Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

2021 Nissan Rogue: 10 Things Worth Knowing

Get the best interest rate
Vincent Aubé
For this new generation, Nissan comes up with a much more convincing crossover, despite some irritants

# 3 More fun, that's for sure!

While the gain from the powertrain gain may seem modest - I'll come back to that – the Rogue’s engineers still managed to infuse the SUV with more life than before. This is in itself no miracle - the old version was sad to drive, frankly - but you can feel the effort to energize the experience drivers have behind the wheel. The electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering offers a faster gear ratio, for one. In general, you feel the vehicle is more connected to the road, ready to react to the driver's commands. Add to that the superb flat-bottomed steering wheel that's very pleasant to hold.

There's also the new SUV platform - stiffer than the old one - and those six-point front struts and, of course, the multi-link arrangement in the rear. Oh, and there's a Vehicle Motion Control System that, unnoticeably, intervenes to soften the ride by anticipating the driver's intentions by analyzing acceleration, braking and even steering-wheel movements.

2021 Nissan Rogue, profile
2021 Nissan Rogue, profile
Photo: V.Aubé

# 4 That CVT

The snag is that despite the injection of added horses under the hood, the mechanics still seem to be stifled by the continuously variable transmission. When driving in town, for example, there's a slight delay when “shifting” is needed, and I even found that the engine speed doesn't often drop below 2000 RPM, which isn't typical for Nissan vehicles equipped with this type of gearbox. Was it due to a slight mis-setting of the CVT unit? Possibly.

Whatever the cause, it was undeniable: even when driving moderately in the city - and with a slight release of the right pedal - the engine was revving at an abnormally high RPM... for a Nissan Rogue.

The same goes for highway driving, during which the compact crossover normally manages to record impressive fuel economy ratings for a vehicle without on-board electrification, as evidenced by the 7.2L/100km EnerGuide ratings for a model equipped with all-wheel drive like my tester.

On a mostly highway-based route, I had trouble slipping below 9.5L/100 km. Yes, it's true, the vehicle had to deal with winter temperatures, but still, the Rogue should, in principle, consume at a slower pace.

2021 Nissan Rogue, front wheel
2021 Nissan Rogue, front wheel
Photo: V.Aubé
Vincent Aubé
Vincent Aubé
Automotive expert
  • Over 17 years' experience as an automotive journalist
  • More than 60 test drives in the past year
  • Participation in over 200 new vehicle launches in the presence of the brand's technical specialists