The 2012 The Nissan Rogue looks a bit like a happy jelly bean with bright eyes and a warm and fuzzy personality. If you are looking for a manly Crossover to tackle the worst of the great outdoors the Rogue, even though the name may suggest otherwise, is not the ride for you.
It is designed more with shopping malls and soccer fields in mind than crossing the continental divide on a well rutted dirt road. Think of it as the Ugg boots of the crossover world. They may look like they are designed for snow but most women know they are meant for style over substance.
With 170 horsepower churned out from the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the rogue is peppy but not fast. Part of the is the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) which provides good gas mileage put a rubbery throttle response. To make the most of the engines power the CVT keep the four banger buzzing in its efficient range which to some drivers may sound like an irritating drone while other just notice the zippy acceleration.
The Rogue is built on the same platform as the Sentra (which is an economy car) and basic transportation roots sometimes show in the way the Rogue tackles twisty roads. In other words when pushed to the limit it becomes clear that the Rogue was designed for comfort and not performance.
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