INDIANAPOLIS — I usually have a string of test cars rotating through my driveway, but this week, I actually needed to rent a car for a work trip. I was about to take a Chevy Malibu before my 10-year-old daughter pointed at a silver 2024 Nissan Rogue SV and said, “Get that!” Who am I to argue?
And, well, it kinda does look like a rental car in silver paint with lots of black trim. Very little chrome, but the recently restyled front dishes attitude with slinty LED headlamps, thin driving lamps, and a swept back swath of slats to channel air. Strong shoulders harboring black 18” alloy wheels add a sporty flair. It’s quite fetching from the rear three-quarter view where one can see the elegant boomerang curves of the rear pillar and taillamps. Even dressed down, it’s dressed up.
The interior isn’t fancy, but nothing feels cheap. I’m perfectly fine with the canvas and wool-like seat upholstery, flat-bottom rubber sport steering wheel, and textured black plastic on the console. Check the posh dash, doors, and French stitching. It even has dual-zone automatic climate control. I like the flatscreen instruments in higher trim levels, but analogs are clear. The intuitive touchscreen includes proper volume and tuning knobs — always a plus. Toss out your old USB cords because the Rogue has gone all USB-C.
Deep cupholders, flybridge console, and concealed storage were super convenient while the power hatch revealed a tall and deep cargo compartment, enlarged by flipping down the seats. Even rear passengers stretch legs for trans-continental journeys. And, everybody should stay safe given automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic with auto brake. Nissan’s ProPilot Assist included adaptive cruise and lane-following steering. Hands must stay on the wheel, but an update for 2025 frees your digits.
I didn’t rent the Rogue because I wanted to be fabulous; I rented it because I thought it would be comfortable, sip fuel, and take my co-workers to dinner. It just turned out to be a very nice drive. It was quiet, rumbled over rough pavement, and made friends with on-ramps. Steering is light and the chassis is competent, but the engine was the biggest surprise.
You’re going to think I’m looney when you read the specs: 1.5-liter turbo-three connected to a continuously-variable transmission. Bored? Keep reading. It produces 201 horsepower and 225 lb.-ft. of torque plus achieves 30/37-MPG city/highway…without a hybrid system. That little three-banger is one of the most sophisticated pieces of engine kit in the world and named to “Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems” list for 2022.
“This engine inspires words that never have been uttered in the same sentence as ‘3-cyl. engine’: very smooth, exceptionally quiet during idle, pleasant to drive in traffic or on the highway,” says Judge Drew Winter.
Its secret talent is variable compression, which allows the engine to shape-shift in real time. An actuator changes the stroke of the cylinders to either optimize power or economy. That, along with the infinite variation of output allowed by the CVT and turbo, makes for a dreamy drive. You may expect this in an Infiniti, but certainly not a Nissan rental car!
My daughter got this one right as I could not have been more pleasantly surprised. Even without fancy accouterment, I’d happily own it for myself. And, I could afford it. Rogues start at $29,230, rising to just $32,360 all-in. That makes it pretty tough competition for the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Chevy Equinox, Hyundai Tucson, Ford Escape and Mazda CX-50.
Storm Forward!
Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.
Likes
- Roomy interior
- Easy touchscreen
- VC Turbo-three engine
Dislikes
- Rental style
- Limited features
- I was wrong!
2024 Nissan Rogue SV
Five-passenger, FWD Crossover
Powertrain: 1.5-liter TI-3, CVT
Output: 201hp/225 lb.-ft.
Suspension f/r: Ind/Ind
Wheels f/r: 18”/18” alloy
Brakes f/r: disc/disc
Fuel economy city/hwy: 30/37-MPG
Assembly: Smyrna, TN
Base/as-tested price: $29,230/$32,360
