Ask any modern car buyer, and they could name more than a few big names in the compact crossover segment. Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4 may be the first products listed but in the segment, every mainstream manufacturer offers a vehicle to try out. Some more successful than others though, and Nissan has been lagging behind the rest of the market when updating their compact crossover. The day has come though, a new Nissan Rogue has arrived with all-new underpinnings and a fresh design.

Receiving substantial changes for the 2021 model year, Nissan finally catches up with a competitive product with the new Rogue.

Is it Really All-New?

Via Max Landi

The 2021 Nissan Rogue isn’t quite all-new but from behind the wheel, it does feel like a brand new product. The naturally-aspirated 2.5L four-cylinder engine is the same unit found in the predecessor but with a slight power increase. A total of 181 horsepower and the same number for lb/ft of torque, this engine has 11 more horsepower and 6 more torques than the outgoing model. Refinements come to the standard CVT and the optional all-wheel-drive system, but these improvements are largely unnoticeable. The fuel economy rating of the Rogue AWD 9.2/7.2/8.3 L/100km (city/highway/combined). The engine may lack the turbocharged grunt that so many of its rivals offer so the Rogue may feel a touch reluctant to pick up speed at the bottom of the rev range. However, the speed will climb with little theatre and bring this compact crossover to highway speed without any mental energy from the driver. The SV AWD trim featured in this review retails for $38,958CAD.

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A Note on Driving

Via Max Landi

The CVT is the biggest improvement to the powertrain featuring the software programmed simulated gearshifts that are now becoming a staple in the latest and greatest CVT’s. Although this system is as clever as the system used in Honda’s 1.5L and CVT equipped Accord, the Rogue is refined enough to trick some drivers into thinking it is a traditional automatic transmission. The best aspect of the Nissan’s drive is the ride quality. The Rogue is smooth on the road with excellent damping making every road surface change noticeable but not tiring. The suspension calibration is exemplary for a vehicle that wants some road connection with refinement. It’s almost certain that all demographics of car buyers will test drive a new Rogue and feel their tastes are well represented. Road isolation was above average but a strong note of wind whistling from the wing mirrors faltered this praise of the Rogue.

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Quick Mention of Active Safety Systems

Via Max Landi

It’s worth mentioning that the ‘Steer Assist’ system was fairly consistent and responsive on highway drives. The driver couldn’t remove their hands from the wheel for more than a minute without the system spewing alarms and eventually grabbing the brakes. So not quite as willing to take control as the latest hands-free systems from Kia/Hyundai in their larger vehicles, but the Rogue’s system was good enough that the driver could reach for something in the glovebox without concern. One element of concern from the driver assist system was the radar cruise control. During this weeks test, a snowstorm greeted the highway driving home and the sensor stopped working due to the snow build up and the adaptive cruise shut down. Therefore, there was no cruise control available at this point forward. That’s no surprise, plenty of other automakers share the fault in the same conditions. Willing to let this moment slide, the Nissan doubled down on uncertainty when the adaptive cruise was selected on another day. On this occasion, clear and beautiful conditions with the sensor cleaned still caused the system to shut down abruptly. Obviously, more work needs to be done here, or automakers could fit cars with standard cruise control again.

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The Interior and Exterior Design

Via Max Landi

The big news and the attention grabbing element of the Rogue is the design. The V-Motion grille and split headlight units make up the handsome face of the new Rogue. Nissan moves towards a new design direction with the Rogue and some of the other upcoming products expected before the end of the year like the regenerated Armada, Frontier and Pathfinder. The exterior look is sharp but not over-styled. The interior design, similarly, has a new look. Lots of hard buttons, a decent touchscreen and a floating center console make for a smartly appointed and spacious cabin. Buttons, knobs and build all feel great. In the past, some Nissan products felt thin-skinned and bargain quality, that is no the case in the new Rogue. A part of the Rogue’s design is the large greenhouse that opens up the airiness of the cabin and, of course, improves visibility. The second row of seating is especially fitting for tall passengers with a nearly flat floor, high mounted seats and plenty of headroom to spare. The rear doors open as wide as a Honda CR-V (85 degrees) and this is a feature that could be of great value to young families that need to regularly place their babies or toddlers into the bulky seats.

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Conclusion

Reviewing the 2021 Nissan Rogue was enjoyable but not entirely remarkable. In an ultra-competitive segment, the team at Nissan already have a huge task on their hands to bring the Rogue into the game playing field as the most successful vehicles in this segment. During the weeks long test period, the Rogue didn’t appear to be the absolute best-in-class for in particular consideration of new-car shopping. There are better driving, more refined, more features-rich, or more spacious choices in this segment. As a vehicle that feels, overall, above average, the new 2021 Rogue worth adding to your list of test drives at in this very crowded category.

This vehicle was lent out through  Nissan Canada's press fleet.

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