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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  LOVE my Rogue - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By jldono2 - March 6 - 2:43 am

  I have been driving a V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee for the last 6 years, and so far I love my Rogue. I was worried about a 4 cyl not having enough power, and this car has plenty of power passing, going up the mountains. So far I love my new Rogue!!

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  LOVE MY ROGUE - 2012 Nissan Rogue
  By pgh1559 - March 5 - 6:08 pm

  I purchased my Rogue 3 weeks ago. I traded in a 2009 Altima on it. It is comfortable and fun to drive. I like sitting a little higher than in a car, it is very easy to get in and out of... I looked at and test drove the Equinox and 2012 CRV, though both of them had some better features than the Rogue, I went with the Rogue for looks and the keyless feature. I have only filled up my tank 2 times and the last fill up I got was 25.3 mpg and that is just around town, no highway driving, that is me figuring the mileage not the computer on the car. I would recommend the Rogue. I really love the car despite a few negatives of the Navi and Bluetooth.

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  I had never even heard of the Rogue! - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By Female traveler - February 28 - 11:23 pm

  For 2 weeks I was shopping for a crossover for my sales job. I travel by car every day, weeks on end and I wanted a crossover to carry my samples,etc. I was drooling over the Subaru Outback Premium w/All Weather pkg for those 2 weeks but I compared other cars. (Ford Edge, Mazda CX-7, Honda CR-V). My husband pointed out the Rogue on Edmunds and I went to see it the next day. I loved it, the price, the ergonomics and the overall "feel" of this vehicle. I purchased it the day after the test drive. So far I just LOVE this car and esp LOVE the price/value of it! I look forward to the many road trips ahead. I put 400 miles on the car the first week I owned it and I enjoyed every mile!

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  Little Bit of Everything - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By Mr. T - February 19 - 6:46 am

  Was looking and test riding CRVs and RAV 4s. Stumbled upon the Rougue and found it to be every bit as good as a CRV which I previously owned and better than the Toyota. Toyota and Honda would not deal but Nissan came down $6K off the list last August and that clinched the deal. About 12Km now and no complaints other than gas mileage not quite as good as I expected it to be. Its versatile and fund to drive both in the city and on the highway. Always admired the looks of the Merano, this shares many of those good looks and makes RAV 4 and CRV look dated.

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  Excellent and fun to drive! - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Hawks Rogue - February 18 - 1:46 pm

  The Rogue is a very fun to drive crossover SUV. Bose system. Smooth and refined. Good handling. Strong brakes. Swift 4 cylinder, the Rogue is faster than all 4cyl SUVs. Good fuel economy. Excellent build quality. Decent quality interior. Fat steering wheel with controls. Over 15,000 miles and absolutely no issues. Quiet. Its so smooth running, almost mimicking an electric motor.

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  Best Car in its Class - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By Vijay Yadlapati - January 30 - 3:00 pm

  After doing extensive research before I decided to purchase the Rogue, I found that the Rogue costs less, has more room, has a better engine, looks better, and has better fuel economy than other cars in its class such as the Honda CRV. After test driving both cars, it was very clear to me that the Rogue was much more superior than the CRV in almost every category you can think of. I am very happy with my purchase!

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  I love my Rogue - 2009 Nissan Rogue
  By Jennifer - January 19 - 10:13 am

  I love my Rogue so much. I waited for a year until my lease was up to get this vehicle. It is my first SUV and I could not be happier. I got all the features that I wanted from the Wicked Black paint to the Leather seats and AWD. It makes me happy every time I get into it and take off down the road.

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  Good little Truck! - 2010 Nissan Rogue
  By SwimmerMan - January 9 - 12:03 pm

  Found this truck/crossover by accident when I walked out of a Jeep dealership in disgust (with their salespeople & products). Never even heard of a Rogue before. Drive it and it felt more solid than a CRV & Forester. The engine is refined and Nissan tweaked the trans in case of any issue. no problems with 15,000 miles on it. It is GREAT in the snow and great in bad conditions such as rain. Great gas mileage 30 highway average (on par smaller cars: Suzuki & Toyota Matrix). The small hatch is the sacrifice for the good gas mileage but the seats fold down. The car makes me feel confident on the road. It does not feel light weight and with 5 star crash ratings. The interior is well laid out.

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  Search Is Over - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By RogueBeliever - December 24 - 3:33 am

  Got the Gotham Gray with the premium package, splash guard, carpet. Love the ride, great brakes, comfortable seats and sounds! it definitely rocks. Paddle shifter is pretty cool too, adds zest to your driving. showed it to a couple of friends and thought it was an Infinity suv. They also loved the interior quality... luxurious at its class. Really happy with this purchase!

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  Rogue - great small SUV choice - 2008 Nissan Rogue
  By srauhala - December 20 - 5:36 pm

  I have owned a 08 Rogue AWD SL w/ premium,leather, & moonroof for about 3 weeks now and I love it. Traded my 03 Ed B. Explorer to get something with better mpg. I have been getting around 27-29 mpg in mixed driving. My Explorer I was getting 19 mpg max. Love the "solid" feel, smooth CVT, smart key, Xenon headlights, Bose stereo, trunk organizer, interior quality is better than my Ford It can be hard to see out the back but it isnt too bad once you get used to it. I tilt the large side mirrors out a little further than I would have in the Explorer and it seems to work well. Reverse sensors would be nice though. Overall, very pleased. Great value for what you get