Last week, I had the opportunity to review a 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport. That crossover, in combination with its big brother, the 2019 Nissan Rogue consistently sit at the top of the sales leaderboard. We also had the chance to take a look at the 2019 Nissan Rogue to test and review this week. Perhaps, this can help us understand what makes the Rogue and Rogue Sport such a popular family of crossovers.
Styling
Take a glance at both the Rogue and the Rogue Sport and there is no mistaking the family resemblance (especially when you get them both in the same color). The Rogue uses the range-sweeping ‘V-Motion’ grille design, available LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights, and ‘Boomerang’ style LED taillights. Our model, the top-end SL trim, came with a set of stylish 19-inch alloy wheels. Overall, the 2019 Nissan Rogue Looks sharp. Modern, yet not too overdone.
Keep in mind, styling is always a personal choice. We would love to hear your thoughts on the Rogue’s looks, so drop a comment down below and tell us what you think.
Technology & Features
Being the top-end SL trim, this Rogue came with a lot of technology features. The dash comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen display that now finally features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. On top of that, you get heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.
This model came with a full suite of driver enhancement features, too. Those include adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, adaptive high beams, automatic emergency braking, and a blind spot monitor. Lane keep and Adaptive cruise are both a part of ProPilot Assist, which is a hands-on semi-autonomous feature being offered on many new Nissan products. Overall, the Rogue feels like a good value in terms of tech offerings, especially when you consider the price.
Performance
Under the hood is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder that makes 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. That power is sent to your choice of the front, or all four wheels through a CVT (continuously variable transmission). Our test model has AWD, which costs $1,350 extra.
The AWD Rogue SL weighs a bit over 3,400 lbs. This, plus the meager 170 horsepower results in an SUV that leaves a lot to be desired in terms of acceleration performance. Especially up here at a mile above sea-level. With Nathan, Andre and a videographer in the Rogue, 0-60 took 14.71 seconds. It is slow. Quite slow.
However, gas mileage is a more positive story. According to the EPA, the Rogue AWD gets 25 MPG in the City, 32 MPG on the Highway for a combined 27 MPG. So, while you can’t go fast, you can go relatively far on a tank of regular gasoline.
Ride & Handling
Outside of the extremely lackluster acceleration, the driving experience is quite pleasant, actually. The fully independent suspension provides a very smooth ride. The 19-inch wheels have enough sidewall that the ride remains enjoyable. Plus, road noise is relatively low. Our real-world test yielded 62.7 dB of peak road noise, on par with some luxury vehicles.
Utility
We like to break utility down into two major segments: cargo capacity and passenger space. In terms of cargo capacity, the Rogue does very well. Behind the 2nd row, you find 39.3 cu-ft of storage space. After folding the rear seats, that expands to a massive 70 cu-ft of space. Plenty of room for whatever you may need to carry. However, passenger room isn’t quite as amazing.
The front seats presented no issues in terms of space. But, the rear seats felt quite cramped in terms of headroom. Our Rogue came with the $1,820 premium package that includes a panoramic moonroof. Sadly this made it difficult for a passenger who sits 5’10” to feel comfortable in the rear seat. That is just barely taller than the average American male.
Value
The front wheel drive S trim (base model) 2019 Nissan Rogue starts at just $24,920. Though, step up to the AWD SL trim and that base price jumps way up to $32,740. Our tester had the Premium package, the platinum reserve interior and some floor mats, bringing the as-tested MSRP to $36,085 before taxes.
Considering the amount of tech and space you get, $36,000 feels like a pretty respectable price. Though, I certainly wish there was a more potent powertrain option. Perhaps the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine from the Altima?
Verdict
When you take a look at the 2019 Nissan Rogue as a complete package, it is really easy to see why Nissan can sell hundreds of thousands of these each year. The Rogue gives you a lot of features for relatively little money. You get AWD, smartphone connectivity, plenty of driver features, and a quiet yet comfortable ride. I really wish there was a more powerful engine option, but it is not trying to be a Lamborghini, is it?
To see what Andre and Nathan make of the Rogue, plus how it compares to the Chevy Equinox, check out the video below:
