Finally, A Nissan Rogue You Can Off-Road: First Drive Review

Do you know the Nissan Rogue is likely one of the best-selling SUVs in America? It handily outsells the whole lot from the Detroit manufacturers and ranks third general behind the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Nissan hopes to achieve much more floor on its Japanese rivals with the burly Rock Creek Version.

Nissan invited us to take a look at its new trim, and we had been shocked to see Holly Oaks Off-Street Park because the vacation spot. This can be a giant transformed gravel pit in Detroit’s northern suburbs the place, every week prior, I used to be leaping the Ram RHO. There can be no leaping this time round, however Nissan believes the Rock Creek Version has sufficient mojo to discover locations the place different Rogues would wrestle. To show it, the automaker arrange an hour-long off-road drive stuffed with massive hills, rocky terrain, and sure, even a rock face.

Spoiler alert: All Rogues survived, however not with out some scars.

Photograph by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

Each 2025 Rogue has an up to date face that largely facilities round a much bigger grille, however the Rock Creek has a bit extra happening. Its grille will get an aggressive mesh sample punctuated by three rectangular fake vents on the prime. All the entrance clip is devoid of chrome, opting as an alternative for an abundance of black punctuated with faux orange tow hooks within the decrease fascia. It has a cool roof rack designed to hold kayaks, cargo packing containers, or as much as 220 kilos (whereas driving) of no matter outdoorsy gear it is advisable to carry. In any case, Nissan says the Rogue Rock Creek Version is an “journey automobile.” 

To additional drive that time dwelling, Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires are mounted to black 17-inch beadlock model wheels. Word we stated beadlock model—you received’t be clamping something into place right here. Every wheel has a single orange strip in assist of its adventurous persona, and all of the Nissan badges have an orange script too. On the within, seats are coated with hydrophobic nylon. And naturally, they’ve orange Rock Creek branding.

Now, let’s speak concerning the upgrades that assist this off-road persona. Nissan says the suspension parts are the identical as different Rogue trims, however the dampers are retuned. The trip top is similar, although, and of explicit curiosity to anybody really venturing off the crushed path, there aren’t any skid plates. Frankly, you’ll be able to stick all-terrain tires and skid plates on a Mazda Miata and attain locations that may shock your Wrangler-owning neighbor. 

Photograph by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

Execs: Surprisingly Good Off-Street, Nonetheless Nice On Pavement

However, Nissan makes some adjustments to the Rock Creek Version’s laptop mind. Once you interact Off-Street mode, energy is routed to all 4 wheels for optimum traction. If one or two of them raise off the bottom, the system detects the spinning tire and reroutes energy to these nonetheless on terra firma. 

It features like an digital differential lock, and whereas it’s not new know-how, it really works very nicely right here. There have been a number of cases on the paths in Holly Oaks the place a number of wheels lifted. An bizarre Rogue can be trapped, however within the Rock Creek Version it was only a temporary pause. Some lights blinked on the sprint, a buzzing sound akin to offended hornets reverberated by way of the inside, and all of a sudden we had been shifting once more. Not dangerous, Nissan.

Hill descent management can be a part of the Rock Creek Version, and it’s fairly efficient on each laborious and unfastened surfaces. It prompts with a easy press of the button and maintains a downhill crawl till you both flip it off or contact the fuel. For those who do goose the throttle, it should reengage mechanically if you apply the brakes and sluggish again to a crawl. It’s notably helpful for longer descents that often degree out, mainly supplying you with one-foot management.

Photograph by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

Photograph by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

For climbing hills, Nissan doesn’t add any particular tools—however you’ll be able to a minimum of see the place you’re going because of a devoted off-road digicam setting. With Off-Street mode engaged, a ahead and top-down view of every entrance wheel tasks onto the 8.0-inch touchscreen at speeds beneath 12 miles per hour. 

The highest-down view is especially helpful for guiding the Rogue by way of slim passages, letting the motive force navigate inside inches of obstacles on both aspect. The ahead view goals downward at roughly 45 levels, which is ideal for peeking over crests the place you’d usually be trying skyward.

All mixed, these minor adjustments do give the Rogue Rock Creek Version some correct off-road cred. That was confirmed when Nissan pointed us towards the calmer aspect of a rubber-caked rock face and stated go for it. May most crossovers climb this part of the cliff? Most likely, although it could have required a bit extra care to nab simply the best line. Seeing the Rogue climb wasn’t spectacular. However, seeing it climb like this was simply one other boring journey to Starbucks? That’s not dangerous. And the tires nonetheless had full air stress for road use.

Photograph by: Nissan

Cons: Not The Prettiest Face, Unremarkable Inside, No Skid Plates

Talking of which, what’s the rock-climbing Rogue like on precise roads? Even Nissan admits that the majority Rock Creek Version consumers will spend most of their time utilizing it like a standard Rogue, which is why it nonetheless drives like one. That’s to say, it’s quiet and cozy regardless of the all-terrain Falkens. The 201-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder buzzes alongside pleasantly. The CVT is uninspiring, however that’s precisely what it’s purported to be on this software. For those who like the present Rogue, you’ll be simply tremendous with the Rock Creek Version.

Sadly, you’ll have to just accept the smaller middle touchscreen and analog gauges of the SV trim to get it. Nissan locations it between the SV and SL, the latter of which will get a full digital sprint with a 12.3-inch display screen. The excellent news? This retains pricing on the decrease finish of the size, $36,810 to be actual. The one notable choice is the $800 Rock Creek Premium Package deal, which provides auto-dimming mirrors, a heated steering wheel, an influence entrance passenger seat, and a motion-activated liftgate. Selecting any coloration aside from black additionally provides $425 to the sticker.

Photograph by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

Nissan already bought practically 200,000 Rogues by way of September, and gross sales are literally down this yr. Including the Rock Creek Version to the lineup may entice a number of extra consumers with its rugged ambiance, and people individuals can be correctly impressed with its off-road functionality. 

That stated, we’d like to see skid plates and an additional inch of floor clearance right here. Even on our guided, slow-speed journey by way of milder sections of Holly Oaks, warmth shields and plastic panels had been sacrificed to the off-road gods. Opponents just like the Subaru Forester Wilderness arguably provide extra functionality, and at a lower cost level in addition.

However, as Nissan advised us after the mud had settled, most Rogue Rock Creek consumers in all probability received’t come near the off-road atmosphere present in Holly Hills ORV Park. No less than the orange pink Lava-colored trim will look neat within the drive-thru ready for that double espresso.

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Christopher Smith / Motor1