Going Rogue In Hybrid Mode: The 2017 Nissan Rogue SV Hybrid AWD

The 2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid.

Small crossovers are still the white-hot part of the market.  And for model year 2016, Toyota had the field all to itself when it came to gasoline/electric hybrids, with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.  Longtime archrival Nissan chose 2017 to freshen its Rogue, and we liked the gasoline version we drove at the beginning of this year very much.

As we noted at the end of that review, it's the value equation that makes the Rogue a contender, and this year, Nissan has brought a Rogue Hybrid to market that keeps the value strong.

Timing Is Everything: The 2017 Nissan Rogue SL AWD

The 2017 Nissan Rogue SL AWD.

It is better, they say, to be lucky than good.  Nissan had the good fortune of introducing a heavily-refreshed Rogue at about the same time the promotion began for the latest Star Wars film, Rogue One.  And in a bit of corporate synergy, Nissan and Lucasfilm/Disney cooked up a promotional campaign that benefits both, though one has nothing to do with the other---and thankfully, the parties involved avoided trying to squeeze Nissan product placement into a film about a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.  There is, however, a Star Wars Limited Edition Rogue.

A Tale Of Two SUVs: The 2015 Nissan Rogue SV FWD and SL AWD

The 2015 Nissan Rogue. 

It doesn't happen often.  In fact, we here at TireKicker World Headquarters in Folsom, California work hard to avoid it.  But every once in a while, the Phoenix, Arizona bureau and we get the same car. The good news is that they are rarely identical and in the case of the 2015 Nissan Rogue, it worked out beautifully because the two models are different in trim level, the number of driving wheels and the price spread is such that each likely appeals to a different buyer.

How The 2014 Nissan Rogue Has Grown Up

2014 Nissan Rogue.

To fully appreciate the changes to the 2014 Nissan Rogue, it is extremely helpful to read Michael's review of the first-generation Rogue, written a bit more than five years ago.  The pictures tell part of the tale. The new Rogue is much more put-together, more of a mini-Pathfinder than a Versa wagon.

The biggest surprises are that the new Rogue is still using the original 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that powered the original half a decade ago, and that, despite gaining 117 pounds, it now gets much better mileage.  That's because of a new Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission that Nissan says generates 40% less friction loss.  Last year's EPA-estimated 23 miles per gallon city and 28 miles per gallon highway is now 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.

2011 Nissan Juke

The smaller-than-a-Rogue Nissan Juke crossover got its official auto show introduction in Geneva a few weeks ago, but Nissan put on on display in New York Tuesday night ahead of the Wednesday opening of the New York International Auto Show.

Automotive News was there.

Nissan Rogue Review

As other automakers pack their compact SUVs with so much stuff that they flirt with the $30,000 price point, Nissan has done what it did years ago with the original XTerra...boiled the recipe back down to its essentials.

The Nissan Rogue is a no-frills, no-excuses small SUV (actually, small crossover, since it's built on a car platform). 170 horsepower from a 4-cylinder engine connected to a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission...Nissan's the one automaker who's absolutely nailed how these are supposed to work). 16-inch wheels, a decent audio system, manually-adjusted cloth seats, power windows, power doorlocks and remote keyless entry.

The EPA says it gets 22 in the city, 27 on the highway, which is very, very good.

And then there's the price. Base for the Rogue S 2-wheel drive: $20,220. Which put our tester (having only splash guards, floor mats and a cargo mat for options, plus $745 delivery charge) on the sweet side of $21,500.

The Rogue gives a lot of value for a little money, and by keeping it simple, Nissan sends the subliminal message that nothing's likely to break...that this little machine will last a long time. That's a terrific market position in an economy like this.

UPDATE: Recently did a week in the uplevel Rogue SL AWD...which adds 17 inch aluminum wheels, roof rails, body-color outside power mirrors, a six-way adjustable manual driver's seat, rear privacy glass and a polished exhaust tip.

It takes the base price up to $23,010, which is fine as far as it goes. But five clicks in the option boxes (moonroof, floormats, cross bars, a premium package that upgrades the audio to a Bose system and adds Bluetooth and fog lights, and a portable Garmin Nuvi nav system with dashboard mount) ran the price of the one I drove to $27,850.

It's every bit the solid small SUV described above, but at that price, not the solid value. Also, the AWD (as opposed to the 2-wheel drive) knocks the EPA estimates down to 21 city/26 highway.