2008 Nissan RogueThe all-new 2008 Nissan Rogue SUV joins the Armada, Pathfinder, Xterra and Murano as the new entry-level SUV in the Nissan lineup.
Rogue is available in two models, Rogue S and Rogue SL both available in two and all-wheel drive versions. The test vehicle was the S AWD model.
The Rogue offers SUV buyers a decent alternative to the very truck-like Xterra, which had been Nissan's base entry, but in recent model years the Xterra had begun to outgrow its “affordable” tag. Additionally shoppers were asking for something with a less trucklike ride and improved fuel economy. The Rogue delivers on both of those requests.
First off this SUV looks more like a wagon than an SUV as the Rogue’s exterior has a smooth flowing exterior that says “suburban” rather than “backwoods.” Nissan calls the styling “both aggressive and sporty” with “masculine” styling including arched forms and powerful rear shoulder lines -- sorry I don’t see that. The high rear belt line and sloping rear end conspire to limit rear quarter visibility and storage space respectively. While the Rogue’s flowing lines do aid fuel economy and reduce wind noise, how about a little more of the classic “Hard Body” styling or at least a little of the Xterra instead of the Murano for a bolder look.
Solidifying its entry level position the Rogue only comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, if you want a V-6 you have step up to the marginally larger and more expensive Murano. Rogue’s 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder is rated at 170 horsepower with 175 pound-feet of torque.
Both the Rogue and Murano share the same Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), and after some earlier trials and tribulations, Nissan has perfected CVT technology so that it’s hard to tell the difference between this CVT and a regular automatic transmission. Its advanced shift control offers the best shift pattern according to the driving situation and your demands, using input from driver operation, vehicle speed, road gradient, turning condition and acceleration force to adjust shifting patterns accordingly.
As for the all-important fuel economy numbers the Rogue is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway for two-wheel drive models and 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway for all-wheel drive Rogues like my test vehicle – good but not great numbers.
Belying its trim exterior look the Rogue actually has a fairly roomy interior for passengers. The driver’s seat position offers excellent visibility, and there’s an available seat lifter with up to 2 inches of seat height adjustability. Behind the wheel you face a rounded dashboard that has some sporty styling. I was pleasantly surprised by all the soft touch padded surfaces and detail of the materials used on the dash and the door panels. The center console, however, is low rent using very inexpensive looking plastic.
A number of interior enhancements are available including a trip computer that displays distance-to-empty, average fuel consumption, average speed, elapsed time and outside temperature. Available steering wheel-mounted controls include audio, Bluetooth hands-free phone system and cruise control.
Rogue has seating for five, and you can just about hold that many adults. An optional front passenger fold-down seat allows more than 8.5 feet of front-to-rear cargo space for carrying long items. The second row seat is a 60/40 split-fold bench seat and with that seat folded down there is 57.9 cubic-feet of storage. With the second row upright, you have 28.9 cubic-feet of storage. While the cargo area is cut back due to the exterior design it has a few handy features including a unique cargo organizer. The organizer pops up – with a one touch open switch – a portion of the cargo floor snaps into a vertical position, revealing a flat recessed space with removable, vertical cargo nets. This is a great feature for families on the go to organize groceries and sports equipment. Also available is a washable, removable tray that fits below the cargo area floor to hold wet or dirty gear and tools and a rear tonneau cover to keep luggage and other items out of sight.
One thing I didn’t like was that the doors make a “tinny clang” noise when shut.
Rogue is built on Nissan’s new “C” passenger car platform so the ride is the complete opposite of the trucky Xterra. The front suspension includes subframe-mounted independent struts with coil springs, high-performance shock absorbers with rebound springs, and a stabilizer bar. The rear independent multi-link suspension includes aluminum-alloy upper links and high-performance shock absorbers with rebound springs.
On the road the Rogue’s standard four-wheel independent suspension provides a balance of ride comfort and driving stability. Nissan has worked in some responsive cornering, but ends up with a ride that is a bit choppy over bumps. The steering is has more road feel than I expected from the electric power-assisted steering (EPS) system.
Braking is good, too, as every Rogue comes equipped with standard power-assisted front and rear vented disc brakes with standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). My test Rogue S model came with 16-inch wheels and 215/70R16 tires. Acceleration is decent, but the engine buzzes when pressed hard.
As for grip my test vehicle had Nissan’s Intuitive All-Wheel Drive system with yaw control. The system provides stable starts on dry or slippery roads and all-weather performance and traction. Note this is not a full-time or selectable system as the name indicates. When the sensors detect slippage, it sends power to the rear wheels. Every Rogue also features standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS).
Standard safety features for the new Rogue include Zone Body Construction, Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual stage front air bags and occupant classification system for the front passenger seat, and front seat Active Head Restraints. Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted curtain supplemental airbags (for front and rear outboard occupant head protection) with rollover detection are also standard.
As smaller continues to be big, Nissan has learned from the trials and tribulations of others to develop their new small crossover. However, the Rogue doesn’t really offer any truly notable features to make it standout out above its competitors. The “Rogue” name suggests that there is some cleverness or something crafty to it when in reality it winds up being just another crossover choice. Not a bad choice, just another choice.
VIDEO: Jill's bloopers
