2022 Nissan Rogue is more competitive than ever.
When the new generation Rogue released last year, it was a big surprise for the whole industry. Nissan not only released a new platform, but it also represents the new brand image, new face, new logo and new era for the brand.
Though it is the second year of the platform, Nissan keeps updating and refining the Rogue to make it more competitive, more so that it became the premium entry in a non-premium compact crossover segment.
Exterior and Interior
In a segment where almost all entries look dull and boring, Nissan took a different approach and designed something unique. Front fascia may not win any beauty contest, but at least it looks quite unique with the two piece headlight design and big grille with chrome edges around it.
From the side profile, it is one of the bigger entries in the compact crossover segment, and significantly bigger than the previous generation. Rear doors have a very wide opening, which is a great feature if you have a child seat.
Rear design looks very upscale because of few important details. First of all, Nissan moved the Rogue lettering to the middle with the big fonts, like premium entries. There is also aluminum looking plastic diffuser which also looks like a belly pan for more rugged and upscale looks.
2022 Nissan Rogue’s interior is such a huge step up compared to the previous generation, which it felt more like it belongs to the rental fleet. This time, it’s completely different league, as it is one of the most refined interiors in the non-premium crossover segment.
There are few important details that makes the interior different than other non-premium entries. First, they used minimal amount of glossy blacks, and used textured plastics which looks better and easier to maintain in the long term.
It’s not only the material choice, but Nissan did a great job placing right materials in the right places. The dashboard is wrapped with leather with wood trims. Top trim also comes with black/brown leather combination and as a result the interior feels more expensive than what it actually is.
The new Rogue is one of the better entries in terms of rear legroom and headroom space. The seat in the middle is good for mid-sized adult, but 3 adults can sit in the back quite comfortably. You can also place child seat in the middle which is quite convenient feature for families.
In the trunk, you see one of Rogue’s signature features that no one else is offering, and that’s called Divide-N-Hide system. With the new generation, you no longer can put the divider to the top, but it is still very useful feature to keep your cargo in their place securely.
2022 Rogue’s trunk space is above average with 36.5 cu.ft. (1033 L) of cargo space behind the second row seats, and 74.1 cu.ft. of cargo space if you fold them down. The top trim also comes with power tailgate, and you can lock the car from the tailgate as well.
Engine and Drivetrain
Compared to 2021 model year, the drivetrain is probably the biggest change as most trims no longer come with the base 2.5L naturally aspirated engine that we reviewed last year. The new Rogue comes with the 1.5 liter turbocharged engine that produces 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque.
The new 1.5 turbo engine has unique features worth mentioning. Unlike all entries, it’s a 3 cylinder engine. Having 1 less cylinder means less weight, and 3 cylinders are known as very torquey and it sounds very similar to the V6 engine, which means it sounds better than traditional inline-4.
Second unique feature is that it comes with Variable Compression Ratio which gets better fuel economy. It adds complexity as compression ratio can be changed from 8:1 for high load, and 14:1 for low load. Nissan has variable compression technology used in other Infiniti models, but this is totally new in this segment.
What’s not unique about the Rogue is the Xtronic CVT, which is the only transmission option with the new Rogue. For most enthusiasts, it is not the optimal choice, but with the combination of turbo engine, it offers quite seamless and smooth driving experience with a lot of torque and class leading fuel economy numbers.
2022 Nissan Rogue comes standard with the Front Wheel Drive option, but only with the base trim. AWD comes standard with all other trims, including our tester which is the top Platinum trim. You can choose different terrain modes for optimal AWD performance, but it is a software based AWD system that sends power to the rear wheels on-demand.
Driving Impressions and Features
As soon as you get behind the steering wheel, you realize the new Rogue is a purpose built compact crossover. It does not pretend to be something else, and primarily focuses on practicality and comfort.
Speaking of comfort, the suspension tune is one of the softest in its segment. As a result, you get a lot of body roll at the limit, but that really doesn’t matter for a typical crossover buyer. Like some other entries, it does not pretend to be a corner carver, and that’s what I like about the new Rogue.
Comfort is not only about the suspension tune, but also seat comfort is extremely important for families, and especially if you drive long distances. 2022 Nissan Rogue comes with Zero Gravity seats which allows you to take on a neutral spinal posture for additional comfort.
It is not just for the front seats, but there are comfort features for the rear seat passengers. It comes with 3-zone climate control as well as heated rear seats and USB ports for charging your smartphone. Rear sunshades are also great addition that we rarely see in this segment.
Feature list is too long to write it down, but I was expecting to see ventilated front seats, it is a missed opportunity for Nissan, especially when you come up with a product that feels more premium than some well known entries like the RAV4 and CR-V.
Another missed opportunity is the rear view camera quality. Although I really like the latest infotainment system and screen, rear view camera resolution isn’t the best. Granted, it comes with 360 camera, which is a quite premium feature, but it could have been better.
Speaking of infotainment screen, it comes with the latest Nissan infotainment system that works quite fast, and easy to navigate. The touchscreen feedback is pretty responsive, and it comes with both volume and tune knobs, so overall it’s a quite user-friendly layout with a lot of physical buttons.
Last but not least, probably the most impressive feature of the new generation Rogue is the digital infotainment system. It is quite customizable and the resolution is excellent. You can see a lot of information and choose your favorite information to make it easier to access.
Pricing and the Verdict
Compact crossover segment has always been one of the most popular segments, and Rogue has always been the best seller in Nissan’s model lineup. For the first time in Rogue’s history, it doesn’t feel like a entry level or budget option, instead it feels more like the premium entry in a non-premium segment.
2022 Nissan Rogue starts at $29,148 with the FWD and naturally aspirated 2.5L engine option, and AWD sets you back additional $2300. Our tester with the Platinum AWD trim is priced at $42,398 which is right where it should be, if you consider all other top trim entries are priced well over $40,000.
For more details – please visit www.nissan.ca