In the northeast U.S. there is one kind of car that is becoming far too common. And, I do not like it one bit. Ugh.
The small, compact sport-utility vehicle.
With that said, it is kind of an oxymoron, no? A compact sport-utility vehicle. What compact do you know that has some genuine usefulness and practicality behind it?
Even worse, most are equipped with teeny motors and can legitimately be considered cruel and unusual punishment to drive. So, when I had a Nissan Rogue booked into my press fleet, I wondered if I was being a masochist or as brilliant as Christopher Columbus.
Looks wise, it appears as though it has taken a few cues from its big brother, the Murano, and blended in some of the Nissan Sentra in there as well. From the face back, it is a relatively modest design. It does not stir the pot nor is it going to make your grandma say "Is that a spaceship?!" For the most part it will putter along without anyone noticing.
Being that I had the base trim, the S, it was sparsely equipped. Even the mirrors went unpainted -- one of my biggest pet peeves. Probably worse than that were the tiny, 16-inch wheels. Nissan really wants the world to know you cheeped out.
I guess that means the punishment had begun?
But, I take that back. That is because the demographic that is likely targeted at buying this vehicle does not really care about that sort of stuff. At least from what I have seen, its ownership is overwhelmingly populated with 40 year-old + mothers and teenagers that are looking for that sense of security a higher vehicle provides.
So, what do we know as of this second? It doesn't look too bad, from the face back, and the S trim is probably not the one to buy if you are concerned with outward appearance and have an attention to detail.
Moving along, getting inside the little engine that could, I quickly realized it is pretty spacious but the driver's seating position is awkward. The driver's seat is raised so it feels as though you are sitting on the hood of the vehicle and for someone over six and a half feet tall, the Rogue may feel a bit cramped in terms of knee room.
Aside from that, the rest of the cabin is fitted with some decent plastics and its design is very to the point and Spartan. The Rogue's interior is not going to make Audi shake in their boots but it is appropriate given the competition. The interior really personifies the character of the Rogue; utilitarian and strictly about business.
A checkmark against Nissan is found when I realize the steering wheel does not telescope. Really? In a 2010 automobile? I guess it is what it is, albeit disappointing.
Unless you want to have your arms outstretched for the duration of your driving, you have to keep the seat close in order to remain comfortable. Once again, for taller folks this will be a bit of a challenge as knee room is lacking.
Making up for this grievance was the rear view mirror that has a rear view monitor built into the housing. Although it does not give any guidelines, it does help if you cannot see something immediately behind you. Remember, it is rather small though, so I would not rely on that for backing up singlehandedly.
Additionally, the cloth seating appears to be of the durable persuasion, even if creates enough static electricity to light up the Las Vegas strip. One thumb up -- if you got shocked as many times as I did while testing this vehicle, you would not be giving it two thumbs up either.
More importantly, let's get down to the driving experience. Equipped with a 2.5 liter four-cylinder motor, things do not look so hopeful in the power department. But by producing 170-horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, it is able to get the job done.
Although we warn, it can get a tad noisy.
Given the Rogue weighs in just above 3,400 pounds, it is not the porkiest SUV. This means it has some get up and go, granted, you will be dealing with a lot of rrrRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr thanks to the continuously variable transmission. See, if it was a burbling V8 or a Nissan VQ motor I would have no problem listening to that symphony of grunts. But when it is a straining four-banger, it gets exhausting pretty fast.
Due to my need for speed I chalked up a one week MPG of 20.5. This result falls short of the EPA's 21 city rating but I know if I had been a bit more patient and more “green,” 22 or 23 MPG is certainly not out of the question.
Cornering is not too bad for an SUV, thanks to the Rogue's overall stiffness. It is not like some of the competition, which feels downright shameful. There is a tinge of body roll, as expected, but it is not the kind that makes you look for the “Oh s&*!” handle.
The stiff suspension set up is not overly jarring over bumps and far from perfect pavement. If anything, I found the Nissan to absorb bumps like a sponge absorbs water. Just takes it all in.
With that said, Nissan deserves some hard-earned props for the suspensions of the cars I have driven within the past 12 months. Even the entry-level Cube felt composed going over treacherous terrain. Although these crevices would provide discomfort for most economical vehicles, Nissan has been able to patch that up with class-leading suspensions.
The steering feel on it is predictably numb but weighted rather nicely so it feels confidence inspiring at speed. When at highway MPH, it feels like a tank, granted, it is more of a tank with a sewing machine for a motor. Taking this into consideration, it drives much like a car that has been jacked up a few inches.
Here is the takeaway from the 2010 Nissan Rogue S: it is a good car for a family that is trying to get the most value for dollar. Our tester was $23,565 including destination and the value package. And, it drives remarkably well, if you do not mind the intrusive engine noise.
If you require value, all-wheel drive, an SUV and an overall tight package, the Rogue fits the bill, no question about that. But, if you are not into the whole utilitarian package, this car will probably not blow your doors off.
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