2018 Nissan Rogue Road Test and Review

2018 Nissan Rogue hero ・ Photo by Nissan

The Rogue is Nissan’s best-selling model, and last year Nissan sold more Rogues than ever before — making it one of America’s most popular compact SUVs. It’s also one our favorites in that fast-growing segment.

Don’t confuse the 2018 Nissan Rogue with Nissan's smaller and less powerful Rogue Sport, which is a completely different vehicle. The larger Rogue, which slots just below the Murano in Nissan’s extensive SUV lineup, is perfect for families looking for a stylish and fuel-efficient SUV with a spacious, high-quality cabin; room for five; and a starting price right around $25,000. It's also one of the most fun-to-drive SUVs in its class, with agile handling and strong acceleration. It competes with a long list of popular rivals including the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5.

Three Trim Levels to Choose From

Prices for the 2018 Rogue start at $25,775, including a $975 destination charge. Front-wheel drive comes as standard equipment on all models, but all-wheel drive is offered across the range for an additional $1,350. Built in Tennessee, the Rogue is available in three trim levels: S, SV and SL, which has a base price of $33,505. Each is powered by a smooth and fuel-efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine backed by a continuously variable automatic transmission, or CVT, which improves its fuel efficiency. The engine produces 170 horsepower, which is strong for the class, and its 33 mpg rating on the highway is a standout among its competitors.

Our all-wheel-drive 2018 Rogue SL test vehicle cost $36,625. Among its many options was the desirable Premium Package, which cost an additional $1,820 and added a panoramic sunroof and LED headlights. Also, our Rogue’s Monarch Orange paint, which really gave the SUV an upscale vibe, cost an extra $395.

Photo by Nissan

Advanced Safety Systems and Technology

For 2018, Nissan has radically expanded the Rogue’s long list of available safety systems. This year, the Rogue SL adds standard intelligent cruise control, which can keep a safe distance from the car ahead; lane-departure warning; intelligent lane intervention; a lane departure warning; an "Intelligent Lane Intervention"; and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. All trims come standard with a blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert, which tells you if a car or pedestrian is approaching from the side when you’re backing out of your driveway or a parking space. We’re also impressed by the Rogue’s Intelligent AroundView Monitor, which gives you a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the SUV on its 7-inch touchscreen.

But the big news on the Rogue for 2018 is ProPilot Assist, which is part of the $790 Platinum Package on the SL. With a simple two-button operation, ProPilot Assist practically drives the Rogue for you, providing assisted steering, braking and accelerating in many driving conditions including stop-and-go traffic.

Photo by Nissan

Impressive ProPilot Assist

Nissan makes it clear that ProPilot Assist is not a self-driving feature. In fact, the system does require you to keep your hands on the steering wheel, and it will sound an alarm if you don't. Activated with a blue ProPilot Assist button on the right side of the Rogue’s steering wheel, ProPilot is like a cruise control system on steroids. It allows you to set a desired speed and distance from the car ahead. It activates the brakes and the accelerator for you, and it steers as a camera mounted to the windshield reads the lane markers.

It works as advertised. ProPilot Assist is easy to engage and simple to operate. It accelerates the SUV smoothly and it will bring it to a complete stop without any drama. The system does have its limitations, however. Faded lane markers can cause it to veer from your chosen lane, and sharp turns require more steering input than the system can muster. On straight well-striped roads and highways, though, the system cruises the Rogue along effortlessly.

Photo by Nissan

Solid Driving Dynamics

Around town, the 2018 Nissan Rogue feels solid, well planted and sporty. The ride is comfortable, but with our test vehicle’s optional 19-inch wheels and beefy tires, the SUV was also athletic and responsive. Its steering is quick and the handling is impressive with plenty of grip. It isn’t as fun to drive as a Mazda CX-5, but the Nissan is also nice to toss around. The 187-horsepower Mazda is also more powerful than the Nissan. And it’s quicker. The Rogue can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 9.1 seconds, which feels quick, but it’s a full second slower than the Mazda. And the turbocharged Honda CR-V can blow the doors off both of them.

