The Nissan Rogue lived up to its name when it debuted in 2008. Not much has changed with the two-row crossover since then except that its competition has received significant recent updates, surpassing the Rogue’s modern looks and challenging its utility.
The Nissan Rogue could bridge this gap with its competition with a dedicated update that’s more committed than the 2013 iteration I tested.
This five-seater has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. The driving experience was fine. If you commute and are just interested in a Point-A-to-Point-B machine, the Rogue does well. If you’re looking for any more character, you’ll likely be left a little disappointed.
Unfortunately, the Rogue stands out for its in-cabin noise. The engine’s noise paired with the CVT is almost unbearable. I wanted to wear noise-canceling headphones while driving the Rogue, and I almost let the noise detract from everything else about the vehicle.
The 2013 Nissan Rogue has a starting price of $23,455, including an $845 destination charge. My test car, a top-of-the-line Rogue SV with the SL Package and all-wheel drive, cost $30,965.
EXTERIOR
When the Rogue first debuted in 2008, it looked much like its larger sibling, the Murano, though the five-seater was smaller and a touch sleeker. What a difference a few years makes. Though it was refreshed in 2011, the Rogue now looks dated because some of its competitors — the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V — have received redesigns recently. It’s enough to make me look at the Rogue longingly and wonder what’s next.
The 2013 Rogue is a mostly family-friendly crossover in terms of accessibility. The door handles are a little high for tykes, but the doors are lightweight and easy to manage. The step-in height also is manageable.
In the cargo area, groceries should fit easily, but don’t expect to add a double-stroller into the mix. The backseat is split 60/40, so it’s easy to expand the cargo area. The front passenger seat folds flat in case you need to haul lumber or other longer items.
The 2013 Rogue has 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a CVT. It gets an EPA-estimated 23/28 mpg city/highway with front-wheel drive and 22/27 mpg with all-wheel drive. It uses regular unleaded gasoline.
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): None
INTERIOR
The Rogue’s interior is interesting and highlights a compact crossover conundrum. I expect a ton of utility from a crossover; even though it’s small, I’m thinking “Oooh, crossover … more storage, more capacity!” But that isn’t always so. The Rogue lacks storage: It has two front-row cupholders and a narrow cubby behind the gearshift, but there are no other open areas for storage. There’s a center console that’s deep enough to hold a box of tissues. Add a couple narrow door pockets and that’s it.
The Rogue is comfortable, though, and there are some goodies. The black leather seats of my test vehicle were perforated to reveal red material underneath. The navigation system is easy to use, and the simplicity of the climate controls is great. My test car had Nissan’s Around View Monitor system, which uses four cameras for a bird’s-eye view around the car; it’s especially helpful when parking.
Heated leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated side mirrors are part of the optional SL Package ($3,900). It also includes a seven-speaker Bose stereo system with a subwoofer.
The rear seats are comfortable, and my 8- and 10-year-old kids didn’t mind riding back there one bit. There are cupholders in the floor at the rear of the center console, which is a pain for kids to reach and not usable for kids in child-safety seats. There is a good amount of legroom, though kids with their feet dangling off of a car seat may find it a bit tight. Fitting two kids across the backseat was a piece of cake. Three was OK, but only if they’re out of car seats. Otherwise, it’s a tight fit.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
SAFETY
The Rogue has two sets of lower Latch anchors in the outboard seats, and they’re easily accessible. Forward-facing child-safety seats fit fine, but rear-facing seats depend on how tall you are and your preferred seat position. At 5 feet 5 inches tall (with short legs, the denim saleslady tells me), a rear-facing car seat barely fit behind me. For kids in booster seats, the seat belt buckles are on stable bases and easy for younger kids to grasp.
The Rogue SV with the SL Package has standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights, an electronic stability system, traction control, active front head restraints, front and rear parking sensors, Around View Monitor and six airbags, including side curtains for both rows.
The 2013 Rogue received the top score of Good in side, rear and moderate-overlap frontal crash tests and the second-highest score of Acceptable in the roof-strength crash test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It earned an overall safety score of four stars out of five from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It had scores of four stars in front and rollover tests and five stars in the side crash test.
Get more safety information about the 2013 Nissan Rogue.
