The new crossover is full of smart tech and clever design.
2020 is not going to be a year that anyone will remember fondly. Nissan is more determined to make this Annus Horribilis a success than any other outfit. The Japanese automaker has had a very poor year, from the strange story of Carlos Ghosn, former leader, being smuggled out Japan to massive financial woes. It’s only June. The 2021 Nissan Rogue is an important bright spot for this struggling brand.
The Rogue is already Nissan’s most loved product in the US, with nearly 30% of its 2019 sales. Its redesign includes a variety of family-friendly enhancements and tech upgrades to its interior and exterior design bodies. It is a strong competitor in America’s most coveted segment.
Let’s take a look at that design for a moment. The Rogue’s design isn’t aggressive despite its split headlights, V-Motion grille and V-Motion grille. Nissan’s restraint deserves to be commended. Although the lines are pleasing up front, they can be a little too conservative. Although there is a significant character line above the rear wheel arch it designers kept the overall two-box design simple. The crossover is very off-road capable, so there are plastic surrounds around the wheel arches.
Smart touches are hidden in this body. Active grille shutters and air curtains in the front fascia improve aerodynamics at high speeds. The uninteresting rear end design – which reminds us of the Toyota RAV4 – belies the large, motion-activated tailgate that allows access to the spacious cargo area.
The cargo area’s opening is 45.6 inches wide once it is opened. Owners can also find clever cargo solutions such as removable covers that hide small cubbies. The large rear doors can open almost 90 degrees which allows for easy access to the rear seats. The 2021 Rogue’s second row is perhaps the easiest to access in this class. There’s plenty of legroom inside the Rogue, so we would not hesitate to take four adults and their luggage on a road trip in the 2021 Rogue. The rear bench is spacious and comfortable. Sunshades are hidden behind the rear door. Seat heating is available and there’s only a three-zone climate control system.
However, the front seat is where you want to be. The comfortable zero-gravity bucket seat from Nissan is back, and the Rogue Platinum has a semi-aniline leather option. Clean dash and stitched leather will be a welcome addition to the occupants’ cars. The cabin quality was impressive even on the pre-production car that we used in our video. Nissan’s new electric shifter enabled it to adopt a floating bridge center console. This allows for more cargo storage.
It’s the tech that steals attention. The Rogue comes with an all-digital instrument cluster that features a 12.3-inch display. Lesser models get 7.0 or 5.0-inch displays. There is also a 9.0-inch touchscreen, which is the largest infotainment screen in the segment. A 10.8-inch head up display displays pertinent information directly in the driver’s line of sight. Both USB-A as well as USB-C charging ports are available on the Rogue. Wireless Apple CarPlay is an option on the Rogue (wired CarPlay/Android Auto come standard).
The Nissan ProPilot active safety suite is available on all models except the base model. However, the Platinum trim and the SL Premium Package add a navigation tie in. The integration, called ProPilot Assist and Navi-Link, pulls data from the GPS and correlates it to the GPS. This allows the Rogue’s ability to slow down for approaching highway junctions, curves and ramps. With the driver’s permission, the Rogue can also recognize traffic signs and adjust the speed limit to meet posted limits.
The Rogue’s only powerplant is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that produces 181 horsepower and 181 pound feet of torque . It’s paired up with a standard continuously variable transmission and is about as boring as it gets. Nissan claims improved fuel economy with a one to two-point jump across all trims, regardless of whether they are front- or rear-wheel-drive.
The 2021 Rogue will be available in dealers by the fall 2020. Prices will be announced before the official launch.