Nissan Goes Rogue

by Casey Williams

“Going rogue” seems to have become the phrase of the season. Politicians went rogue in front of diced turkeys, the governor of my home state apparently rogued off a senate seat, and even President-elects feign rogue by appointing members of the opposite party to his cabinet. Nissan went Rogue by making an excellent and refined crossover with the space of rugged SUVs, built with cost in mind. Thankfully the Nissan version is here to stay and “that one” from Alaska is back to shooting moose from choppers.

Nissan designers plagiarized the Rogue’s styling from their popular mid-size Murano crossover, which has been one of my favorite vehicles since driving the first-generation from Memphis to Atlanta in 2003. As much as any other SUV, it looked upscale and drove the same way.
Rogue sits a little lower on its tread than most other crossovers, giving it an athletic stance. That also eases entry and exit – great for unloading your horde at a restaurant or club. Clear lens headlamps wrap from the bumper tops into the hood and to the sides. Wheel well flanks were flattened to contrast with the otherwise sculpted sides, arching roof, and rising window lines. The rear manages air flow with flush window glass and wrap-around tail lamps while seventeen-inch alloy wheels look sexy without excessive bling. From some angles, the Rogue looks as frumpy as your sister’s best friend, but has a style all its own.

What’s inside is all that matters anyway. Unlike some other compact SUVs, the Rogue’s cabin feels more Target than Wal-Mart. Our test vehicle came with a three-spoke steering wheel that includes audio and cruise controls. It was rubber instead of leather, but felt caress-able all the same. Comfortable bucket seats in the home box were perfectly upholstered in a canvas-like material that should prove weather- and drink-proof. A dash-mounted Garmin navigation system, XM Satellite Radio, large drinkholders, and sporty analog gauges take the Rogue several steps above steerage. Paddles behind the steering wheel and manual shift mode in the console let you control the powertrain any way you wish.
Murano envy continues when you put the Rogue in drive and zip away. With 170-horsepower available from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, you’ll want to tap-tap the transmission often. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is basically gearless with belts that adjust on pulleys to find the optimum gear ratio. Stepping hard on the gas brings the eerie sound of a high-powered weed-eater, but it eventually seems normal rather than spooky. Optional automatic all-wheel-drive, electronic stability programming, and four-wheel anti-lock brakes tell slick roads to, “Bring It On!” Around town, or flat out on the high road, the Rogue seemed quick and determined. Fuel economy is rated 21/26 mpg city/highway.
Driving the Rogue is definitely related to the Murano, but also other great-handling Nissans like the Sentra, Altima, and Maxima. Everything about the vehicle feels more solid and refined than you would expect. Steering is firm, but precise while the four-wheel independent suspension rumbles over rough pavement without unsettling anything and is actually fun on curvy roads. Highway trips are also a joy as the steering tightens up nicely at speed and the chassis settles in for a high-speed scamp.

While I had the car, my partner and I scooped up my parents and grandmother for lunch. We had no problem fitting inside and my grandmother’s walker slid into the cargo area with room to spare. Boggling the mind were rear door panels molded in hard plastic instead of soft vinyl as in the front – an apparent concession to either cost or children’s sticky fingers. As my dad pointed out, there is a bit of road noise in the cheap seats, but nobody ever said the Rogue was an Infiniti.
Besides many miles of highway driving and moving parents about, the Rogue also took my partner and friends to The Lion King. Upscale style and cavernous rear space made the little Nissan a safari limo of choice. If a compact crossover makes you well up with tears of joy, go Rogue. Crazy behavior didn’t get John McCain and his beauty queen into the White House, but it will get you around town, cross-country, or to your favorite musical. Expect the little Nissan to gain many new constituents. Competition includes the Ford Escape, Saturn Vue, Scion xB, Jeep Compass, and VW Tiguan.

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