2008 Nissan RogueNew for 2008, the Nissan Rogue enters the quickly growing small crossover segment. And I have to admit, when I saw the first photos, I thought it was the Nissan Murano with a new name.
From the profile to the oddly shaped rear window, the vehicles look virtually identical. Even when I parked right next to a Murano, the differences weren’t that obvious. The one thing I was able to discern with the naked eye is that the taillights are different. The Murano’s wrap vertically, and the Rogue’s wrap horizontally.
On paper, there are a couple more differences, the biggie being size. Rogue trims 4.5 inches in length and 3.1 inches in height. Overall there are 23.7 cubic-feet less cargo volume with second-row seat folded.
Another difference: Price. While the Rogue begins at $19,995 for the base S model, the Murano S begins at $28,575. Not to mention the fact that most of the options on the Murano are more expensive as well.
The last major difference: Horsepower. The Rogue has a peppy little 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers 170 horsepower. The Murano has a 3.5-liter V-6 that delivers 240 horsepower.
It’s been a while since I’ve driven the Murano, so I can’t really catalog the ride-and-handling differences, but I do have to say that I can’t imagine the Murano would be much better than the Rogue.
I really liked the compact styling of the Rogue and the acceleration, handling and turning radius that follows. Even though the little crossover has a “piddly” four-cylinder engine, I didn’t feel like it was underpowered. I’m sure the sub-4,000-pound curb weight had something to do with it. It was easy to accelerate off the Orleans ramp onto the Kennedy, and maneuvering around traffic was more like a car than an SUV.
One of the best things about the test vehicle, though, is that as an AWD model, it had all the capability of an SUV. I drove the Rogue right after we received a pile of snow, and not only did it glide through my unplowed alley with ease, but it made the tight turn into my garage (while climbing a 2-foot mound of snow) without difficulty.
Smaller size and engine also equals better fuel economy. The AWD model has city/highway EPA estimates of 21/26 mpg.
The interior of the Rogue is basic yet classic. It didn’t have any funny buttons, weird cup holder locations or awkward gauge placements. Everything was intuitive and easy-to-reach, and while there wasn’t anything extra, you had everything you needed at your fingertips.
I liked driving the little Rogue around time, even if I wasn’t a particular fan of the exterior styling. I always thought the Murano looked somehow disproportionate, and that’s still true with the Rogue.
However, I think Nissan has a great thing going with this newest entry into its lineup, and the automaker is positioning and pricing it very competitively. I am intrigued by the fact that the price difference between the base front-wheel drive S model and the up-level all-wheel drive SL model is a mere $2,000. Plus, other than the premium package ($1,900 - $2,200, depending on FWD or AWD) and the leather package ($1,800), most of the options are relatively inexpensive. Second, you can trick out your car with Bluetooth, XM Satellite Radio, moonroof, leather seats and every other whistle and bell you can imagine, and your final price -- including destination -- will still only be $28,490. As you may have already noted, that’s $85 less than the base Murano.
And even if you’re looking at the sub-$20K Rogue, you’re still going to get all of the must-have safety features. The key features include: front side-impact airbags, curtain side-impact airbags, front seat active head restraints, power window lockout button, LATCH system and child safety rear door locks.
The test vehicle was an AWD S model, and the only option added were the splash guards ($125). The as-tested price was $21,320. That’s the most true-to-basic vehicle I’ve driven in a long time, and I still liked it. Sure, you’ll get more space and up-level features with the Murano, but the Rogue is a nice alternative to SUV driving with a very attractive price point.
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