If you mainly are looking for a comfortable ride, ample passenger and cargo space, and good safety scores — all for an affordable price — then the 2017 Nissan Rogue SL does an admirable job meeting these needs.
Nissan gave this year’s model an extensive mid-cycle refresh that includes new front and rear fascias, V-motion grille, revised rear combination lights with LED boomerang taillights, motion-activated liftgate, redesigned front center console, new D-shaped steering wheel, new Platinum packages, and a host of new advanced safety features.
The Rogue engine offers just enough power for driving around town, so no one will accuse the Rogue — or most other compact SUVs — of being a sports car. Still, power from the Rogue’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, at 170 horsepower, is adequate. On the plus side, the Rogue’s continuously variable transmission (CVT), which functions like an automatic, is more refined than other brands’ CVTs.
What the Rogue might lack in off-the-line acceleration, it makes up for with fuel economy. It’s one of the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid models around. The SL that I test drove comes in at 25 city and 32 highway. So if you want something that looks a little nicer inside with better fuel economy, this is the SUV for you.
And it offers a decent amount of features, some of which, like blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert, are available in the midlevel trim of the Rogue. But if you want things like forward emergency braking or lane keep assist, step up to the highest trim level, the SL.
The SL that I test drove topped out at $35,475, due to the additional cost of the SL Premium Package with its power panoramic moonroof,
LED headlights, and forward emergency brake. My Rogue also was packed with all the extra features of the “Platinum Package” such as 19-inch alloy wheels, and intelligent cruise control, as well as lane departure warning and lane departure prevention — safety features definitely worth the extra money.
This SL came with the optional Platinum Reserve interior with tan leather appointed seats with quilted leather inserts that provide extra comfort. And while the Rogue comes standard with front-wheel drive, this SL is all-wheel drive.
The amount of room inside the Rogue is impressive. While it offers about the same amount of overall volume as competing compact SUVs, the Rogue uses every inch wisely. Long-legged travelers in the front seat will enjoy the extra legroom offered by the Rogue over other compact SUVs.
Wherever you sit, you will be surrounded by high-quality materials and lots of soft-touch surfaces. The revamped layout and new materials give the Rogue even more of an upscale demeanor, and improvements to the exterior have resulted in a much quieter cabin.
The classy cabin comes with a pleasant array of standard features, including an infotainment system that is easy to use, with software that integrates with your smartphone. It displays your music, a map, and various other apps on the standard five-inch display and can stream audio over a Bluetooth connection. A USB port, a rearview camera, and a four-speaker stereo are standard.
When it comes to safety scores, the 2017 Nissan Rogue gets an overall rating of four out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, outperforming many of its rivals.
Overall, the improved styling and comfort of the 2017 Nissan Rogue SL AWD are a bonus that puts this SUV on the shopping lists of crossover buyers everywhere.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or via email at Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com.
