The Nissan Rogue received significant upgrades this year, but it wasn't immediately apparent. Look under the hood and you'll find an all-new 1.5-liter inline 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, a small but powerful powerplant that gives Nissan's best-selling SUV a nice power boost as well as improved fuel economy.
This new trio uses the same variable compression technology as the more powerful 2.0-liter I4 turbo engine that's optional on the Altima sedan and standard on the Infiniti QX50 and QX55 crossovers. Basically, changing the compression ratio allows the 1.5T to generate more power at low revs and run more efficiently at rest. It's smart technology that benefits everyone.
The specs confirm these virtues: the 1.5-litre I3 develops 201bhp and 225Nm of torque, which is 20bhp and 44Nm more than the 2.5-litre I4 atmospheric-fuelled engine fitted to the Rogue in 2021. Meanwhile, fuel economy has improved by 3mpg on the combined cycle, and the base front-wheel-drive Rogue is rated at 30mpg city, 37mpg highway and 33mpg combined. On the Platinum model with supercharged all-wheel drive, as my tester was, those figures drop to 28 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined, but they're still better than the top versions of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
Nissan Rogue 2022 is more powerful and more economical
Nissan has redesigned the Rogue's continuously variable transmission to complement the turbocharged engine, and while the changes aren't radical, the CVT is smoother and quieter than before. The Rogue has paddle shifters on the steering wheel so you can shift through the false gears if you feel like it, but leave the gearbox alone and it does its job without fuss. (It's best to leave the paddles untouched.)
The 2022 Rogue isn't what I'd call fast, but it definitely accelerates with more power than the 2021 model. In fact, the throttle may be a little too sensitive, giving a quick burst of power as you pull away from a stop before it settles down. Mid-range traction is acceptable - at least better than the old 2.5-litre engine. But the best thing about the 1.5T is that it doesn't have the peculiar power peaks and dips of the 2.0-litre VC Turbo; torque is nice and linear, apart from the initial surge. Also, unlike other small-displacement I3 engines, the Rogue's engine isn't prone to sudden noises or unwanted vibrations, either at high speed or at idle.
In town, the Rogue is a pleasure to drive. The suspension strikes a good balance between comfort in the city and agility on the highway, and the steering is well-tuned - nicely weighted but without the feedback that 99.9 percent of Rogue buyers don't care for. Instead, those customers will appreciate the long list of standard driver-assistance technologies, including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and more. All Rogue models except the base S feature Nissan's excellent ProPilot Assist, which combines adaptive cruise control with active lane-keeping technology.
The Rogue's multimedia equipment is unchanged, which means an 8-inch touchscreen is standard with Nissan's somewhat outdated suite of infotainment systems with integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A larger 9-inch screen is optional on the SL trim and standard on the Platinum trim, but its software is no better. However, CarPlay can be connected wirelessly to the 9-inch screen, and the Platinum has a sleek 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and optional head-up display.
My test car, the Platinum, of course, had all the extra features, such as quilted leather upholstery that wraps around the comfortable and soft Nissan Zero Gravity seats, a panoramic sunroof, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. Overall, however, the Rogue's interior is excellent. I like that the rear doors open to a 90-degree angle, which is very useful for people, but also great when I want to put bulky items on the rear bench. The relatively boxy shape also helps the overall boot capacity, although the Rogue's 74.1 cubic feet splits the difference between the smaller RAV4 and the larger CR-V.
All 2022 Rogue models are slightly more expensive than before, with the base model costing $28,445 (including $1,295 destination charge). All-wheel drive is $1,500 more expensive on all trim levels, and pricing for the top Platinum AWD model, like the one pictured, starts at $39,725. Add $745 for the flashy two-tone orange-and-black paint and $400 for the heads-up display, and the Rogue's price climbs to $40,870. Mid-range SV and SL trims are available in the $30,000 price range, so you'll see them most often.
The third-generation Nissan Rogue is a fairly basic SUV. It's not the prettiest, most luxurious or best-handling crossover in the compact class, and unlike many competitors, there's no hybrid or plug-in hybrid option. Despite that, the Rogue is a solid all-around product that does nothing wrong. As a result, it's likely to hold onto its position as Nissan's best-selling product, and the new turbo engine only adds to the SUV's appeal.
