Chevrolet NewsFord NewsGMC NewsHonda NewsHyundai NewsJeep NewsKia NewsMazda NewsMitsubishi NewsNewsNissan NewsSubaru NewsToyota NewsVolkswagen News

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.

Contents

Design


PHOTO PROVIDED BY NISSAN

The flanks of the 2023 Nissan Rogue use a bit of texture at the rocker panels to present a more original look and probably more visually “beefy”.

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


PHOTO PROVIDED BY NISSAN

The interior of the 2023 Nissan Rogue

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


PHOTO PROVIDED BY NISSAN

The Nissan Rogue’s three-cylinder produces 20 more hp and 44 lb-ft more than the 2.5L four-cylinder offered only in base S trim.

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


PHOTO PROVIDED BY NISSAN

The 2023 Nissan Rogue offers flawless highway handling, as well as soundproofing, which ranks among the best in the arena.

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


PHOTO PROVIDED BY NISSAN

Although presenting a lower image definition than some rivals, the Rogue’s multimedia system shines with its intuitiveness.

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 windscreen 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


PHOTO PROVIDED BY NISSAN

Like its platform cousin, the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Rogue would greatly benefit from equipping itself with a hybrid engine.

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.

NOTEBOOK

Unprecedented technology

Rogue’s three-cylinder variable compression ratio is segment-first technology. To sum up succinctly, an arm makes it possible to adjust the stroke of the piston or to reduce it on request. Thus, the compression ratio can increase for better consumption or decrease to promote power.

Increase cargo space in a jiffy

Like many SUVs, the Rogue offers the possibility of folding the rear seatbacks from the trunk. This element is curiously offered only in Platinum livery.

Ingenious storage

As a good family vehicle, the Rogue has ingenious storage, including one under the armrest, which is accessed 50:50, as well as another under the center console, which is fully open for storing objects. .

The overpriced Platinum version

Although attractive for various details, the Platinum package, which reaches $45,000, is arguably overpriced. The SV version is arguably the most balanced of them all for $7000 less.

Not made for towing

Like many compact SUVs, the Rogue isn’t really made for towing, as evidenced by its limited towing capacity of a measly 680 kg.

TECHNICAL SHEET

  • Model tested: 2023 Nissan Rogue Platinum
  • Engine: 1.5L L3 DOHC Turbocharged Variable Compression Ratio
  • Power: 201 hp at 5600 rpm
  • Torque: 225 hp from 2800 to 4800 rpm
  • Transmission: Continuously Variable (CVT) with manual mode
  • Engine architecture: transverse front engine, all-wheel drive
  • Consumption (EnerGuide): 7.6/100 km
  • Price (with options, transport and preparation): $45,283 (price range between $32,583 and $45,283)
  • Competitors: Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, GMC Terrain, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Cherokee, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan
  • New in 2023? No major changes

See also:   Toyota Corolla Cross: The triumph of the reasonable
Back to top button

Adblock Detected

Please disable your ad blocker to be able to see the content of the page. For an independent site with free content, it is literally a matter of life and death to have ads. Thank you for your understanding!