What do you think about a luxury-focused compact crossover, powered by a three-cylinder engine and costing nearly $50,000?  And, it doesn’t even carry a luxury badge!  However, I suspect if you spend all of the time I have with the 2025 Nissan Rogue Platinum, you’ll find the engine one of its best features.

If I put my hand over the Nissan logo in the bulldozer chrome-strewn grille, you’d probably think I was standing in front of an Infiniti rather than a Nissan.  I’d call its look “polite attitude” dishing slinty LED headlights, thin eyebrow driving lamps, and aggressive lower facia.  Side views expose a contrasting black roof, strikes of lower black trim and restrained use of chrome – all over 19” wheels.  It’s quite fetching from the rear three-quarter view, showing crisp muscular fenders and elegant boomerang curves of the rear pillar and taillamps.

Luxury digs continue inside via plush French-stitched dash and door coverings, quilted leather seats, flatscreen gauges, and wide 12.3” touchscreen.  Heated front and rear seats, heated flat-bottom steering wheel, and tri-zone automatic climate control add luxuries best enjoyed with the Bose audio cranked and the dual-pane moonroof open.  Phones connect easily through wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.  Google Built-In, Alexa Built-In, and wireless charging keep devices singing.

Deep cupholders, flybridge console, and concealed storage were super convenient while the power hatch revealed a tall and deep cargo compartment.  Even rear passengers stretch their legs.  And, everybody should stay safe given automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic with auto brake.  Nissan’s ProPilot Assist 2.1 system that provides adaptive cruise and lane-following steering was updated for 2025 with the ability to go hands-off on pre-approved roads.  Just keep your eyes looking beyond the head-up display.  Naps are not allowed.

The Rogue Platinum is undoubtedly luxurious and safe, but what about that three-cylinder engine?  Well, it’s definitely not the gruff three-banger you might find in a Mitsubishi Mirage or Smart car.  Nope, this one is a 1.5-liter turbocharged unit connected to a continuously-variable transmission.  Better still, it is one of the world’s most sophisticated engines, employing variable compression to shape-shift in real time.

An actuator changes the stroke of the pistons within their cylinders.  That, along with the infinite variation of output allowed by the CVT and turbo, makes for a dreamy drive.  It’s both peppy and frugal, rated 201 horsepower, 225 lb.-ft. of torque, and 28/34-MPG city/highway.  Given all that, the engine was named to “Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems” list for 2022.

On-road, there’s refinement in the chassis that echoes Infiniti as bumps are seemingly grabbed and dispatched in two motions that leave passengers mostly unbothered above.  Older Rogues would kind of bump-bang over bumps, so there’s definitely an improvement over rough city streets.  This wouldn’t be my first choice for carving backroads because it is still a top-heavy crossover, but practically nobody searching for Rogue reaches for a Z.

If you only saw the Rogue Platinum’s specs, you’d probably raise both eyebrows and huff, but that wouldn’t be fair.  Every part of it channels luxurious sophistication…including the three-cylinder engine.  It’s not cheap.  Base Rogues start at $28,590, but this one enjoys a very lush $48,330 sticker.  Competitors include the Subaru Outback, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Chevy Equinox, Kia Sorento and Ford Escape.

Storm Forward!

Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.