Weekend Athlete: 2008 Nissan Rogue

I got to take the Rogue for a weekend of cyclocross racing in the fall; it was OK at that, but not a standout. Slip off the wheel, slide the bike in and you’re done. Driving and parking the Rogue was just as easy; I parallel parked it the first time out with no problem. The interior was suitably roomy to recline the seat and relax between races.

When I loaded the Rogue with what I’d need for camping and racing, however, it was just too small. There was a lot of cramming, and I have to say other cars do it better. The real shame is that if the rear headrests had been detachable, it would have been much easier. I would have been able to take both bike wheels off, stand them behind the seats and create enough room for my gear. But the headrests were fixed. Sigh.

Ultimately, the Rogue doesn’t score well, and that’s too bad. I really enjoyed driving it, and it was the most comfortable car I’ve had after a day at the races. I guess it’s up to you whether you carry enough gear to make the small size a problem.

Weekend Athlete Scores (Out of 10)

Ease of loading gear: 3
The issue here is there’s just not enough room for everything I need.

Ease of seat operation: 9.5
Simple, one-handed operation is so nice.

Bike hauling: 5
Average. Remove the wheel, slide in. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing special.

Locker room cred: 7
It doesn’t try to be uber-macho, which I really like, but others might find it too tame. Your call.

All-around: 6
It’s a fun little ride, but it can’t quite carry all my toys.