2014 Nissan Rogue - Bigger, with the same crappy drivetrain

[Kompresshun]

You know how it is with the crossover sport utility segment. Carmakers come out with a brand-new model, it sees some sales success, and then when it comes time to replace it, its successor is always bigger. The new Nissan Rogue was unveiled today, and it's no exception.P

The new Rogue follows the same playbook that has made the RAV4, CR-V and others bigger and more "family-friendly" over the years by growing in size, albeit slightly. The new Rogue is 1.1 inches wider, and 1.2 inches taller, and has a wheelbase stretched by 0.6 inch. It also has seven seats now. P

Should the larger Rogue pique your curiousity, you also get a 2.5-liter 170-horsepower four cylinder engine partnered with the latest Nissan Xtronic CVT. Prices start at under $23,000.P

Sounds exciting.

So basically, you get more of the same with a little more room and weight added. At first glance, I thought to myself "Hey that doesn't look half bad" and then I thought, "Wait, that looks very familiar too."





It oddly resembles the Sorento in my opinion, but it also resembles everything else on the market. So what i'm trying to say is it's another bland CUV on the market and does nothing to stand out. It's also less powerful than most other models in it's class and of course still has the CVT. The only thing less powerful is the base model Mazda CX-5, which weighs in at 155hp, but also delivers stellar fuel economy and a great driving experience, plus also has it's own unique look so it's a fair trade.

It will also offer third row seating in this new bigger model, which is one advantage over most of it's competition. The only thing that offers third row seating in the class currently is the Sorento and Santa Fe to my knowledge.

Here's more from Autoblog:

Nissan has been on a roll lately, redesigning its core model line with all-new versions of the Altima, Pathfinder, Sentra and Versa Note released this year. But the Japanese automaker wouldn't leave out the Rogue, its second-best-selling model in the US.

Like the Range Rover Sport, Mitsubishi Outlander and Ford Explorer, the second-generation Nissan Rogue has gained an optional third row of seats for seven-passenger capability. Along with the middle and rear rows, the front passenger seat can also be folded flat for the benefit of cargo capacity, and the cabin has been redesigned for an airier look and feel.

Despite the added space inside, the new Rogue is only marginally larger than the model it replaces, with a 0.6-inch longer wheelbase offset by shorter overhangs front and rear. A lower drag coefficient ought to help reduce wind noise and improve fuel consumption as well.

Power comes courtesy of a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission driving either the front wheels or all four. Nissan estimates front-wheel-drive models will be able to hit 33 miles per gallon on the highway, though official EPA ratings aren't yet available.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/10/2014 ... #continued

So what are your thoughts on the new Rogue? Just another bland CUV in Nissans lineup, or will you be in line waiting to get one when they hit the showroom?

[Bubba1]

My feeling contains a yawn. Making it marginally bigger and adding cramped 3rd row seats (which kills luggage space) keeps it current with its competitors. But If they're gonna raise the MSRP $2K, I think Nissan needs to do something more to make it stand out enough to convince people to walk away from their Rav4/CRV's. A better value to me would be their doubling the warranty period. If they want us to believe in their CVT, that's how to prove it. Another value added touch would be to make standard the much hyped memory foam (er...I mean "NASA inspired zero gravity" ) seats from the Altima.

[Kompresshun]

^Exactly.

I kept looking at the Rogue when we were looking at SUV's/CUV's, but I kept asking myself "Why should I buy it over this other vehicle?". I never could justify a reason for it when you compare warranty, specs, and price to the competition. Now it's exactly the same comparison, just with a couple of new options.

Sure a third row seat sounds nice, but like you said: All it does is kill luggage space and who are you going to put back there? Toddlers? We didn't opt for the third row in our Sorento for the same reason though. If you got the third row seating, you lost two really great storage compartments and it was also very cramped. If you need really have the need for three rows of seating, then you probably should either be buying a larger SUV, sacrificing fuel economy or get over your minivan complex.

[nissangirl74]

I've never driven a Rogue before so I'm going today to drive a 2013 so I have something to compare against the 2014. The thought of a third row seat in the Rogue seems pointless to me. Why would anyone want to sit in the crumple zone?

[Kompresshun]

The thought of a third row seat in the Rogue seems pointless to me. Why would anyone want to sit in the crumple zone?

Because they think fueling a larger SUV is wasteful and they would rather be caught dead in the crumple zone of a small crossover than a minivan

[nissangirl74]

So, I went and drove the 2013. whoop. dee. doo.

One of THE most boring vehicles I have ever driven. Bleh, bleh, bleh. Plus, it hummed when you pushed the gas pedal. Serously, it sounded like a bumble bee. Interior is boring, performance is boring, exterior is boring. No freaking thank you.


How in the sam hell is this Nissan's second-best seller

[Dattebayo]

Did you drive the turbo version? My friend has one and he's all hyped over it... but then again, he's kind of an old foagy.

[Kompresshun]

They don't make a turbo one. He must have a Juke.

[Dattebayo]

Yeah, my mistake. Carry on!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Its an altima wagon. Its for people that want a lifted A-to-B vehicle that may or may not carry more things than an Altima all while getting worse gas mileage.

I drove a 2010 and thought it actually drove pretty well for what it was.

[nissangirl74]

The more I've thought about it today, the more I don't like it. That is the most soul-sucking car I've driven in a long time. In comparison, twenty years ago, I had to have a rental car for a week while my car was down for repairs. The rental was a late 80s / early 90s Ford Tempo. I would rent that same car again before I'd drive the Rogue. No joke. If it was the only car on the market available to buy, I'd buy a pair of Nikes and a bus pass.

[Kompresshun]

If it was the only car on the market available to buy, I'd buy a pair of Nikes and a bus pass.

We drove one back in 2012 and Kristen liked it a lot, but I wanted nothing to do with the thing. I didn't like anything about it. It was boring, gutless, and not very well equipped for the amount of money there were asking. The base model(with hubcaps, not even aluminum wheels...) was $23,000 WITH a $2,500 rebate and $1,000 competitive vehicle credit! For that kind of money, there are so many more better choices out there.

It was bad enough that I didn't even bother writing a review on it, because I didn't want to remember anything about that experience.

[Bubba1]

Its an altima wagon. Its for people that want a lifted A-to-B vehicle that may or may not carry more things than an Altima all while getting worse gas mileage.

I drove a 2010 and thought it actually drove pretty well for what it was.

Just what Nissan needs, another Altima based CUV. They already sell one called the Murano. It seems like deja vu all over again to me. Remember when Nissan grew the compact Altima to Maxima size back in 2002?. It sparked sales for the Altima at the expense of Maxima sales. I'm sure Nissan believed they appealed to two different demographics. But when I shopped for a new sedan back in '02, I fit the Maxima demographic, yet I went with a loaded Atli. why? Because the alti cost thousands less for a similar sized vehicle, had less obnoxious styling and comfortable. Fast forward 12 years. I see them making the same mistake for the same reasons with the Rogue and Murano.

[Kompresshun]

^That is another point I didn't think about too. Why not just add a third row to the Murano and offer an entry model with a less powerful, more economical drivetrain that can be sold at a lower pricing point? Oh, wait that would be something sensible so they wouldn't do that.

[nissangirl74]

If I had $23K to spend on a Nissan, I'd go buy the Base Sentra with the manual trans, upgrade the seats, buy new wheels and tires and put $5K in the bank. Done and done. There is NO way I'd drop that kind of money on a Rogue. I told the sales guy that too. I thought he was a bit shocked that I was that honest but hey. It is what it is. He'll sell a bunch of them to young single moms and people 65 and over.