How it Drives
Nissan kept the Rogue’s powertrain the same: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 170 horsepower and mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive an option. This combination is fine for everyday driving in relaxed conditions, making for an uneventful commute in around-town traffic thanks to decent tuning. But ask it for any kind of acceleration beyond moderate and you’ll come up wanting more.
The CVT winds the big four-cylinder motor up to its powerband and holds it there as you hold your foot to the floor, making more noise than motion. A standard Sport mode changes the transmission’s sensitivity and its responsiveness, but it doesn’t do much for acceleration-time improvement. It’s most noticeable when entering a highway or attempting a passing maneuver; you’ll want to plan well ahead for either of those actions.
The acceleration woes are really the only blemish on what has been transformed into a wonderfully driving small crossover. Ride quality is impressively controlled, with no chop or floatiness, and even moderately sized potholes and pavement blemishes do little to upset the Rogue’s suspension. It rides like a much bigger, more expensive vehicle, with obstacles like manhole covers eliciting little more than a muted whump in the cabin.
Handling is sharper than expected. The thick steering wheel is not overly boosted and delivers excellent feedback to the driver. Brakes are very strong and firm, with excellent pedal feel and no noticeable fade. Zipping down the Natchez Trace Parkway in Tennessee during my test was an entertaining experience, with little body roll, road or wind noise, and an overall feel of refinement and sophistication that is lacking in the previous generation and some of the Rogue’s competitors. It’s not as sporty and aggressive as a Mazda CX-5, but the Rogue has been tuned more toward the comfort end of the dial.
Fuel economy in the new 2014 Rogue is also good. The standard front-wheel-drive Rogue gets an EPA-rated 26/33/28 mpg city/highway/combined; this drops slightly for the all-wheel-drive model to 25/32/28 mpg. This puts Rogue at a combined 2 to 3 mpg advantage over a comparably equipped Ford Escape, RAV4 or CR-V, with only the smaller-engine CX-5 and CVT-equipped Subaru Forester nearly even with the Rogue.
