Road test | Nissan Rogue: a three-stroke waltz

The Nissan Rogue is by far the most popular Nissan family vehicle in Canada. The compact SUV, which also operates in a highly competitive segment due to the great homogeneity of contenders, is therefore a centerpiece of the Japanese automaker’s framework. He now wants to stand out where no one really looks when buying this type of vehicle: under its hood.

Design

Entirely renewed for the 2021 model year, the Rogue has offered itself a body that is altogether consensual. The front end features the unmistakable V-shaped grille that Nissan has been using all over the place for many years. The lighting presents itself in a deconstructed way, a bit like the last generation Jeep Cherokee before its remodeling. The flanks use a bit of texture at the bottoms of the body to present a more original look and probably more “beefy” visually by having concave door bottoms. The rear takes care to hide the exhaust by means of a false protective shield which is essentially an extension of the bumper. Note that accessibility to the passenger compartment and trunk is flawless due to very decent ground clearance, an asset often sought after for a family vehicle of this type.

On board

Inside, this Rogue reminds us of the beautiful evolution of Nissan in the assembly of its interiors. The Platinum livery greets us with sleek, well-trimmed quilted seats that are padded for comfort over long distances. We then put our hands on the various soft-textured surfaces scattered all over the dashboard. Failing to be visually daring, the latter displays great attention to ergonomics. Tangible keys are arranged in a logical way to thumb their noses at some manufacturers who swear by touch. The practical aspect is ensured by a large rear locker which exceeds 1000 L in volume. The cabin as a whole is also very spacious. For taller passengers, rear headroom is a bit tight with the panoramic roof, however.

Under the hood

Nissan has integrated a turbocharged 1.5L three-cylinder into its proposal to support the naturally aspirated 2.5L four-cylinder. This new mechanism incorporates a variable compression ratio to support its flexibility and reduce its fuel consumption, promises Nissan. On paper, its 201 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque are undeniably competitive, but behind the wheel, it’s its inert appearance that is exposed when you press the accelerator from a standstill, a likely consequence of the low power. produced by the three-cylinder before the intervention of the turbo. The times are more convincing thanks to a rather well-tuned CVT box that simulates gear changes with relative softness. Consumption was acceptable, nothing more, with an average that hardly takes off from 8.5 L/100 km. This engine nevertheless has the advantage of containing the decibels well and of transmitting very little vibration to the passenger compartment.

Behind the wheel

The handling of this Rogue stays within the ranks. The compact SUV offers faultless highway handling, as well as soundproofing, which ranks among the best in the arena. The steering, unsurprisingly well isolated from the front axle, offers a rather pleasant degree of precision. The platform seems rigid and the damping is adjusted to reduce as much as possible the roughness of the surfaces on which we drive. The all-wheel drive, standard on four of the five liveries, is for its part guided by the front axle to then transmit the torque to the rear in a predictable manner. There is therefore nothing really tasty in the recipe, but it has the merit of having the expected rendering of this kind of vehicle.

Embedded technologies

The Rogue has the essential arsenal to ensure good competition. The touch screen placed high enough guides us through the multimedia interface with consistency. This system is intelligible, regardless of whether or not you have already interacted with recent Nissan products. You can also get wireless Apple CarPlay only in the Platinum version, as can the digital instrumentation, which has good definition and a good level of adjustment. A projection on the windshield completes the visual trio of the cabin. As far as active safety is concerned, this Rogue can be enhanced with active cruise control from the mid-range SV livery, as can semi-autonomous driving. This cruise control offers acceptable performance and can be a little overactive in certain contexts by correcting the trajectory for no apparent reason.

The verdict

The Nissan Rogue is one of those vehicles that is particularly difficult to analyze. Without establishing a clear identity, the SUV shines precisely by its predictability, which many want when buying this type of vehicle. In this sense, it is positioned very close to the Toyota RAV4, without however having the mechanical arguments that the Japanese competitor advances. The three-cylinder turbo seems more or less relevant, adding a layer of mechanical complexity without spreading a noticeable gain in terms of flexibility. Like its platform cousin, the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Rogue would greatly benefit from equipping itself with a hybrid engine, without necessarily being plug-in. This would make this model even more competitive, since almost all the other ingredients are there for a great success.