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2008 Nissan Rogue Photo

2008 Nissan Rogue - Review

MSRP: $19,430 - $22,170 See Local Classifieds
 
Bottom Line
With the 2009 Nissan Rogue, the crossover market gets another right-sized entry that’s just a little tighter inside than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
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The Basics:

Editors at TheCarConnection.com read the most respected reviews from around the Web to write this comprehensive review on the 2008 Nissan Rogue. TheCarConnection.com’s editors also drove the new Rogue, to be able to provide more details and their own opinions in cases where other reviews on the Web had conflicting views.

The 2008 Nissan Rogue is the Japanese automaker’s first attempt at a small crossover along the lines of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and it’s largely a success. Based on Nissan’s Sentra sedan, the Rogue wears a tall body styled like the company’s larger Murano crossover, and provides seats for five, though four adults will be about the maximum you’ll transport in its compact body.

The Rogue has a sole engine and transmission combination: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and a continuously variable transmission. The unconvetional transmission uses pulleys and a belt to simulate gear ratios--and Nissan outfits some Rogues with paddles for shifting that mimics an automatic’s five or six gears. It works well enough, but CVTs are less familiar than the usual manual or automatic gearboxes.

The 2008 Nissan Rogue offers a flexible cargo area with easy-folding second-row seats and a strong list of features, including a nifty cargo organizer. All-wheel drive is an option, as is satellite radio, but no navigation system can be ordered.

Likes:

  • Looks like the larger Nissan Murano
  • Well-balanced ride and handling
  • Attention to fit and finish
  • Clever cargo organizer

Dislikes:

  • Middling acceleration
  • CVT isn’t familiar to many consumers
  • Rear visibility suffers from styling
  • Rear-seat room can be tight for adults

Specs: Select a Trim

FWD (4) MSRP Invoice MPG City MPG Hwy
FWD 4dr S Specs $19,430 $18,526 22 27
FWD 4dr S w/CA Emissions Specs $19,430 $18,526 22 27
FWD 4dr SL Specs $20,970 $19,533 22 27
FWD 4dr SL w/CA Emissions Specs $20,970 $19,533 22 27
AWD (4) MSRP Invoice MPG City MPG Hwy
AWD 4dr S Specs $20,750 $19,782 21 26
AWD 4dr S w/CA Emissions Specs $20,750 $19,782 21 26
AWD 4dr SL Specs $22,170 $20,669 21 26
AWD 4dr SL w/CA Emissions Specs $22,170 $20,669 21 26

Other Choices

More Info

Why should I also consider these? X

The Honda CR-V is the class sales leader; it has great interior room, a controversial new nose, and only a four-cylinder engine.

The Toyota RAV4 offers a third-row seating option as well as a V-6 engine, along with the base four-cylinder.

Ford’s Escape and Saturn’s Vue both come in Hybrid models, and both were significantly redesigned in the 2008 model year.

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