2014 Nissan Rogue

Available in three trims in 2014, the Nissan Rogue can be driven in either the FWD or AWD. Even the affordable price tag begins at $23,675 which increases proportionally to the complexity of the trim. It rivals the comfort and pleasure given by the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Mazda CX-5. It is quite a close call for every single one of them in their offering and thus it will be interesting to observe further.

The 2014 Nissan Rogue comes in three trims mainly in S, SV, and SL which further diversify as per their drive layout. All of them are available either in FWD or AWD. Each of them has its own wheel setup, musical rhythm, and comfort zoning. Moreover, the SL trim gets special navigation units NavTraffic and NavWeather which are exclusive to it only. The S trim lacks the automatic air conditioning and power adjustment for the seat, unlike other trims. But fortunately, it is in line with the SV trim in a few offers like both of them have a 5" Color Interactive Display.

The SL is of superlative degree as it has everything munched up to another level. One of the examples of the above claim is that it is the sole abuser of the 7" Color Touch-Screen Display along with Bose Audio Unit. It would be wise to sway ourselves from the variations and drive for the commonalities. The standard EPAS is responsive and provides a nice feeling even when the sport mode is switched on in the Rogue. The Electronic Stability and Traction Control don’t see any stark gap as per trims.  

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Well, if you are not so obsessed with the musical unit and interior interactiveness then you could direct yourself towards the middle ground which can be availed of with the SV trim. It has generous offers and lags behind the SL trim by a little margin. So, it is suggested that you save some $4,000 and enjoy all the basic comforts like power-heated seats and a high base sound system with a parallel performance curve in the SV trim. 

One has been entitled to only one powertrain unit which has a 2.5L capacity in the I-4 configuration. 170 hp of power at disposal with a segment-leading torque figure of 170 lb-ft makes it one of the most exhilarating ones, at least, on paper. The unit is coupled with the standard CVT which is smooth in its operation and thus desirable for daily commuting. The general layout has both the FWD and AWD, the latter being the expensive one. But it is to note that the figures are a relatively higher mid-range curve which may not be congruent for acceleration return. 

Since the data for none of them is available, it is no less than a difficult task to enlighten about one’s supremacy. Simply going by the figures might be misleading as one can hardly grasp the whole view with a mere ray of light. But it can be expected that the Rogue might not be impressive in its delivery as the CVTs are generally not acceleration-oriented rather more inclined towards ease-driving.

A real pay-off in terms of fuel economy as the 2014 Nissan Rogue offers a mileage of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highways, and 28 on average. The fuel tank capacity of 14.5 gallons with these mileage figures gives you 406 miles altogether. Well, the 2.5 I-4 has the prospects of having a turbo being attached to it if they want to improve the figures but the heating of an engine might have ceased them for now. 

The Mazda CX-5 is the closest to the Rogue and even better with its overall range coverage of 429 miles. This figure can reach up to 518 miles when cruising on the highways. To be honest, there is hardly anyone among them who can be criticized as they all are decent for their price tag. But as mentioned earlier, they all have the prospect just like the Rogue to put a turbo at work to amplify the scenario.

The 2014 Nissan Rogue has bucket seats to keep you at ease but adjustment could be manual or electric-actuated depending on the trim level. The same follows for the air conditioning as well, as the SL and SV get the Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning while the S lacks it. One even has to satisfy herself/himself with the cloth trimming on the seats and headliner. A Urethane coating has been applied all over the gear-shifter. In the end, the description ends with the 40-20-40 Folding Rear Seat which aids in increasing the overall spacing.  

It is squeezed inside the cabin when it comes to the rear row. The front row is comparatively jubilant in its nature. Fine cushioning and seat height improves visibility and long hauling stamina. Even the capacity to reside 70 cu-ft of volume is another asset of the Rogue. Like others, it can also take 5 in a go from one place to another but the Mazda CX-5 can do the same in a more comfortable and ergonomic way. Some of the features are:

• Full Cloth Headliner
• Cloth Seat Trim
• Day-Night Rearview Mirror
• 12V DC Power Outlets
• Air Filtration

How intuitive is the 2014 Nissan Rogue’s infotainment unit?

The Nissan Rogue has been adorned with a few high-tech patented ends inside the interior. One gets NissanConnect in-built along with other standard features like the Bluetooth Hand-Free Phone System and Radio which has a Seek-Scan feature. The list of audio systems has upgraded from 1st tier to the top tier as the number of speakers increases from 4 to 6 to 9 respectively. Even the Interactive display gets larger from 5” to 7” in the SL trim. Some of the features are:

• NissanConnect
• Radio with Seek-Scan
• USB connection
• Bluetooth hands-free phone system

The Nissan Rogue is one of the finest-looking SUVs among its rivals. Aggressive in its appeal, the Rogue carves out to have Black-Chrome Accented Grille along with staring headlamps. The Nissan Badging has been placed in the center of the symmetric front whose inclination slopes gradually. Even the silhouette goes well when coupled with the 17" Aluminum-Alloy Wheels. Moreover, the rear has a lip spoiler attached which increases the downforce dynamics. The fender does have a bit of semi-circular stamping when viewed from the side.

The Nissan Rogue has a ground clearance of 7.4 inches which is sufficient considering the loading it has to bear to the max of its limit. Others are also similar in their dimensional aspect with a variation of some inches only. But considering their body design, they have a predominant body leaning which may take on the tire weariness. A positive outlook out of all this is that the Mazda CX-5 weight is comparatively lower than others, keeping other parameters constant, which is going to assist in its braking efficiency to a better extent. Some of the features are:

• Black Bodyside Cladding
• Lip Spoiler
• Black-Chrome Accented Grille
• Galvanized Steel Panels

Nissan never disappoints you with its safety rating as it is aware of how much it can make a difference in the market. Following the same ideologies to date, it showcases the 2014 Rogue which has grabbed the “Top Safety Pick+” award by the IIHS, which is a pinnacle status for the concerned authority. 

NHTSA crash test goes on to narrate its prowess with an overall 5-star rating. Apart from these structural integrity measurements, one even gets the standard 4-wheel ABS, Driveline Traction Control, and Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning at its disposal. The handling dynamics are assisted by the efficient Electronic Stability Control Unit. A few of the highlights of this section:

• Electronic Stability Control
• Driveline Traction Control
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Side Impact Beams

It would not be careless to call the Nissan Rogue a dependable SUV in many regards. The practicality and design approach both works for a common consumer. It has a generous offering in its performance and fuel economy along with nice cargo volume. Therefore, it can be given preference along with others which have been there in the market for a quite long time.