Although very smooth and satisfying in everyday driving, the Nissan’s continuously variable automatic transmission holds back the SUV’s acceleration potential. It would be quicker with a conventional transmission. The good news is that there’s a Sport mode that recalibrates the transmission to hold gears longer. There’s also a manual mode so you can choose your own gears, though the Rogue lacks paddle shifters.

Photo by Nissan

Classy Cabin

A neighbor took one look at our test car, opened the door and said, “Wow, what is this?” When we said it was a Nissan Rogue he said, “Really, I thought it was a BMW.” Equipped with the Platinum Reserve Interior package, which adds tan leather seats with quilted leather inserts for only $250, the interior of our all-wheel-drive Rogue SL had that kind of impact. Materials are high-quality and there’s French stitching on the seats, dash, and doors. The overall design is clean and modern with impressive fit and finish, as well as chrome trim on the knobs, gauges and the engine start button.

There’s a heated leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel like in a European sports sedan. The front seats are heated as well, and they’re comfortable and supportive, even after hours behind the wheel. Rear seat space is abundant, and three full-size adults fit back there to enjoy the two rear air conditioning vents and reclining seats.

Photo by Nissan

Ample Cargo Space

Open its power liftgate and you'll find 39.3 cubic feet of space behind the Rogue's rear seat, which is large for this class. Every Rogue comes standard with a 40/20/40 split-folding back seat, which easily drops flat to expand that space to 70 cubic feet. That’s also large for the class, but the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 offer more. Another plus is that you can open and close the Rogue’s liftgate with a button on its dashboard.

The Rogue also offers plenty of cabin storage space. There’s a deep console bin between the front seats and a cubby well-placed ahead of the shifter, which is perfect for your phone.  The door pockets aren’t huge, but they have slots for water bottles. The two large front cupholders are also well-placed on the center console so tall drinks don’t interfere with any of the controls.

Photo by Nissan

Solid Infotainment Tech

At the center of the Rogue’s dashboard is a 7-inch infotainment screen. It's large enough, but the navigation system’s graphics seem a little dated. On the upside, the system is easy to use, its directional prompts are well-timed and the touchscreen responds quickly to your inputs. Bluetooth is standard and the Rogue includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Unfortunately, onboard Wi-Fi is not available.

Our loaded test vehicle was also equipped with the Bose Premium Audio System with nine speakers, which is standard on the SL. It’s a solid system with enough punch to satisfy several 14-year-old members of the Southern California Volleyball Club. The girls enjoyed an ear-shattering dance party the entire ride home from practice.

Photo by Nissan

Impressive Safety and Fuel Economy

The 2018 Nissan Rogue is one of the safest cars in its class. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named it a Top Safety Pick, and it has a five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Parents with infants or toddlers will also appreciate the easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and easily accessed upper tether anchors.

The Rogue is also one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs in its class and it runs on less-expensive regular grade gasoline. Although there was a Rogue Hybrid offered last year, it has been discontinued for 2018. With front-wheel drive, the 2018 Rogue is rated for 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, while the all-wheel-drive model achieves 1 mpg less. We averaged 26 mpg during a week of mixed driving around Los Angeles in our all-wheel-drive test vehicle. There are more efficient options in this class, including the Honda CR-V, which is rated 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which the EPA estimates as 34 mpg in the city.

Photo by Nissan

Final Thoughts

Overall, the 2018 Nissan Rogue offers one of the classiest interiors in the segment, high safety ratings and a satisfying driving experience. It’s also comfortable and roomy, and its exterior design is among the best in its class. If you’re looking for a comfortable, fun-to-drive and fuel-efficient SUV for less than $30,000, the Rogue is a desirable overall choice.

Although the base Rogue S represents a strong value, we recommend stepping up to the Rogue SV if you can. The additional interior and exterior features it offers, including a motion-activated power liftgate, dual-zone climate control, and remote keyless entry, will enhance your ownership experience.

Photo by Nissan