Best Used Luxury Car 2013: The Car Connection's Picks
Luxury cars offer a little more—of what matters to nearly everyone but the most dedicated... Read More
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Around The Web
building speed for a seamless merge into highway traffic is a sweat-inducing, triple-check-of-the-blind-spot endeavor
the Rogue gets up to speed fairly quickly, though there is an initial lag from the CVT when you press down on the gas pedal
offers good low-end torque for low-speed city driving
a decent-to-marginal performer in high-speed highway traffic
rough, teeth-jittering ride, though, got us wishing for a softer sprung suspension -- or at least some cushier rubber and squishier seats
PERFORMANCE | 6 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
building speed for a seamless merge into highway traffic is a sweat-inducing, triple-check-of-the-blind-spot endeavor
Motor Trend
the Rogue gets up to speed fairly quickly, though there is an initial lag from the CVT when you press down on the gas pedal
AutoWeek
offers good low-end torque for low-speed city driving
CNET
a decent-to-marginal performer in high-speed highway traffic
Boston Globe
rough, teeth-jittering ride, though, got us wishing for a softer sprung suspension -- or at least some cushier rubber and squishier seats
Motor Trend
Based on a car architecture and designed with urban driving in mind, the Nissan Rogue feels maneuverable and smart in those surroundings. On the highway, it's slower and less satisfying.
All Rogues have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower. Acceleration is mediocre, and Nissan estimates it will take the Rogue about nine seconds to reach 60 mph from a stop. That's acceptable in the crossover segment, but the Rogue also has a somewhat unconventional transmission--a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, which uses pulleys and belts instead of fixed gears to transmit power to the front (or all four) wheels. CVTs tend to have a rubber-band effect, and feel slow and imprecise to react. The Rogue's CVT is one of the best we've tried, and has paddle shift controls that move the transmission to set points that simulate automatic-transmission gears--but it's still a less satisfying way to go, and tends to amplify engine noise, too.
The Rogue can be fitted with front- or all-wheel drive. It's not intended for strenuous off-road use--it's configured for traction in deep snow or mud, where it can send more power, quite delicately, to the rear wheels.The Rogue maneuvers well, with a quick, almost nimble feel at low speed thanks to the responsive electric power steering system, but at higher speeds it becomes abundantly clear this vehicle is tuned more for ride than handling.
Conclusion
Friendly handling makes the Nissan Rogue a good choice for small families; the CVT's a weak spot, though it's among the best of that kind.
