The 2019 Nissan Rogue has an upscale interior.The Tennessee-made Nissan Rogue SUV has quietly become the car company's best-selling vehicle.
Attribute that to the ascendancy of the crossover blueprint, but also to Nissan's faithful attention to what the buying public wants - in this case a stylish, compact SUV with loads of creature comforts and commendable fuel economy (33 mpg highway, 26 mpg city).
The Rogue, which is assembled up the interstate in Smyrna, Tennessee, has room for five passengers and slots above the Nissan Juke and the new Nissan Kicks in the company's crossover line-up.
The popularity of the Rogue is reflected in local inventories. Mountain View Nissan downtown had 30 Rogues in digital inventory late last week, and Nissan of Chattanooga East on Chapman Road had 40. Websites for both dealerships reflected discounts on existing Rogue inventory.
Fast Facts
› Model: 2019 Nissan Rogue SL› Exterior color: Monarch Orange› Interior color: Platinum Reserve› Engine: 2.5-liter, four-cylinder› Horsepower: 170› Transmission: continuously variable› Fuel economy: 33 mpg highway, 26 mpg city› Local Dealer: Mountain View Nissan, Nissan of Chattanooga East› Price (as tested): $35,130
The Rogue competes in one of the most hotly-contested segment in today's auto industry. Many buyers will cross-shop the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester (both newly redesigned) along with the ever-popular Honda CR-V and the excellent Volkswagen Tiguan.
WHAT IS IT?
The Nissan Rogue is a five-passenger compact SUV equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower. All-wheel-drive is a $1,350 upgrade.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
The base model, called the S, starts at $24,800. The all-wheel-drive S starts at $26,150, and the SV begins at $26,220. Our swanky SL tester has a base price of $31,300, then layers on about $4,000 worth of options. The bottom line on our tester is $35,130, and includes such upgrades as a panoramic moon-roof, LED headlights and quilted leather seats.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
We loved the "instant-on" acceleration of the 2.5-liter engine. Some crossovers in this segment have gone to smaller-displacement, turbocharged engines that suffer from turbo-lag, that disturbing half-second before the boost kicks in. Most of our week-long Rogue test drive - courtesy of Nissan - was done during a protracted rainstorm, and wheel-spin was a bit of an issue. We wished for the all-wheel-drive option, which would no doubt have cleared those spins.
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Still, the Rogue was a capable commuter vehicle with plenty of real-world power and levels of luxury virtually unmatched in the segment. With a sticker price north of $35,000 you'd expect a high level of content.
STYLING
Our tester features Monarch Orange paint, which is about halfway between orange-orange and bronze. The interior's tan leather is approximately the color of footballs. The interior architecture is full of interesting angles. Analog gauges are easy to read and a 7-inch touch screen is standard.
NOTABLE FEATURES
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bose premium 9-speaker audio, navigation, sliding/reclining second-row seats, motion-activated life-gate and intelligent cruise control.
BOTTOM LINE
In SL trim, the Rogue is a near-luxury crossover that looks and feels expensive. If you're on a budget, the less-costly trim lines give you the same bones with fewer goodies. If you want to support the Tennessee economy and have a sense of adventure: Go "Rogue."
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.