I drove an all new Nissan Rogue the other day. At the end of my time with it, I couldn’t really decide if I loved it or totally hated it. Most importantly, I started to understand why anyone would question the pros and cons of this quirky (yet practical) crossover-style SUV.
On one hand, I find the Nissan Rogue to be an excellent daily driver. Outward visibility is excellent, it’s fairly comfortable, and it’s decently cheap to maintain.
On the other hand, and I find it to be a bit over-styled. I wouldn’t go as far as to call it ugly, but I’m solidly 80% of the way there.
All the pros and cons of the Nissan Rogue
If there’s one thing that I really like about the Rogue, it’s that it’s been in so good for so many years. Any Rogue built within the last 10 years will be a great daily driver. The newer versions aren’t as nice looking as the older versions IMHO, but it’s still an overall decent choice for a practical small(ish) SUV. Here are all the pros and cons:
Pros
- Its a decently reliable mass-produced vehicle. In other words, getting parts and service for any model year Rogue will be extremely easy nearly anywhere in the US.
- Outward visibility is better than most other crossover SUVs in this price range. Yes, the windows are a little small, but I’ve never blurted out expletives while trying to see out of a Rogue (any model year).
- Older models are extremely stylish IMHO (which, ironically enough, is also a con). Basically, Nissan has a very aggressive design language, and they apply at with seemingly no shame to every vehicle in their lineup. Even the Rogue. Plot twist: I didn’t have very many good things to say about exterior styling in my review of the 2023 Nissan Rogue, however.
- It’s a lot of vehicle for the price. Every Nissan Rogue that I have driven felt far more luxurious than you would expect for a vehicle in it’s price range.
- It’s a fantastic road trip’n car. With its high seating position and excellent outward visibility, the Rogue is a perfect choice for a long road trip.
- Reliability is pretty good (for a Nissan). No, it’s not going to win any awards for being one of the most reliable vehicles ever built, but it’s reliable enough not to be annoying.
- It’s not slow. It’s not fast either, but all I’m saying is that I’ve never driven a Rogue that felt gutless and underpowered. Pro tip: always choose the largest engine option! It’ll be more fun that way.
Cons
- It’s extremely stylish. See? I told you this was a con. Basically, Nissan’s aggressive design language is not for everyone. The Rogue is one of the more aggressively designed SUVs on the market, and it is not for drivers who like to stand out in a crowd.
- Build quality is questionable. Every Nissan rogue that I have driven in the past 10 years has had an issue with build quality. Whether it be a rattle, squeak, or pieces falling right the heck off – I’ve never driven a perfect specimen.
- Rear seat room is a bit tight for an SUV of this size. I I wouldn’t say that the back seats in the Nissan Rogue are completely unusable, but it will be a bit tight for full-size adults.
- The suspension tuning (especially on some earlier models) is too soft for my liking. For example, the 2018 model that I drove in the mountains north of Vancouver had me feeling queasy by hour number 2. Newer models are tighter, but not by much.
- It’s not going to impress anybody. Some might see this as a big fat pro, but for those of you who like to seek validation from others, it’s important to know that the Nissan Rogue is about as forgettable as a hangnail.
Two good reasons why you should buy a Nissan Rogue
If you’ve read through all the pros and cons and you still can’t decide if the Nissan Rogue is the crossover SUV for you, let me just say this: it’s a nice enough vehicle for daily driving, and you are very unlikely to hate it. Here are two specific reasons why:
1. It’s not boring
Whether you’re a fan of the Nissan design language or not, you can’t deny that the Rogue is an interesting looking vehicle.
Because purchasing an SUV is more of a need than a want for most people, it’ll be more fun if you get one that has some fairly aggressive design characteristics. The Rogue is basically the kind of vehicle that says “I am practical as ****, but I’m not completely dead inside either.”
2. You can drive it hard without any worries
No, the Rogue is not the most reliable SUV in its price range. However, it’s reliable enough. Not only that, it’s a relatively simple mass produced vehicle that can be serviced just about anywhere. Parts are cheap, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work on one. Drive it hard, fix it when it breaks, and move on with your life.
Two good reasons why you shouldn’t buy a Nissan Rogue
If you’re curious, I would never buy a Nissan Rogue of my own. Not because I think it’s an especially bad vehicle or anything. It’s simply because there are a lot of other great crossover SUVs in this price range that I would rather have instead. If my opinion doesn’t matter all that much to you (for most people it doesn’t lol), consider these two reasons instead:
1. I mean, It’s a Nissan
Look. I’ve got nothing against Nissan. I loved my 2004 Nissan 350Z, and to this day, I still consider it to be the best car that I’ve ever owned.
That said, Nissan has never been known for building vehicles that will last a lifetime. If you decide to purchase a Rogue, just know that it’s going to be a steaming pile of junk when it reaches 10 years of age. No matter how well you take care of it.
2. It’ll have you yearning for more
One of the biggest issues with the Nissan Rogue isn’t with the Rogue itself. It’s the fact it exists in a very competitive niche of vehicles, and you might find yourself wondering if you made the right choice.
You’re likely find yourself scoping out other crossover-style SUVs once the honeymoon period with your Rogue wears off. Don’t be ashamed by this. It’s human nature to have a wandering eye.
That said, if you have a history of second-guessing yourself, it behooves you to do more research ahead of time to make sure that you’re buying the SUV that you really want. The Rouge just might not be it.
