"Nissan’s adequate 170-horsepower inline-4 carries over in the 2018 Rogue, as does the Rogue Hybrid’s fuel-pinching gasoline/electric hybrid setup." – Kelley Blue Book
2018 Rogue Engine and Transmission
The 2018 Rogue’s base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 170-horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The standard engine feels underpowered and is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is available as an option.
Nissan's CVT isn't impressive and tuned for efficiency. As you keep your right foot planted, the crossover takes a slight second to move ahead. For driving around the town, the 2018 Rogue is a good companion but on the highways, it feels sluggish, and overtaking or passing needs to be planned.
Model |
2018 Nissan Rogue |
2018 Honda CR-V |
2018 Toyota RAV4 |
MSRP |
$24,800 |
$24,150 |
$24,510 |
Engine |
Regular Unleaded I-4 2.5 L |
Regular Unleaded I-4 2.4 L |
Regular Unleaded I-4 2.5 L |
Transmission |
CVT |
CVT |
6-speed automatic |
Power |
170 hp @ 6000 RPM |
184 hp @ 6400 RPM |
176 hp @ 6000 RPM |
Torque |
175 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM |
180 lb-ft @ 3900 RPM |
172 lb-ft @ 4100 RPM |
The Nissan Rogue does not stand out in the class, where offerings like CR-V and RAV-4 offer more power in a similar price range. However, Rogue's handling is well-mannered and has a balanced ride.
2018 Rogue 0-60 mph Acceleration
Rogue's base engine with 170 hp results in a 9.3 second 0-60 mph run, which is a sub-par acceleration time in the class. The Rogue gets adequate low-end torque but the power fades away as you catch speed. The CVT results in engine drones under hard acceleration and is more suitable for city-wide driving scenarios.
Model |
2018 Nissan Rogue |
2018 Honda CR-V |
2018 Toyota RAV4 |
0 – 60 mph |
9.3 seconds |
7.5 seconds |
8.3 seconds |
Quarter mile |
17 seconds |
15.8 seconds |
16.7 seconds |
Engine |
Regular Unleaded I-4 2.5 L |
Regular Unleaded I-4 2.4 L |
Regular Unleaded I-4 2.5 L |
With the four-cylinder engine, the Honda CR-V is the swiftest crossover. The Toyota RAV4 is also quicker than the Nissan Rogue, thanks to the more muscle it gets from its base engine. Also, the RAV4 allows more towing capacity when properly equipped than the Nissan.
2018 Rogue Ride and Handling
The 2018 Rogue delivers a pleasantly smooth ride quality and sure-footed handling. It may not be sporty but has a little body roll around the corners. It is an easygoing crossover SUV that is enjoyable over a long journey. Steering is weighted on the haver side but is easy to turn. At slow speeds, the feedback is welcoming however on the freeway speeds it shouldn't be considered sporty.
The Rogue rides smoothly over road imperfections and even with the large 18-inch wheels on the top-level SL trim, the ride quality is comfortable. The road and noise levels inside the car are acceptable. Nissan has added more sound insulation to cover the earlier mild thrumming of the engine due to the CVT.
2018 Rogue Braking
In the emergency stopping test, the 2018 Nissan Rogue needed 124 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is an average performance in the class. Nissan equips the Rogue with 11.8 inches rotor in the front and 11.7 inches brake rotor in the rear. The pedal feels soft but is good enough to be predictable and linear..
Model |
2018 Nissan Rogue |
2018 Honda CR-V |
2018 Toyota RAV4 |
60 – 0 mph |
124 feet |
117 feet |
122 feet |
Brake Pads – F/R (in) |
11.8/11.7 |
12.3/12.2 |
N/A |
At 117 feet, the Honda CR-V takes the least distance to stop from 60 mph, followed by the RAV4. With a full load, the Nissan Rogue's brakes do a decent job and there is nothing objectionable about this performance.