2011 rogue SV/SL AWD review-Pros/Cons

[rayjgold]

I have owned the 2011 Rogue SV/SL for about a month now. And 800 milea later I'm ready to discuss the pros and cons!

Pros:
1.Bluetooth- I've had no issues with it so far.
2.Leather heated seats - very comfortable and warms the butt fast on cold days.
3.NAV- turn-by-turn directions are excellent! screen is very clear and precise.
4.AWD
5.Moonroof
6.Trunk access- I've only had SUVs where the door swings open instead of lifting up, and i like this one much better.
7.Cargo flexibility
8.intelligent key- This is my favorite....I havnt taken a key out my pocket since I've been driving this car!
9.the Looks- I think this car looks great inside and out...especially the extra chrome on the body and the new wheel style.
10. Back up cam.
11.Bose audio- sounds really good!
12. Ipod interface!- much better than the audio cable options i had in other cars.
12. Ride is smooth and stable!
13. I was able to get it fully loaded for 25k!- try that with the CRV, Rav4, Tucsan, forestor etc.... no seriously try...cause i did and i couldnt.....i want to see if it was just me. But this car looks better outside than all of them!

Cons
1. Rear visibility is terrible! I had to reevaluate my method of passing on the highway. I use to say it is safe to pass when you see the car you are passing in the rearview mirror. But in this car, you dont see them till they are about a mile away! But this is not a big deal....just had to push the side mirrors out a little more and practice! And good luck with parking without the rearview cam! And you mind as well cover the rearview mirror up if someone is sitting in the center back seat.
2.Engine Drone- It gets really loud when going from a stop to high speeds. But when you are listening to the Bose, you don't notice.
3. "0-60" in.....-It does not pick up speed like the V6 rav4 i have and there is no V6 option.
4.Gas(mpg).- Im not sure how accurately it is, but the car is stating that I only get 21 mpg after over 700miles. I thought it would be better than that.
5.Radio- The FM/AM reception is noticeably worse than any older car Ive had. But of course the XM(which you have to pay for after 3 months) reception is great as long as you can see the sky. Could this be a ploy to make us continue the subscription?
6.1NAV- when the NAV is on, there is a bar at the top showing the radio/ipod station/song. And when you turn them off, the bar is still there saying 'audio off'!!!! I think this takes unnecessary display room from an already small NAV screen.
6.2NAV-When directing...it does not show the next turn on the screen, it just tells you when you are a few feet/miles from the turn. there has been times when I was told when to turn when i was too close to the turn to get into the turning lane!
6.3NAV- when on the Highway, the NAV views exits as Turns. So it will say, turn right on Raymond ave (which is actually exit 32N AND 32S) and wont even tell you whether it is Raymond north or south! But it does tell you the next right or the second right and has been accurate thus far.
6.4NAV- just too low on the Dash, period! a little dangerous if you are one to look and not relieve just on the voice commands.
7.A/C- it is below freezing a lot, but everytime I turn the dial to defrost, the A/C comes on with it and I have to press the button to turn it off. Ok, the windows are no longer fogged and it is getting hot. so you turn it off, or side to a different setting. If it starts to fog again and you turn it on..guess what comes on along with it????? that's right.... the A/C! But!! it does seem that the auto option works with Heat as well....I think I saw a post saying it only worked with cooling.
8.No locking gas cap.--I purchased my own to resolve this issue.

I think that is all for now.

Overall, this is still the best car I've had, It's is Fun to drive and I can tell that I wont feel the need to trade it in or switch within the next five years!

I know this means little to the people here with rogues already, but it may mean something to people, like me, who comes here to look before purchasing.

I have had no issues with the car thus far...If anyone else has issues with this model and year, i would like to know about it! lol

[bill875]

Interesting observations. Thanks for posting them. Regarding the A/C being on when set to Defrost... that is by design. The A/C compressor kicks in when in defrost mode on many vehicles, the Rogue just happens to indicate so, unlike other makes.

[Pescakl1]

Thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum.

