2025 Nissan Rogue – Refined Versatility

SUVs
March 1, 2025
Dan Gunay

The 2025 Nissan Rogue continues its reign as one of the most practical and well-rounded compact SUVs on the market. With a slightly refreshed design, updated technology, and improved efficiency, Nissan aims to keep its global bestseller competitive in a segment filled with strong contenders. The updated model refines its winning formula with subtle tweaks, but can it stand out in the ever-growing sea of compact crossovers? Let’s take a closer look.

Nissan has given 2025 a subtle yet effective design refresh, refining its already modern appearance with a more upscale and confident look. The front fascia sees the most noticeable changes, with a completely redesigned grille that now features more chrome pieces and a different pattern, with sleeker integration with headlights. The LED daytime running lights have been slimmed down for a sharper, more aggressive stance, while the lower bumper has been reshaped to give the Rogue a wider, more planted look.

From the side, the Rogue maintains its well-proportioned and practical silhouette, but small tweaks still make a difference. The most obvious update is the wheels, with new alloy options that add an extra layer of sportiness with its two-tone appearance. The lines mainly remain clean and uninterrupted, with a slight sculpting on the doors that adds just enough character to the vehicle. Ground clearance and overall dimensions remain the same, retaining its balance between urban-friendly maneuverability and family-friendly philosophy.

At the rear, Nissan has kept changes minimal but meaningful. The taillights now feature more modern LED taillights, adding a refined touch to the Rogue’s overall rear-end design. The rear bumper has been subtly reshaped to match the updated front, contributing to a more premium look. While the updates aren’t drastic, they help the Rogue maintain a fresh, contemporary presence in a very competitive segment, reinforcing its appeal as a stylish yet practical choice for buyers.

Nissan has refined the interior of the 2025 Rogue with a focus on comfort, tech, and practicality, making it an even more compelling option in the compact SUV segment. The dashboard design remains clean and modern, featuring higher-quality materials and improved ergonomics. A new, larger infotainment screen is a great addition, dominating the center stack and running the latest Nissan software interface, which is responsive and user-friendly. The digital cluster has a great screen quality with two different layouts, you can finally move your Google Maps to the digital cluster. Soft-touch materials and quilted leather on higher trims give the cabin a more premium feel, which makes the Rogue stand out against the competition.

Space and practicality remain strong suits for the Rogue, with a layout that prioritizes both passenger comfort and cargo flexibility. The front seats are well padded and supportive, offering Nissan’s Zero Gravity design to reduce fatigue on longer drives. The front seats are also power adjustable with a memory feature for the driver seat. For some reason, our tester did not have ventilation for the front seat, which has become a common feature for the top trim entries in this segment.

The second row is decently spacious for a compact SUV, with ample legroom and reclining seats that make longer journeys more pleasant for the rear seat occupants. Unlike some entries, the Rogue’s rear bench is wide enough to accommodate three adults comfortably. The rear seat passengers also get nice creature comforts such as the third climate zone, air vents, heated seats and USB ports for charging electronic devices.

When it comes to the cargo space, the Rogue continues to impress. The rear hatch opens to reveal a generous cargo area, with Nissan’s Divide-N-Hide system allowing for configurable storage solutions. The flat load floor and low leftover height make it easy to load bulky items. It offers 36.5 cubic feet (1,033 litres) of cargo space behind the second row. When the rear seats are folded, the cargo capacity expands to 74.1 cubic feet (2,099 litres), making it one of the most spacious options in the compact SUV segment.

Unlike the competition, Nissan decided to offer a unique engine choice with a three-cylinder turbocharged 1.5 litre engine introduced in the previous model year. The downsized powertrain might seem unconventional in a segment dominated by four-cylinders, but it delivers competitive performance while prioritizing efficiency. The Variable-compression technology allows the engine to adjust its compression ratio dynamically, balancing power and fuel economy based on driving conditions, only time will tell how reliable they will be. The output remains at 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, which is on par with, or better than naturally aspirated rivals.

Just as expected, the unique three cylinder engine is paired with Nissan’s Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which has been fine-tuned to provide a smoother and more responsive driving experience. The rubber-band feeling is minimal, as it simulates conventional gear shifts, but it still won’t deliver the feeling of a traditional automatic. However, it is a great match with the turbocharged engine, as it offers maximum torque at lower RPMs, which reduces the droning effect often associated with CVTs.

The 2025 Nissan Rogue comes standard with an All-Wheel-Drive system in Canada, which is essential for inclement weather and light off-road conditions. It can automatically distribute power between the front and rear axles based on traction and road conditions. The system also features selectable drive modes, including Snow and Off-Road settings for optimal traction. In normal mode, it sends most of the power to the front wheels, and it may cause a little bit of torque steer until it sends power to the rear wheels. While it is not a hardcore off-roader, it is more than capable of handling everyday challenges like rain, snow and gravel.

The 2025 Nissan Rogue delivers a refined and predictable driving experience, it is exceptionally comfortable as a daily driver. The turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine is not the smoothest, but it provides a really good amount of low-end torque, making city driving and highway merging feel effortless. Even though it does not offer a lot of excitement, it sounds similar to a V6 engine over 3000 rpm, which sounds much better than its 4-cylinder rivals. Acceleration is adequate for the segment, though not particularly thrilling. The CVT is quite responsive and it does a good job of keeping the power delivery smooth without excessive droning.

On the road, the Rogue prioritizes comfort over engagement, with a softly sprung suspension setup that soaks up road imperfections quite well. The steering is light and effortless, just like the rest of the driving experience. Handling is composed, with minimal body roll in corners, but it remains stable at highway speeds. Nissan has also done a terrific job with cabin insulation, keeping noise, vibration and harshness levels low. The Rogue is simply an easy-going SUV that offers really comfortable driving experience that doesn’t demand much from the driver.

The 2025 Nissan Rogue remains one of the most comfortable and well-appointed compact SUVs, offering a smooth ride, premium interior materials, and thoughtful family-friendly features. Updates for 2025 bring a refreshed front fascia and upgraded technology, further enhancing its refinement. With Zero Gravity seats, a third climate zone for rear passengers, and the Divide-N-Hide cargo system, it prioritizes convenience and versatility. While it may not be the most rugged or utilitarian option in its class, the Rogue excels in everyday comfort and practicality, making it a compelling choice for compact SUV shoppers.

Engine	1.5-litre turbocharged variable-compression inline-3
Transmission & Drivetrain	Continuously variable automatic & all-wheel-drive
Max power (combined)	201 hp @ 5600 rpm
Max torque (combined)	225 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm
0-100 km/h	8.2 sec
Curb Weight	3729 lbs – 1691 kg
Fuel Economy (observed)	26 MPG – 9.1 L/100 km
Price (starting at)	$36,785
Website:	www.nissan.ca