Are Nissan Rogues Good Cars?
Nissan Rogue by Gold Pony - CC-BY-SA-4.0
Compact crossover SUVs are some of the hottest vehicles in the market, making it one of the most hyper-competitive segments in the automotive industry. Crossovers are in demand due to their well-rounded nature, offering an attractive balance of comfort, efficiency, safety, and style that appeals to a wide range of consumers. Because of this, most car manufacturers have made their spin on crossovers, so it’s inevitable that we now have samey options.
If you want to stand out in this segment, you’ll have to cover all bases and do it right. It’s safe to say it has been accomplished by one of the best-selling compact SUVs: the Nissan Rogue.
The Nissan Rogue is a popular compact crossover that ticks all the right boxes. Fuel efficiency? Check. Balanced driving dynamics? Check. Loads of passenger and cargo space? Yup. Excellent value proposition? Absolutely!
Many buyers often raise the question: “Are Nissan Rogues Good Cars?” To answer this, we must delve into various aspects of the vehicle, including its overall performance, reliability, safety features, interior and technology integration, fuel efficiency, and more.
Engine, Performance, and Fuel Economy
If you’re looking for an SUV with a healthy selection of engine options, the Nissan Rogue is not for you. In most iterations of the Rogue, you only have a single engine option, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
For instance, the 2023 Nissan Rogue has only one engine option: a 1.5L DOHC 3-cylinder turbocharged engine. The engine has a Variable Compression Turbo (VC-Turbo) that delivers 201 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque, with available all-wheel drive. Thankfully, the engine is designed to balance performance and efficiency, making the Rogue suitable for city drives and long-distance travel.
However, customers and critics alike have panned the four-cylinder engine and CVT combo for being underpowered and noisy. The CVT, in particular, is a prominent sore spot for issues like loud engine noise and sluggish performance. Many folks were also not too thrilled with the Rogue’s weak’s engine, especially with the previous generation.
Fortunately, the Rogue knocks it out of the park regarding fuel efficiency. The engine provides an impressive fuel economy with up to 30 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. However, many owners have struggled to match the estimated fuel efficiency despite respectable EPA mileage ratings. Real-world mileage testing has shown disappointing results, with some owners reporting as low as 24 mpg on average.
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Interior and Tech Features
The Nissan Rogue’s back seat is positively described as “relatively spacious,” capable of accommodating two car seats and a small person in the middle. This highlights the vehicle’s ability to cater to family needs, particularly for those with young children.
In addition, the Rogue was also praised for being road trip-friendly. Thanks to seat comfort, which is highly praised, many owners are raving about the supportive chairs that allow for long, comfortable drives. The front-row space is also generous, providing ample legroom and headroom for tall drivers. However, it’s worth noting that rival compact SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester are just as, if not more spacious.
The Rogue is also commended for its impressively adequate storage space. Most notably, the Divide-N-Hide cargo storage system is a hit among many owners, providing multiple configurations of storage and shelving in the cargo area. The hands-free power liftgate and 40/20/40-split folding back seats also add versatility.
The 2023 Rogue is also tech-loaded and features a standard 8-inch touchscreen that, while not having the crispiest display, is mainly easy to use. The system offers physical buttons and knobs, which is always a plus for many people. Standard infotainment features include wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a four-speaker stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and two USB ports.
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Safety Features and Ratings
If you want a safe family SUV with plenty of standard and available safety and driver assistance features, it’s hard to go wrong with the Nissan Rogue. Below is a quick breakdown of some of the 2023 Rogue’s standard and available safety tech:
- Forward Collision Warning: Warns the driver of a potential collision with a vehicle or object in front.
- Forward Automatic Emergency Braking: Automatically applies the brakes if a collision is imminent and the driver doesn’t respond.
- Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection: Detects pedestrians and cyclists and warns the driver, potentially applying brakes if needed.
- Blind-Spot Monitoring: Alerts the driver to vehicles in the blind spots on either side of the car.
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: Gives a warning of approaching vehicles when backing out of parking lots.
- Lane-Departure Warning: Notifies the driver if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane.
- Adaptive Cruise Control: Automatically adjusts the vehicle’s speed to maintain a safe distance from the car in front.
- Lane-Keep Assist: Helps the driver keep the vehicle within its lane by providing gentle steering assistance.
- ProPilot Assist (for highway driving): Combines adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping to assist with highway driving.
The Rogue’s robust safety ratings make it a compelling choice, as different models have received strong scores from reputable vehicle safety organizations such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). For example, the 2023 Rogue has earned the distinction of being an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
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Long-Term Reliability and Best/Worst Years
RepairPal has rated the Rogue with a 4.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating. However, some early Rogue model years are best avoided due to severe mechanical and electrical issues. This was mainly due to Rogue’s problematic transmission system, eventually leading to a class-action lawsuit.
The Nissan Rogues from recent years, specifically the 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021 models, have garnered very few complaints and strong reliability reviews. On the other hand, we advise potential buyers to steer clear of Rogues manufactured between 2008 to 2016 and the 2018 model if you can help it.
Final Verdict: Are Nissan Rogues Good Cars?
Are Nissan Rogue good cars? Yes. Its popularity is no fluke because it is a well-rounded crossover SUV that delivers on all fronts – interior space, stylish exterior, balanced performance, strong safety scores, you name it. Interestingly, MotorTrend named the Rogue as the best compact and crossover SUV in 2023. Avoid the years we mentioned above, and you should be fine.
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