2018 Nissan Rogue review

2018 Nissan Rogue review

The Nissan Rogue is one of the best-selling small crossovers on the market, and it’s the best-selling Nissan model. Families will like the roomy interior that makes it easy to add car seats or carry adults in the rear and the flexible cargo area with adjustable shelves that give you plenty of options on just how to store stuff. After a thorough refresh for the 2017 model year that focused on exterior and interior design, the 2018 Nissan Rogue updates focus on advanced technology. All three Rogue trim levels receive Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ smartphone integration as standard equipment, and the top-level SL trim can be found with essential driver-assist systems such as adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning.

If you’re looking for a quick compact family SUV, the Rogue may not be the best pick, nor does it have a particularly sporty driving feel. On the other hand, the Rogue offers up a strong value proposition, averaging thousands less than rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

Check out the full review below for more details on why you might want to consider the 2018 Nissan Rogue.

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

What tech does the 2018 Nissan Rogue have?

Connectivity

Rogue models from 2018 through 2020 have Apple CarPlay® and Android AutoTM smartphone integration standard on all trim levels, a nice feature to have for a couple of reasons. First, it gives drivers the familiar interface of their smartphones. Second, it lets them avoid the dated-feeling default interface. The Rogue has a USB-A port under the audio controls for its smartphone input, plus an auxiliary audio input if you have an older non-USB media device. There’s also an additional USB-A charge port in the center console on all trims.

Infotainment

The touchscreen on the base S model is only five inches, so we suggest looking for an SV or SL with the larger seven-inch screen. The interface for both screens is easy enough to use, but the graphics and design date from the early 2010s so the aesthetics aren't quite up to modern standards. BluetoothTM supports music streaming, though, and the audio quality is quite good on SL models with the Bose® audio system and acceptable on the rest of the lineup.

Driver-assist tech

Certain top-of-the-line 2018 Rogue SL trims can be found with Nissan’s complete suite of advanced driver-assist systems. The adaptive cruise control smoothly matches speed to the car in front of it, and the lane keeping assistance is strong enough to keep the Rogue in its lane without feeling overly intrusive. Upper Rogue trims feature an advanced 360-degree camera system. It shows the vehicle’s surroundings at slow speeds, making parking a snap even in tight spots.

How comfortable is the 2018 Nissan Rogue?

Front seating

Rogue drivers and front passengers are in for a treat thanks to Nissan’s so-called Zero Gravity seat technology. They strike an ideal balance between cushiness and support, making them great for long-distance drives. Mid-level SV and top-tier SL trims have heated seats standard, and the SL trim adds a heated steering wheel. The biggest downside is that some drivers might have a hard time finding a “sweet spot” thanks to the Rogue’s limited seat adjustments.

Rear seating

In the rear, there’s good legroom and headroom even for tall passengers. The rear seats are slightly higher than the fronts for a “stadium” effect. They can slide back to add legroom or forward if you need more cargo space. The seatback angle can also be adjusted, making it easier to find a good position on long drives. All trims get air-conditioning vents for rear passengers, a nice touch at this price point.

Ride quality and interior noise

All of these highlights are backed up by the Rogue’s ability to absorb road imperfections without losing its composure and feeling “floaty” around turns. Wind, road, and engine noise is nicely suppressed at highway speeds. While nobody will mistake the Rogue for a luxury vehicle, its comfort and ride quality are a cut above many other compact SUVs and even compare favorably to newer vehicles.

Does the 2018 Nissan Rogue have good storage?

Cargo

Cargo room and flexibility are key reasons to consider the Rogue. The Divide-N-Hide® cargo system, standard on all trims, uses removable floor panels that allow owners to arrange the cargo area into different tiers to stack groceries without smashing bags, split wet and dry areas on beach days, or hide valuable items under the floor. The rear seatbacks fold down in a 40/20/40 split to add extra room or to carry long objects and still have passengers sitting on either side. If you need flexible cargo, the Rogue is tough to beat in this segment.

Storage

If you need lots of space to store small items, the Rogue may not be ideal. There’s a pocket under the instrument panel but it’s too small for modern smartphones, although another narrow pocket behind the cupholders works as a vertical solution. The center console bin is on the small side, and even though the door pockets on all four doors include bottle holders, they aren’t tall enough for those larger metallic reusable bottles. The glovebox is big enough to get the job done and rear passengers can use the pockets on the front seatbacks for flatter items. Commuters take note: There’s plenty of room on the windshield for a toll road transponder.

How easy is the 2018 Nissan Rogue to use?

Entry, exit, and car seats

The Rogue is high enough off the ground to give drivers and passengers alike good visibility but low enough that entry and exit doesn’t require climbing. All four doors open wide, making it easy to get in and out, and make maneuvering car seats into place much easier. Speaking of which, there are two LATCH points on the outboard positions in the rear, with easy-to-reach lower anchors and upper tethers. The “stadium” arrangement of the rear seats improves visibility but might make it harder for smaller kids to get in by themselves.

Interior layout and visibility

Rogue drivers will appreciate the large speedometer and tachometer, and the color display between them provides selectable information on functions ranging from what’s playing on the stereo to phone calls to the driver assist features. While the touchscreen controls many functions, the Rogue retains physical controls for its primary audio and climate controls, so the learning curve for those coming from an older vehicle is fairly shallow. There are no surprises for windows and other switches as well, although the placement of the steering wheel heater switch, low on the left side of the dash, can feel a little awkward.

Overall visibility is good, but when you glance over your shoulder you may notice the Rogue’s thick rearmost pillars create big blind spots. Keep an eye out for models with the 360-degree surround-view camera system, which greatly compensates and also makes parallel parking a snap.

What’s the 2018 Nissan Rogue like to drive?

Driving

Like other small family SUVs, the Nissan Rogue is available in front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available if you want better traction in foul weather. The Rogue doesn’t have any major faults from a driver's perspective, but most of its competitors are quicker or have a sportier driving feel. The Rogue’s four-cylinder engine has 170 horsepower, about the same as others in its class, but it’s hampered by a slow-to-respond transmission that results in sluggish acceleration. Toggling between the Normal, Sport, and Eco drive modes doesn’t help. The brakes stop the Rogue fine, but the pedal feels softer than it should, and the Rogue’s steering doesn’t feel very sharp. On the plus side, even though the Rogue delivers a comfortable ride over most surfaces, even rough ones, it doesn’t lean too much in corners, imparting a sense of confidence.

Fuel economy

We’d be more forgiving of the Rogue’s sluggish acceleration if it got good fuel economy but, alas, this isn’t the case. The original EPA estimates are competitive with the rest of the class. However, during its testing, Edmunds found that Rogue’s real-world fuel economy fell short of its competitors' figures. If fuel economy is high on your must-haves, there are better fuel-sipping options, although at least the front-wheel-drive Rogue offers slightly better MPG.

EPA fuel economy estimates