For the latest Nissan Rogue pricing and information:
https://www.kbb.com/nissan/rogue/

Is the 2021 Nissan Rogue a competitive compact SUV? From an interior usability perspective, the answer is yes. Here’s all 5’ 10” of me seated comfortably behind my preferred from seat position. Beyond plentiful space, the rear seats offer two recline positions, standard rear vents (you’re welcome children), and impeccable accessibility via wide-opening doors.

Further back there’s a luggage hold with up to 36.5 cu-ft of space, that can be partitioned using the available Divide-N-Hide cargo system. Plus, there are convenient seat releases that easily expand the Rogue’s cargo hold to a healthy 74.1 cu-ft. Back up front, a new electronic gear selector has opened up space below the center console for small items and the central storage area can be accessed through this handy split door.

In classic Blue Book fashion, we’re driving the most elite Platinum trim. Inside that mean diamond-quilted leather seats, real stitching, and heated 2nd-row seats. It looks and feels swanky but even sans Platinum Trim trappings, this would be a big step up in refinement versus the previous Rogue.

As for the exterior, we find crisp body lines, a wide range of paint choices include some two-tone combos, and striking thin pseudo headlight (the real ones are down here). It’s a visual statement I like but according to a non-scientific poll on my Instagram, not everyone agrees. How do you feel?

Here’s a long exterior shot so you can confront your aesthetic emotions. Pause. Pause. Ok, so how does this thing drive? Very well actually. Ride quality is excellent, outward visibility is mostly unimpeded, the cabin remains quiet at freeway speeds, and there are a range of drive modes to customize vehicle behavior. I’m personally not dazzled by the steering feel, especially on-center but for normal commuting, the Rogue turns just fine. And the brake pedal feels good.

As for power, the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (181hp, and 181 lb-ft) delivers ample thrust and competitive fuel economy (up to 27city/35hwy FWD). Front-wheel drive is standard, but you can add all-wheel drive for a reasonable $1,400.

This is the part where I note that the Nissan Rogue uses a continuously variable transmission. Car reviewers, myself included, generally hate CVTs for their surging, wailing power delivery. The latest Rogue exhibits those exact behaviors but really only when you’re driving at full throttle…like I’m doing now. If you drive like a normal human being, power delivery is perfectly acceptable.

In short, if you accelerate calmly and don’t get paid to complain about cars, the Nissan Rogue should deliver a pleasing driving experience. Speaking of pleasing experiences, the 2nd-generation Rogue’s painfully dated infotainment interface has been replaced by standard 8-inch and optional 9-inch displays. Let’s see, modern graphics, quick reactions, plus standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus, the 9-inch unit features Wireless Apple CarPlay, which pairs well with the Platinum’s wireless phone charging pad. Nearby you’ll find two standard USB ports, one USB-A and one USB-C.

The base price for a Rogue S trim starts below $27,000 including destination charges and features like Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, and rear parking sensors.

If it were me, I’d upgrade to at least the SV trim, which adds smart key access, a vivid 360-degree camera system, and a power driver’s seat.

Other nifty options include a motion-activated liftgate, 3-zone climate control, a front seat central side-impact airbag, this 12-inch digital gauge cluster, and ProPilot Assist, a system can manage the accelerator, brakes, and steering at all speeds on the freeway.

At slower speeds, I’ve noticed laggardly steering behavior around corners but for freeway driving, ProPilot assist works well. And when paired with the 9-inch infotainment unit, it incorporates navigation data to proactively adjust the Rogue’s speed for curves ahead.

Among the competition the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Escape are standouts. Though there are many, many to choose from (Subaru Forester, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, Jeep Cherokee, Chevy Equinox). Nonetheless, the latest Nissan Rogue is well-positioned to claim its share of the Compact SUV pie.

00:00 Nissan Rogue
0:18 Interior
1:26 Exterior
1:52 Driving
2:22 Engine
3:12 Infotainment
3:34 Price & Features
4:44 Competitors