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“Why do so many people buy the Nissan Rogue?” It’s something we ponder and regret every time we see it on the top 10 best-selling car list. We are not alone. Maybe it’s because its style, size, and interior quality made a good first impression at a dealership, but the more I drove it, the worse it got. “Dreary” is a word that comes to mind. With the new 2021 Rogue, Nissan aims to change history, and after a couple of hours of driving it on a cold fall day in Michigan, we believe Nissan has done exactly that.
But first, to add a proper perspective, let’s go back to its predecessor. The address was a disaster; the heavy handling and the hardly special ride; Its buzzing continuously variable transmission was unresponsive, and the annoying engine hum was woefully underpowered even in a segment where power is a low priority. Nissan responded with a clean sheet redesign backed by an all-new platform not currently shared with other Nissan. It uses more aluminum and ultra-strong steel than the previous model, helping to reduce weight and increase chassis rigidity.
The engine is still a total bore, but it’s better. Shared with the Altima, the 2.5-liter inline four has about 80% new parts compared to the previous engine. It makes 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, increases of 11 and 6, respectively, bringing the Rogue closer to the segment average. Nissan pairs it with the same CVT as before, but it’s playing a new tune. Its improved software makes the Rogue react faster to pedal push, but acceleration is still painfully slow. Noise from the engine compartment to the cab is lower, making full-throttle applications and smooth city driving easier on the ears. If the wind noise were reduced a bit more, it would be an even more premium unit.
Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional as before. If you opt for the all-wheel drive model, you get a mode dial with five modes (front-wheel drive models have three modes). The all-wheel-drive system itself is updated this year, as it now employs predictive software that will send power to the rear wheels even before the front wheels start to spin. You can prepare it for certain conditions by switching to Standard, Snow, Sport, Off-road, or Eco.
Styling was possibly one of the old Rogue’s strong points, but the new one enhances it in any way with a look that tries to be premium, adventurous, and tech at the same time. The shape is squarer and sharper-edged than the fluid, rounded Rogue it’s replacing. Bold shapes and lighting elements dominate his face. He appears to be less busy in person than the photos appear to represent, although the slim LED lights at the height of the hood never stop squinting at us.
Interestingly, the Rogue actually shrunk a bit for 2021. Specifically, it’s 1.5 inches shorter in length and 0.2 inches shorter in height. However, the previous model was quite large for its segment and, thankfully, interior space and utility do not suffer as a result. Quite the opposite. Rear seat legroom is increased by half an inch and the rear doors open wider (nearly 90 degrees) to make it easier to get in and out of child seats (not to mention the children themselves).
Maximum cargo capacity (second row drop) also increases by 4.1 cubic feet to 74.1, a number that is just behind the Honda CR-V in its class. The space behind the raised second row is reduced by a symbolic amount, but at least it still has the innovative and useful “Divide-N-Hide” cargo floor that creates a multi-level cargo area with two separate floor panels that they can be placed in various positions. A new gallon of milk container behind the wheels is built into the cargo area floor, so now your gallon of milk or whatever won’t wipe out the rest of your groceries on the way back from the store.
Without a doubt, the most impressive element of the new Rogue is its interior, which ranks among the best in its class in both design and quality. We only got to try the top Platinum finish, but even the lower-tier rogues seem to be nice enough for their price. Various combinations of two-tone interiors are offered. Open-pored “wood” is fake but visually convincing. Platinum is adorned with contrast stitching on the doors, dash and seats, which are trimmed in semi-aniline leather and feature Nissan’s incredibly comfortable “Zero Gravity” seat design front and rear. The driver’s seat also gets some extra adjustment travel, which should be good news for taller drivers who might have had trouble getting comfortable in the old Rogue.
The updated dash and center console have been updated for the rapidly changing times with a nice combination of digital displays and physical controls. The Platinum version has a central 9-inch touchscreen, but the rest of the versions settle for a fully competitive 8-inch screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but the 9-inch display has wireless CarPlay capability (but not wireless Android Auto). The lower grades have an analog instrument panel with a 7-inch screen in the center, but the Platinum trim comes with a 12.3-inch all-digital panel that is easy to read and moves through the various screens and menus. quickly through the buttons on the steering wheel. A large front display screen also comes paired with the fully digital instrument panel.
However, a technological innovation that we don’t need is another reinvention of the gear selector. We call it the “gear disc” because it is roughly the same size as one and slides back and forth. It’s also just technology for the sake of technology. You press a little cheap-feeling button on the side and slide it back past two detents to enter Drive, forward to go to Reverse, and somewhere in the middle for Neutral. There is a clearly labeled button at the top for Park. It’s fairly easy to learn and similar to those used by other brands, but it takes up as much space in the center console as a more intuitive shifter would. The biggest benefit is its short stature, which makes it easy to access the wireless charging pad / phone tray.
However, we are generally satisfied with the rest of the technology that Nissan offers in the new Rogue. It is the only compact crossover to offer three-zone climate control for separate front and rear temperature settings. There is a USB port (mix of A and C) for everyone in the car. A panoramic moonroof is available as an option. Plus, the Rogue is the first Nissan to get the latest version of ProPilot Assist. Nissan says it has smoother braking, better lane marker detection, and is better at staying centered in the lane. This year’s X factor is Nissan’s Navi-link technology. Use accurate navigation maps that will automatically slow you down for highway junctions, exits, or sharp turns. We noticed that it reduced our speed to 2-3 mph on tighter freeway curves, but the most useful aspect of this technology is being able to keep it on even while changing freeways. We’ll need more time to fully assess its smoothness, but the braking and lane-centering movements it exhibited on our hour-long road trip were top-notch.
You won’t pay much more for the 2021 Rogue, as the S base price only goes up from $ 160 to $ 26,745. The peak of the lineup is the Platinum, which costs $ 36,525. All-wheel drive adds $ 1,400 to any version (S, SV, SL, and Platinum). This puts the Rogue right at the center of the competition when it comes to pricing.
The improved driving dynamics is a huge win, and the interior styling in its pricier trims helps it stand out. However, almost every entry in this segment is very good for a small family vehicle. The new Rogue isn’t good enough to climb to the top of the heap, but it’s much closer than before. The top 10 sales seem destined to continue, and this time, their success will be much easier to understand.
