Did Nissan drop the ball with 2010 Rogue...

[Baapo]

I am really surprised at how conservative Nissan was when updating the 2010 Rogue, especially given the competition it will encounter in the coming months...with the new Equinox, Terrain & Tuscon, updated CR-V, RAV-4, CX-7, Outlander...

I feel they could have done a lot more to enhance the interior and exterior...

The new premium audio package on the Sentra and Altima has a standard 4.3 inch screen with iPod connectivity...the interface is a giant leap forward compared what has been offered...yet somehow the Rogue was ignored...



The above interface could so easily have been molded into the Rogue...

The same goes for automatic climate controls and push button start...which should be offered on the SL model...

Also, how in the world can they offer a 400 dollar in-dash navigation option on the Sentra yet the Rogue has to settle for a aftermarket, outdated Garmin unit for 485...

It appears Nissan will procrastinate and wait till next year and the mid cycle refresh to incorporate these changes...
Modified by Baapo at 11:33 AM 10/3/2009

[philipa_240sx]

Welcome to the NICOClub Rogue Forums Baapo!

Yes, Nissan didn't do much with the 2010 Rogue. Honestly this is not surprising.

Nissan has been following a pattern of model introductions and updates for several years now:

Yr 1: New modelYr 2 and 3: Minor changes, ie. new option packages, accessories, etcYr 4: Mid-cycle refresh, revised styling, new features, etcYr 5: Minor changes if any.

An all new model is introduced after 5 years.

This pattern means we would not be seeing any significant changes for the Rogue until next year... 2011.

The current generation Altima and Sentra sedans were released in 2007 so they were scheduled to receive their 'refreshes' in the 2010 model year... and they have.

It's a delicate balance....

- You want to keep the product fresh and customers interested.

- You have to keep engineering costs down over the life cycle of the product to make it profitable. Every change made regardless of how small costs money. I'm sure Nissan analyzes each and every change and how it impacts the bottom line.

Finally, the changes to the Sentra and Altima were planned long before the current downturn. Since then Nissan has tightened it's belt and likely reigned in many projects including updates to the Rogue. I for one would not be surprised if we see a slowdown of product introductions and updates from Nissan over the next couple of years until the market improves.

[kerrton]

I agree with you Baapo, the Rogue has always fought for a spot in a crowded segment with solid players from Toyota and Honda, and now with the new Equinox the Rogue no longer can boast the best fuel efficiency or price. I realize they have to keep design and engineering costs down but if they don't invest enough, then their bottom line will really hurt because their product won't compete and won't sell. And something that is pretty much standard now like in-dash nav shouldn't be ignored, and offering the old Garmin "stick-on" dash is really a pathetic attempt considering how overpriced it is. It seems like a lot of exciting new options and designs are coming out, and like you said, the Rogue may be outclassed - hopefully they can make a big impact in 2011 and catch up. That Equinox sure is looking tempting, but of course I have no idea what the quality will be like.

[takeshi]

Meh. Every discussion forum for every product out there has threads like this. The Rogue just isn't due for a major restyle or redesign yet.

[crayb]

I'd say Nissan is in full control of "the ball".

The only significant products the Rogue will face in 10 is the Hyundai. The GM products are definitely inferior and will have historically poor resale/reliability. Is Mitsubuishi still selling cars?

The CR-V is still the same old ugly (typical these days) Honda design. The RAV4 continues on with the backward rear door and the cheap looking interior (the front end is horrendous).

I drove the Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, VW, and Suzuki small SUV's before deciding on the Rogue. I even drove the Infiniti and Acura (do they employ real designers anymore). I came away most impressed with the Rogue. The interior/exterior was the deal maker for me, high end leather and an Infiniti feel (I have a G35 for comparison) with my only complaint being lack of tan interior and auto headlights.

If you don't like the Rogue, there are many choices available.

Ray