Orlando Sentinel's view

One of the few remaining holes in the Nissan/Infiniti lineup is filled for 2008, with the all-new Nissan Rogue, a compact SUV. Yes, Nissan has the Xterra, but there’s a difference: The Xterra is a truck-based SUV, while the Rogue is a car-based “crossover.”

Bottom line: If you need rugged, off-road capability, get an Xterra. If you want a kinder, gentler station wagon that you don’t have to call a station wagon, get the Rogue.

Arriving so late to the party, the Rogue is, as you would expect, nicely conceived, but doesn’t really advance the concept beyond its current and very capable competition, such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander and Ford Escape. Nonetheless it’s a good-looking, very comfortable vehicle, priced attractively enough to make crossover customers take notice.

The lone engine/transmission is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 170 horsepower; you like it in the Altima, you’ll love it in the Rogue. Not surprisingly, the transmission is a CVT, or continuously variable transmission, which works like an automatic but has an infinite number of gear ratios, instead of four, or five, or six. Nissan did not invent the CVT but has certainly become the leading proponent — I don’t think CVTs are better or worse than conventional automatics, so it isn’t a positive or a negative to me. It may be to you.

Regardless, this powertrain works very well in the Rogue, with plenty of power, effectively delivered, and still with good mileage: 22 miles per gallon city, 27 mpg highway, and that’s the more severe 2008 EPA figure. Those numbers are for our test Rogue, which is front-wheel-drive; for an extra $1,200, you can get all-wheel-drive, but mileage drops by one mpg. This being a crossover, all-wheel-drive is useful for bad weather, but don’t expect to do any serious off-roading.

Inside, the Rogue is roomy and surprisingly upscale-looking. Cloth-covered bucket seats (leather is optional) are supportive, but the bottom cushion is a little short. Rear seat room isn’t bad. There’s talk of a stretched seven-passenger Rogue, but this one seats five.

On the road, the Rogue is quiet, the ride smooth. The test model was an uplevel SL (the S is the base vehicle), meaning it had, among other features, handsome 17-inch alloy wheels and plump tires. The test Rogue came with a “premium package” ($1,900), but there’s already a lot of standard equipment: air conditioning, cruise control, stability control, antilock brakes and a long list of additional equipment.

Base price on the S is $19,250, and on our SL, $20,670. With shipping and the premium package, the list price was $23,315, and aside from a sunroof (it would have been an $800 option), there was nothing else I’d want. The Rogue is indeed late to the crossover party, but it’s a very welcome guest.

Sentinel Automotive Editor Steven Cole Smithcan be reached at scsmith@orlandosentinel.com.