2018 Nissan Rogue Real-World MPG Test: Can We Best 40 MPG? [Video]

With an efficient four-cylinder engine and CVT, you’d expect the Nissan Rogue to sip fuel.

Currently, the Nissan Rogue stands as one of the most fuel efficient crossovers in its class, according to official EPA ratings. The 2018 model scores 27 MPG combined, which matches the naturally-aspirated Honda CR-V and beats the naturally-aspirated Toyota RAV4 (25 MPG) and the 1.5-liter turbocharged Chevrolet Equinox (26 MPG). In the highway cycle, the 2018 Nissan Rogue actually edges ahead, managing 32 MPG – more than its competitors. And that’s great, if you’re looking for the best fuel economy possible. Short of turbocharging, in the case of the CR-V, or using a hybrid system, in the case of the RAV4, the Rogue gets the best numbers on paper. But how well can it perform out in the real-world?

For this TFL MPG challenge, Sarah took the Nissan Rogue to Colossal Cave, east of Tucson, Arizona. From there, she’ll drive the Rogue across town to Gates Pass, just west of Tucson. We figured the Rogue could get much better fuel economy than EPA estimates suggest. This particular route, complete with hills, long highway stretches and stop-and-go city traffic is ideal to test what Nissan’s crossover can manage in real-world conditions.

How many miles per gallon can we achieve?

Mind you, the standard Rogue is not fitted with an idle stop/start system. Only the Rogue Hybrid gets that feature. As a result, traffic lights are going to affect the overall MPG figure. The standard Rogue’s 2.5-liter inline-four engine produces 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. In each trim, it comes mated to a Continously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Despite getting stranded at traffic lights and needing to use the air conditioning to cope with the Arizona summer heat, the Rogue performed better than expected. At the end of her test, Sarah managed 38.1 MPG combined. That’s a whopping thirty percent better than its EPA estimated rating.

Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more MPG challenges! Subscribe to The Fast Lane Car and TFLnow for more crossover news, views and real-world reviews.