Nissan Rogue: First Drive Review 2014

In the world of compact crossovers, it can be very hard to stand out. The equation is simple: Use a car-based chassis, add ground clearance and put a 150- to 180-horsepower 4-cylinder under the hood. In detail, the segment is so similar that numerous compact crossovers are even beginning to gaze the identical.

But the freshly redesigned 2014 Nissan Rogue manages to stand out from the load -- an impressive feat, contemplating it mostly twigs to the established equation. We recently got behind the wheel of the latest Rogue to find out precisely how it groups itself apart from its rivals.

Follows the equation

Before we cover the Rogue's standout features, it's important to realise the freshly redesigned SUV still encompasses everything you'd anticipate from a compact crossover. That means there's a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder motor that makes 170 hp, a fuel-saving CVT automatic transmission, a big going by car place and a long list of characteristics -- both for convenience and safety. There's furthermore a alalallotmentmentment of high-tech gadgetry, which is becoming a hallmark in up to date Nissan forms.

It's furthermore significant to realise the latest Rogue has almost not anything in widespread with the vintage one, which will live on for the 2014 form year as the budget-priced Rogue choose. To us, the outgoing Rogue was in dire need of some changes, be obliged to a loud, cramped central and low-rent components. If you traversed off the old Rogue from your shopping list for any of those reasons, we realise. But we think the new one is worth a second gaze.

appearing from the load

So just how does the newest Rogue organise to differentiate itself from the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford get away and other compact crossovers?

Let's start with the most conspicuous area: seating. The Rogue boasts a third row, which means it can chair seven inhabitants. Since the RAV4 ditched its third strip for 2013, the Rogue is now the only compact crossover with seven chairs. That's big report for shoppers who desire three rows without the size -- or the cost -- of a midsize SUV. Plus, the Rogue's third row is really amazingly snug, though cargo room is minimal when it's in place.

central accolades don't stop there. We're not certain how much owners will use it, but the Rogue has a unique Divide-N-Hide cargo scheme that permits drivers distinct pieces in the cargo locality. It's more considerable and functional than the nets and artificial dividers in rival forms.

Materials are also excellent. While the Rogue is no high-end luxury vehicle, we think its cabin is an improvement over almost all its competitors. There's an plenty of padded exterior and in a nice way textured plastics, and section breaches in the Rogue are noticeably lesser than gaps in competitor forms. That's a departure for Nissan, which often cuts charges in material value in order to load its vehicles full of must-have characteristics.
expertise trip
But Nissan hasn't cut any characteristics from the Rogue. On the contrary, we're influenced by the crossover's gear.

amidst our very popular gadgets is Nissan's accessible round View Monitor. This system stitches simultaneously images from four exterior cameras to provide top-down footage showing all angles out-of-doors the vehicle -- large for parking and backing up. Better yet, it's now accessible with a feature called going Object Detection, which sounds a chime if there's action out-of-doors the vehicle when turning around. employed together, the two systems competently eliminate the hazard of a tragic back-over accident.

Of course, the Rogue has lots of other high-tech characteristics, as well -- just like numerous up to date vehicles and SUVs. Think unseeing location alert, roadway departure alert and forward collision alert, amidst other ones. There's furthermore an LCD computer display in the measure cluster and the NissanConnect infotainment system, which offers app integration and hands-free text messaging. We found the system slightly clunky and the computer display a little small, though we accept drivers who spend more time with it may have better outcomes.

Not rather flawless

It's very simple to state the newest Nissan Rogue is in the running for our very popular compact crossover, but that doesn't signify it's perfect. In an effort to achieve class-leading gas mileage, Nissan has dulled its presentation a little too much for our tastes. We believe the Rogue would be well-served with a more muscular motor choice, similarly to the Ford get away and Kia Sportage.

We furthermore believe the Rogue is still a little loud -- particularly at high rpms -- thanks to the droning approaching from its CVT. And we believe the styling is a little on the bland edge.

Still, the 2014 Nissan Rogue makes a convincing case in a segment where few vehicles organise to stand out from the load. It may not be as well-known as the RAV4, CR-V or get away, but the newest Rogue merits a location on your compact-crossover buying list.