A Week With: 2023 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD

This week, I went Rogue; 2023 Nissan Rogue. Such horrible jokes fall flat on the Nissan Rogue, as its identify is the antithesis of its character; there’s nothing rogue about it. And for 2023, that doesn’t change.

Overview

The Nissan Rogue is much from one as a result of it trolls the mainstream market as a compact SUV that’s the automaker’s chart-topping U.S. car. How well-liked is it? It outsold the second-place Nissan Altima midsize sedan by 25% final 12 months.

With that form of reputation, it’s little surprise that Nissan Rogue carries over largely unchanged for 2023, aside from a brand new Midnight Package deal. Nissan presents the 2023 Rogue in S, SV, SL and Platinum trim, beginning at an affordable $27,760 with entrance wheel drive, though all trims include both front- or all-wheel drive, with our Platinum all-wheel drive check car beginning at $38,640.

Exterior

The 2023 Rogue proves to be fairly good-looking, notably in its blue and black paint job ­that masterfully offsets its sq. look. It’s considered one of 5 two-tone paint mixtures that accentuates the Rogue’s easy flanks. It’s a welcome change from different SUVs, because the Rogue has a minimal quantity of side-sculpting. It’s a design that ought to age effectively and lacks the overwrought, juvenile styling of some Japanese rivals.

Inside

Climb inside and also you is likely to be stunned to search out quilted tan leather-based trim that endowed our Rogue with an upscale attract that’s additionally supplied on the SL. The SV will get non-obligatory fake leather-based that, just like the S, comes with customary material seat trim. You’ll discover its controls are blessedly straightforward to make use of. Local weather controls have easy knobs, as does the infotainment system. Which advantages from a tuning knob that makes music browsing a breeze. It’s an more and more rarified luxurious, as designers more and more eschew performance for appears.

However there’s no denying the Rogue’s roomy cabin, which incorporates 31.6 cubic ft of cargo house, increasing to 74.1 cubic ft with second row seat folded down. Payload is 948 kilos.

Seats are comfortably supportive, and the inside proves quiet more often than not, because of insulated entrance aspect glass. Heated entrance seats are non-obligatory on the SV and customary on the SL and Platinum. Heated rear seats are non-obligatory on the Platinum, however ventilated seats should not supplied.

Powertrain

For those who needed to sum up the 2023 Nissan Rogue’s driveline, it’s — um — variable.
Final 12 months, the Rogue acquired a brand new powerplant, a brand new 1.5-liter 3-cylinder Variable Compression Turbocharged three-cylinder engine. The engine is exclusive, utilizing know-how unique to Nissan. With the usage of a particular multilink crankshaft and connecting rod system, the VC-Turbo is ready to change the piston stroke size by 1.2 mm, providing the engine the benefits of each the upper 14.0:1 turbo effectivity and the ability of the decrease 8.0:1 compression mode.

It’s mated to a repeatedly variable transmission that generates 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, whereas posting gas financial system estimates of 28 mpg metropolis, 34 mpg freeway and 31 mpg mixed. Higher but, it runs on common unleaded gasoline and might yank as much as 1,500 kilos, with 150 kilos of tongue weight, when correctly outfitted. 

S fashions include 17-inch wheels, SV trim wears 18s, whereas SL and Platinum have 19s.

Security and Know-how

The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration provides the 2023 Nissan Rogue 5 stars for general crash safety, 4 stars for entrance crash and rollover safety and 5 stars for aspect crash safety. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security charges the Rogue as a 2023 High Security Choose, with all classes rated good apart from “average” entrance overlap crash safety and “acceptable” aspect impression crash safety.

Nissan’s suite of superior driver help security programs consists of automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, excessive beam help and rear automated braking. Blind spot intervention, visitors signal recognition, a 360-degree digital camera system, head-up show, and Nissan’s ProPilot steering help package deal are non-obligatory.

On the subject of tech, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster is customary, whereas a 12.3-inch full-color show is out there, notably on larger trims. Equally, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen is customary; a 9-inch is out there, as is a ten.8-inch full-color head-up show. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are customary; Wi-fi Apple CarPlay is included on Rogue Platinum and within the SL Premium package deal. Amazon Alexa is non-obligatory on the SL and customary on the Platinum.

Our Platinum check mannequin additionally included a wi-fi gadget charger. And, as you’d count on, there are USB-A and USB-C ports up entrance on the middle console in addition to within the second row.

Driving Impressions

Whereas not the quickest SUV, the Rogue delivers potent energy — as soon as on top of things. Sure, there’s turbo lag at preliminary launch, but it surely’s manageable so long as you don’t need to be first off-the-line. The repeatedly variable automated transmission is best behaved than most of this ilk, feeling very like a standard automated transmission more often than not. There’s little of the “rubberbanding” that usually afflicts CVTs.

The experience is generally compliant and comfy, a welcome change from too many compact SUVS present an all-too-clear image of our crumbling infrastructure. The compliance is welcome and comes with out extra physique movement. The truth is, physique lean is effectively managed when cornering.

That stated, regardless of fast steering and a hint of highway really feel, to not point out a well-controlled however grievance experience, the Rogue by no means lives as much as its identify. Dealing with will please most mainstream consumers, however it is going to fail to ignite the passions of a driving fanatic. Most consumers received’t care.

2023 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD Specs

Wrap Up

There isn’t any evil lurking within the coronary heart of this Rogue; it is not going to strand you, nor make you uncomfortable. It received’t break your funds each time you refill its tank. Nope. The 2023 Nissan Rogue continues to ship on its finest attributes, providing perky acceleration round city, a cushty experience, a spacious cabin, beneficiant quantity of tech and customary tools, all at a value that received’t impoverish you.

2023 Nissan Rogue ­— Often Requested Questions