Just about this:

2.Engine Drone- It gets really loud when going from a stop to high speeds. But when you are listening to the Bose, you don't notice.
3. "0-60" in.....-It does not pick up speed like the V6 rav4 i have and there is no V6 option.
4.Gas(mpg).- Im not sure how accurately it is, but the car is stating that I only get 21 mpg after over 700miles. I thought it would be better than that.

It is all related: If the engine drones that means that you are pushing it hard, so don't expect any good fuel mileage.
It is normal that it doesn't pick up speed like the V6 RAV4 (Is it a 3.5l), it is a 2.5l I4. It was chosen for better fuel economy and to get you to the speed limit of your part of the world. No need to be able to get to 150 mph or whatever.
Be easier on the gas pedal (no droning, no rpm above 2500-3000) and you will get the fuel economy advertised.

Have fun with your new toy.

[rayjgold]

Thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum.

Just about this:

2.Engine Drone- It gets really loud when going from a stop to high speeds. But when you are listening to the Bose, you don't notice.
3. "0-60" in.....-It does not pick up speed like the V6 rav4 i have and there is no V6 option.
4.Gas(mpg).- Im not sure how accurately it is, but the car is stating that I only get 21 mpg after over 700miles. I thought it would be better than that.

It is all related: If the engine drones that means that you are pushing it hard, so don't expect any good fuel mileage.
It is normal that it doesn't pick up speed like the V6 RAV4 (Is it a 3.5l), it is a 2.5l I4. It was chosen for better fuel economy and to get you to the speed limit of your part of the world. No need to be able to get to 150 mph or whatever.
Be easier on the gas pedal (no droning, no rpm above 2500-3000) and you will get the fuel economy advertised.

Have fun with your new toy.

Thanks for the reply. Actually, the engine drones even at low revs. I pull off from the parking spot to get to 10mph and it was loud.. but it is cold, so maybe that has something to do with it. I watch the computer thing closely... there is a bar that goes up and down showing your mpg and i let off the gas everytime i see in go below 21mpg.....this is how i was able to get it up to 21 in the first place.....but when you do mostly highway driving you cant help reving to get on and pressing the gas to keep up with traffic.

But I will keep trying to get the mpg up......I do have AWD so i think the rating is only about 23/24 anyway. but we will see.

[asoomal]

AC is supposed to turn on when you set it on defrost.

It drys the air.

[mag318]

After you're up to 10K miles or so your mileage will increase dramatically, I also recommend using synthetic oil like Mobil 1. I have a 2008 Rogue and regularly get 31 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg around town. I'm looking forward to seeing the redesign in 2012, Nissan hit a home run with the Rogue.

[rayjgold]

After you're up to 10K miles or so your mileage will increase dramatically, I also recommend using synthetic oil like Mobil 1. I have a 2008 Rogue and regularly get 31 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg around town. I'm looking forward to seeing the redesign in 2012, Nissan hit a home run with the Rogue.

27 MPGs sounds great! Do you have an AWD as well? I haven't had the chance to get an oil change yet, but I got free maintenance for a year with the dealership, so I hope they will use the best type of oil and I will just continue what ever they use after the year it up.

I've was waiting for 3 years for the Next year's model because i thought it would be better than the current years....but after i while i felt that if i kept waiting for the next year I'd never get a car. So when they got the NAV I jumped on it! I personally hope the next few years arent too much better than mine

[philipa_240sx]

hope the next few years arent too much better than mine

The Rogue is not scheduled for a complete redesign until the 2013 model year. I do not expect Nissan to make any significant changes for the 2012 model.

BTW, I trade up my vehicles every 5 years... the new 2013 Rogue should be out when my 2008 model hits 5 yrs.

[rayjgold]

BTW, I trade up my vehicles every 5 years... the new 2013 Rogue should be out when my 2008 model hits 5 yrs.

Nice. I kept my last car for over 8 years, I plan to do the same with this one. I cant imagine paying a car note for the rest of my life....or full coverage insurance, for that matter. But I'll see how i feel after 5 years.