Of all the cars that I can think of that are inappropriately named, the 2023 Nissan Rogue takes the top spot.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a really good midsize SUV. It drives really nice, and it’s loaded with useful tech and convenience features which makes it a top pick in my opinion.
The problem is that it’s just not rebellious enough. Not that I want to be, but calling in a ”Rogue” is a bit too dramatic IMHO. It’s not that unruly.
My full review of the 2023 Nissan Rogue
Despite how negative the beginning of this review is going to seem, just know that I actually ended up liking this thing. A lot.
First impressions
Full disclosure: this was a rental car that I picked up from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW). I had reserved a midsize sedan, but all they had for me was this all black 2023 Rogue. I was not amused by this.
I’m just not a fan of SUVs. I’d much rather drive around in a smaller car, thank you very much.
Styling and design
As bland as the Rogue is, I actually think it looks better than the 2023 Cadillac XT5 that I recently drove. I still think it’s too generic for its own good though. Visually, there is very little about this thing which makes it stand out against all of the other midsize SUVs it competes against.
There is one design feature that I really (really) like though: it’s the flared wheel arches. It looks pretty wild from the perspective of the driver seat. Almost sports car like. Not totally “rogue” though.
The interior
My mood improved instantly once I opened the door and sat down in the drivers seat. I had no idea that Nissan was capable of making interiors this nice. Was it perfect? Hell no. It felt great though.
Most importantly, all of the materials and textures were a step above what I would expect in a generic midsize SUV.
The front seats are so very good – yet so very bad at the same time. The side bolstering on the upper portion is incredible deep (and comfortable). Unfortunately, the lower section of the seats are as flat as a pancake. They provide no support at all.
The infotainment system is pretty good. It supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (attached via USB cable only), and for the most part, the menus are intuitive and easy to navigate. The audio system was so-so. Not great. But not bad.
Engine and drivetrain
This Rogue featured a 1.5 L 3 cylinder turbocharged engine which puts out 201 hp and 225 lb ft of torque. That doesn’t seem a lot for a vehicle weighing in at 3,616 pounds, but let me tell ya – it was fine. It certainly wasn’t fast. But it was good enough.
In Nissan’s defense, I actually had no idea that this thing had a 3 cylinder engine until I started doing the research prior to writing this review. It felt like a decently-powered turbocharged 4 cylinder in all types of driving conditions (city, freeway, crawling over dead bodies, etc.).
Don’t be afraid of the 3 cylinder. It’s powerful enough.
The CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) didn’t impress me. It felt cheap. It sounded cheap. I didn’t like it.
I did, however, like the fact that there are paddle shifters attached to the steering wheel. I’m not exactly sure how that works with a CVT (since there are no gears to change), but it was amusing to see them there nonetheless.
Driving impressions
This was an all-wheel-drive model (front wheel drive is standard). I didn’t ever find myself in a situation where the AWD would have been beneficial, but it drove nicely in all conditions nonetheless.
Steering feels a bit vague, but you kind of have to expect it any vehicle of this size. It’s smooth though. The 17 inch wheels on ultra-cheap 235/65R17 Phantom C-Sport tires did a decent enough job of getting traction to the ground – even on dirt roads.
Don’t get it twisted though. This thing is designed for bashing around town with the occasional long highway cruise. You’re not going to get very far off road with this thing.
Gas mileage
I averaged a very respectable 27.7 miles per gallon over a two day period with this Rogue. Not great for a 3 cylinder IMHO, but not bad.
Pros and cons
The 2023 Rogue is one of the best “inconspicuously nice” vehicles that I’ve driven recently. It doesn’t look like all that much from the outside. But on the inside? It’s freakin’ awesome.
Pros
- Do I even need to mention the interior again?
- Upper front seat bolstering is almost sports car like.
- Outward visibility (in all directions) is excellent.
Cons
- The lower portion of the front seats are criminally unsupportive.
- I’m not a fan of the CVT. It sounds like a regular transmission with a slipping clutch.
- The gearshift lever is too confusing for its own good.
But that’s not all! I actually have an entire list of Nissan Rogue pros and cons that are worth checking out. Warning: it’s really nitpicky stuff.
