2018 Nissan Rogue Sport Road Test and Review

2018 Nissan Rogue Sport SL red driving ・ Photo by Nissan

America’s appetite for small SUVs has gone from ravenous to insatiable. And every manufacturer is in the game, cranking out new models to feed this hungry beast. There are now more than a dozen small crossover SUVs for car buyers to choose from, and one of the best is the 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport.

Don’t mistake the Rogue Sport with Nissan's larger and more powerful Rogue, its best-selling model. Until the smaller Kicks arrives later this year, the Rogue Sport is Nissan’s smallest and least expensive SUV.  With a starting price just over $22,500, it offers room for five, considerable cargo space, a high-quality interior, and sporty exterior styling. It's also fun-to-drive and quite fuel-efficient, delivering over 30 mpg on the highway. Popular rivals include the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR, and Mazda CX-3, as well as the new Ford EcoSport and Hyundai Kona.

Three Trim Levels to Choose From

Although the Rogue Sport shares its platform with the larger Nissan Rogue, the two SUVs are not built in the same facility. Or even the same hemisphere. The Rogue is built in Tennessee, while Nissan assembles the Rogue Sport in Kyushu, Japan. Like the Rogue, however, the Rogue Sport is available in three trim levels: S, SV, and SL. Prices start at $22,615, including a $975 destination charge. Front-wheel drive is standard on all models, with all-wheel drive offered across the range for an additional $1,350.

Every Rogue Sport is powered by a smooth and fuel-efficient 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine backed by a continuously variable or CVT automatic transmission, which improves its fuel efficiency. The engine’s 141 horsepower is strong for the class, but some competitors like the Hyundai Kona offer turbocharged engines with more power. Our loaded, all-wheel drive SL test vehicle cost $31,465. Its optional Premium Package, which cost an additional $2,850, added a long list of features including a sunroof, LED headlights, and safety systems like blind-spot monitoring and intelligent cruise control.

Photo by Nissan

Could Use More Power

For most buyers in this class, the Rogue Sport offers adequate power. But some of us would prefer a little more punch. It accelerates from 0-60 mph in 10 seconds, which is slower than many competitors. Loaded with five adults and gear, merging on the highway requires full throttle and a sizable gap in traffic. There are several reasons for this. First, at over 3,400 lbs, the Rogue Sport is heavier than many SUVs in this class. Secondly, with its torque peak at 4,400 rpm and its maximum horsepower at 6,000 rpm, the Nissan’s 2.0-liter engine doesn’t provide much power until it revs quite high. Lastly, the transmission, although very smooth in everyday driving, doesn’t get the SUV off the line with any urgency. Like the Rogue, the Rogue Sport would be quicker with a conventional automatic transmission instead of a CVT.

Still, you should know that many of the Rogue Sport’s competitors aren’t much faster. For example, the Honda HR-V hits 60 mph in 9.5 seconds. But buyers looking for more speed should check out the considerably lighter Mazda CX-3, which can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 8.1 seconds.

Photo by Nissan

Sporty Handling

The 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport makes up for its casual acceleration with athletic handling and a fun-to-drive character. The Rogue Sport is responsive, and the 19-inch wheels and beefy tires on our test vehicle provided impressive amounts of road-holding. Steering is quick, and it isn’t too heavy like it can be in other Nissans. Toss it into a turn and the Rogue Sport hangs in there. Despite its ample mass, it drives more like a sporty little hatchback than a sizable crossover. Although there aren’t paddle shifters mounted to the steering wheel, the transmission's manual mode allows you to choose a gear ratio by pushing or pulling its console-mounted shifter. And the brakes have plenty of stopping power.  

As fun as the Rogue Sport is to drive on a deserted canyon road, it's best in the city and out on the highway where it feels solid, stable, and refined. The ride is comfortable, and the SUV is properly maneuverable and easy to park.

Photo by Nissan

Good Fuel Economy

With front-wheel drive, the 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport is rated for 25 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Those numbers drop to 24 mpg city and 30 mpg highway with the optional all-wheel drive. We averaged 25 mpg during a week of mixed driving around Los Angeles in our all-wheel drive test vehicle. Overall, the Rogue Sport is among the most fuel-efficient SUVs available and it runs on less expensive regular-grade gasoline.

Still, there are more fuel-efficient options in this class, including the Honda HR-V, which is rated for 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, and the Mazda CX-3, which is rated for 29 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. And for not much more money, Toyota offers the RAV4 Hybrid, which gets 34 mpg in the city, and the Kia Niro achieves 52 mpg in the city and 49 mpg on the highway.

Photo by Nissan

Advanced Safety Systems

Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have crash tested the 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport. For 2018 Nissan, has expanded its list of available safety systems. It offers forward automatic braking with pedestrian detection; a blind spot warning with a rear cross-traffic alert, which warns you if a vehicle or pedestrian is approaching from the side while you’re reversing; and a lane departure warning and prevention system.

Parents with infants or toddlers will appreciate the SUV’s easy to reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and easily accessed upper tether anchors. We’re also big fans of the Rogue Sport’s Intelligent AroundView Monitor, which gives you a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the SUV on its 7-inch touchscreen. They should have called it the Parallel Parking Helper From Heaven.

Photo by Nissan

Luxurious Interior

Inside the 2018 Rogue Sport, you’ll find high-quality materials, impressive fit and finish, and solid and simple ergonomics. The overall design is very similar to the interior of Nissan’s other SUVs, including the Rogue, Murano, and Pathfinder. It isn’t exactly radical, but it’s clean and modern and attractive. Our top-of-the-line SL test car had leather upholstery with perforated hides on the seats and French stitching on the seats and door panels. Nissan also puts chrome trim on the knobs and gauges, and around the engine start button, which adds an upscale feel, along with wood and piano black trim on the dash and center stack.

The SL includes a heated leather-wrapped flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel as well as comfortable and supportive heated front seats. Because of the Rogue Sport’s 104.2-inch wheelbase, which is one of the longest in the class, rear seat space is abundant. Three full-size adults fit back there to enjoy the two rear air conditioning vents. Our only complaint is the foot-operated parking brake, which just feels old-fashioned. An electronic push-button parking brake would be better.

Photo by Nissan

Generous Cargo Space

The interior of the 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport also offers plenty of well-thought-out storage space. The SUV has a deep console bin between its front seats, a small slot for change and other sundries, and a large cubby ahead of the shifter that is perfect for your phone. The door pockets could be larger, but they do have slots for water bottles. The two large front cupholders are well-placed behind the shifter.

Behind its rear seat, the Rogue Sport offers 19.9 cubic feet of space, which is about average for this class. Every Rogue Sport comes standard with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, which is easily folded flat to expand that space to 53.3 cubic feet. That’s large for the class. Surprisingly, a power liftgate is not available.

Photo by Nissan

Solid Infotainment Tech

Bluetooth is standard, and it connects to your phone quickly. The Rogue Sport’s infotainment system is also Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatible. Unfortunately, onboard Wi-Fi is not available. At the center of the Rogue’s dashboard is the same 7-inch infotainment screen that's used in the Rogue. It’s large enough, but the navigation system’s graphics are dated. The system is easy to use, at least. Other features include voice recognition, NissanConnect Mobile Apps, and a Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant.

Unfortunately, the audio system in our Rogue Sport SL was a bit of a letdown. The system had only six speakers and just didn’t have the punch or the midrange of the nine-speaker Bose premium audio system available in the larger Rogue.

Photo by Nissan

Final Thoughts

Although the base Rogue Sport S offers a low starting price and represents a strong value, we recommend stepping up to the Rogue Sport SV if you can for an additional $2,400. The SV’s longer list of interior and exterior features, including 17-inch wheels, automatic headlights, power seats, dual-zone climate control, and push-button ignition, are worth the extra money.

Overall, the stylish Rogue Sport offers a comfortable, high-quality interior, a sporty driving experience, and plenty of room for people and things. If you’re one of the growing numbers of Americans shopping for a subcompact crossover SUV, the 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport is a solid overall choice.

Photo by Nissan