By thomas bond - June 17 - 7:11 am

• 

  Goodbye, Ford - 2014 Nissan Rogue
  By southtx - June 10 - 6:53 pm

  Traded out of a very troublesome 2013 Escape into the Rogue SL with Nav. Comapring to the Escape, the Nissan has a bit more hard plastic, but the overall feel of quality is better. The ride is noticeably smoother, even with much higher than suggested tire pressure. Also much quieter, both as to wind noise and tire/road noise. The CVT transmission seems a bit sluggish when shifting, but is very smooth. Fuel economy so far is steady at 26mpg combined, and a bit over 29 at 70mph... which is very good for a brand new vehicle.

• 

  Another Nissan - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By fourth Nissan - June 1 - 3:20 am

  This is my fourth Nissan vehicle. I previously owned an Altima 3.5 v6 and loved the drive. I wanted better gas mileage, AWD and an overall vehicle style change. I loved the look of the Rogue and although I was not sure about the power (2.5) I could not resist the overall interior and exterior quality and extras that were offered. I purchased the Rogue SL AWD leather package and absolutely LOVE the drive. The pickup is smooth and responsive and surprisingly I do not miss the V6 at all! Gas mileage is great for my lengthy commute, not to mention satellite radio to make my ride that much enjoyable. My husband finds the vehicle roomy, and theres plenty of space in the back for my 2yr old toddler

• 

  Great Vehicle for your Money! - 2011 Nissan Rogue
  By Windfalls - May 29 - 2:00 am

  Purchased this vehicle after owning a Nissan Pathfinder for 10 years, So far we are very happy with the Rogue. Love the handling! Extremely stable on icing roads. Nav system and intelligent key are marvelous. Leather seats very comfortable. I am over 6 feet and find the leg room great. Very happy with our purchase.