2019 Nissan Rogue Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Overview

The 2019 Nissan Rogue provides consumer-friendly features in a snazzy and comfy package. While it's available with lots of driver-assistance technology and a fuel-saving hybrid powertrain, the Nissan Rogue trails more refined and fun-to-drive rivals. Still, its raised seating height and available all-wheel drive check the boxes that crossover buyers desire. The gasoline version has excellent fuel economy but apathetic acceleration and noisy operation. Likewise, the 2019 Rogue lacks the combination of agility and luxury found on top alternatives such as the Honda CR-V and the 10Best-winning Mazda CX-5. Instead, the Nissan uses handsome exterior styling and useful cargo space to attract attention.

What's New for 2019?

The Rogue adds new packages and makes several driver-assist features standard. Every model now has forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. All models also now have a reminder to check the back seat after the engine is turned off. The SV and SL models add rear automated emergency braking and rear parking sensors as standard. The top-of-the-line SL also has standard ProPilot Assist, which was previously optional. The new Special Edition package includes 17-inch wheels, heated front seats, chrome exterior accents, and more. The new Premium package brings 18-inch wheels, an electric parking brake, and ProPilot Assist technology.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The mid-level Rogue SV has the best combination of price and features. The standard front-drive version features a 170-hp four-cylinder and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT); all-wheel drive adds $1350. Its list of desirable standard features includes heated front seats with power adjustments for the driver, a proximity key with push-button start, and dual-zone automatic climate control. We'd also opt for the SV Premium package, which includes the semi-autonomous-driving system ProPilot Assist, navigation, a heated steering wheel, and a 360-degree camera with Nissan's Moving Object Detection. The system does exactly what you'd expect—it detects moving objects at low speeds and alerts the driver.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Likes: Relaxed ride comfort, light steering effort.
Dislikes: Sluggish acceleration, clumsy handling, mediocre braking performance.

Noisy and reluctant can describe an unsettled stomach after a supersize value meal—or the Rogue's gasoline powertrain. The 170-hp four-cylinder and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is the standard setup. The CVT's sluggish response and languid power delivery cause the engine to wail under heavy throttle; this powertrain seems to drag the Rogue around town rather than pull it. A hybrid is available, too—it and the Toyota RAV4 and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV are the only hybrid choices in this segment—and consists of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor to produce a combined 176 horsepower.

The Rogue's soft suspension provides a pleasant, relaxed ride, which is about the only compliment we can give. Its spongy ride compromises overall control, though, causing the crossover to bob and heave around corners taken at even relatively sedate velocities. Nor does it feel planted and stable when traveling down the highway in a straight line. While the Rogue's cornering grip was similar to its competitors in our testing, its larger dimensions and listless steering combine to make it feel unexpectedly cumbersome relative to those same compact rivals.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA rates the Rogue among the most fuel efficient in its class. The front-drive model has estimates of 26 mpg city and 33 highway, while the all-wheel drive version shaves 1 mpg off both ratings. The front-drive hybrid is rated at 33 city and 35 highway while all-wheel drive drops those figures to 31 city and 34 highway. However, the anemic gas-powered Rogue—we haven't tested the hybrid—proved less economical than advertised during our real-world 200-mile highway fuel-economy test, delivering only 28 mpg despite its rating of 32.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Likes: Stylish cabin, comfortable seats, plentiful cargo space.
Dislikes: Tight rear-seat legroom, cut-rate infotainment system, no power-adjustable passenger's seat.

The Rogue's interior is a comfortable and attractive environment, and the Platinum Reserve Interior package takes it into luxury territory with caramel-colored leather seats—but it's only available on the top-tier SL. Nissan's Zero Gravity front bucket seats provide incredible comfort, although we're surprised a power-adjustable passenger seat isn't offered. The Rogue has excellent front-passenger space, but long-legged passengers may find the rear seats a bit pinched.

Every Rogue has a standard infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen—called NissanConnect—with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The touchscreen is surrounded by physical buttons, which are useful, but the setup lacks a home button. The screen is low-resolution, the menus are not structured intuitively, and the small labels make the buttons difficult to identify at night. All Rogues can be equipped with 4G LTE Wi-Fi as a dealer-installed accessory.

The Rogue can haul luggage with the segment's finest, as it held a similar number of carry-ons (22 with the rear seats folded) as the Kia Sportage and the Ford Escape. Impressive cargo volume with the seats up or down, along with decent cubby storage space, make the Nissan a practical instrument. Apart from the cabin's cubbies and compartments, nonhybrid models come with Nissan's Divide-N-Hide cargo system. It allows the rear floor to be raised or lowered, to be used as a shelf, or to cover hidden compartments. While we found it to be clumsy to use, it's a creative and functional addition.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Rogue did not perform well in crash-testing. It earned a four-star rating (out of a possible five) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and it was not named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, it has numerous standard driver-assistance technologies. It also can be equipped with ProPilot Assist, which uses lane-keeping assist and stop-and-go adaptive cruise control to help the driver accelerate, brake, and steer on the highway. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Nissan endows the Rogue with competitive coverages—except compared with the Sportage, which shares the best warranty in this class with the Hyundai Tucson. The Rogue's hybrid system is covered by Nissan for eight years or 100,000 miles, which is typical coverage for hybrids.

• Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance