The 2024 Nissan Rogue review: updated styling and tech, great fuel economy, head-turning looks

By Russ Heaps

The compact SUV checks all the boxes. Pricing starts at $28,320.

Pros

Excellent fuel economyComfortable seatsLoads of safety tech

Cons

Power delivery not as responsive or refined as some

What's new?

Updated stylingUpgraded tech

The Nissan Rogue is a well-rounded compact SUV that gets better for 2024. Pricing starts at $28,320.

The Nissan Rogue checks all the boxes a compact SUV needs to check in 2024. It's roomy, comfortable, exceptionally fuel efficient, and we even think it's among the better-looking entries in a segment that generally doesn't trade on style.

What's new for 2024

Nissan (NSANY) updates the Rogue's V-motion grille with a newer look featuring horizontal slats accented with chrome tabs at each end, replacing the solid bars that framed the outgoing grille. Although the lower S and SV grades retain the same 8-inch touchscreen, the upper SL and Platinum trims receive an Android infotainment system along with Google (GOOGL) Automotive Services and a new 12.3-inch touchscreen.

2024 Nissan Rogue pricing

The 2024 Nissan Rogue starts at $28,320. That's for the front-wheel-drive S trim level. A few rivals, like the VW Tiguan ($28,505) and the Kia Sportage ($27,900), are priced similarly. Many others in the segment cost more. For example, the entry-level Mazda (MZDAY) CX-50 is $30,300, the Honda (HMC) CR-V is $29,500, and the Dodge Hornet is $30,735. Sitting atop the Rogue's 4-grade lineup is the Platinum trim starting at $38,600. If you want a smaller Nissan, it's the $20,790 Kicks. You can go larger with the Nissan Murano at $37,920. The most popular Rogue trim level is the SV beginning at $30,010.

See: The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid: The king of the suburban road still excels-plus, fewer trips to the gas station

Every Rogue trim offers all-wheel drive as a $1,500 option. Sometimes, you will see a fifth trim level called the Midnight Edition. This is really an SV with the Midnight Edition blacked-out appearance package and all-wheel drive.

   Rogue S         $28,320 
   Rogue SV        $30,010 
   Rogue SL        $35,170 
   Rogue Platinum  $38,600 

These are manufacturer's suggested retail prices and don't include the $1,365 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).

Before buying the Nissan Rogue, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. To date, the Nissan Rogue has a better-than-average track record among compact SUVs for retaining its value, outshining the Ford (F) Escape and Hyundai Tucson, among others.

Power, ride, and handling

Nissan makes an excellent turbocharged V6 engine with variable compression, so think of the Rogue SUV's 1.5-liter Turbo 3-cylinder unit as half of that V6. And just as that larger engine can develop 400 horsepower (in the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400, for instance), this one has half the output. Well, a hair more - at 201 horsepower. The norm among compact SUVs tends to be below the 200 mark. In fact, its horsepower is on par with the Toyota (TM) RAV4, and Jeep Compass. Only the Dodge Hornet (268 horsepower) significantly exceeds it. All other compact rivals deliver measurably less. This puts the Rogue at a performance advantage over most of the field. However, because the transmission is engineered to maximize fuel economy at the expense of performance, we find acceleration to be a bit sluggish. Truth be told, most drivers won't even notice. Nissan has done well in other aspects of the driving experience. The 2024 Rogue handles tidily and rides comfortably.

We've spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact SUVs, including the Nissan Rogue.

Class-leading fuel economy

Although Nissan didn't do the Rogue any favors in the performance department with its transmission choice, the upside is that the fuel economy is more like a subcompact SUV than a compact one. Its government-estimated mileage for city-and-highway driving is 33 mpg. That is a segment best among non-hybrid SUVs. It is better than the Honda CR-V's 30 mpg, the Hyundai Tucson's 28 mpg, or the Kia Sportage's 28 mpg. Opting for all-wheel drive drops the Rogue's estimated mileage to 31 mpg. You can check out more about fuel economy at the EPA website.

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Comfy front seats

Seating comfort has much to do with the overall vehicle experience. In Rogue's case, we appreciate the NASA-inspired Zero Gravity front seats. The longer the trip, the bigger impact they have. Every trim level of the 2023 Rogue SUV has reclining rear seats that split and fold in a 60/40 fashion. At 38.5 inches, rear legroom is about average for the segment. It's a fraction more than the Toyota RAV4.

See: The 2024 Toyota RAV4 reviewed: There's good reason for the popularity of this reliable SUV

Behind those seats is a luggage area of 36.5 cubic feet (that's in the SL and Platinum trims, with their Divide-N-Hide cargo system in its lowest position; the S and SV have 31.6 cubic feet). Fold the rear seats to achieve a maximum cargo area of 74.1 cubic feet - this applies to all four trims. These dimensions are quite a bit above average for the class. Naturally, the nicest interior belongs to the Platinum trim, which is nearly a luxury experience. It sports a digital driver information display, a 10.3-inch touchscreen, and semi-aniline leather seating surfaces with diamond-patterned stitching.

Head-turner looks

Looks are subjective, but we'll stick out our necks to praise the Nissan Rogue as being one of the better-looking compact SUVs. This view is shared by many of our readers. The third-generation Rogue debuted for the 2021 model year, with greater character to its exterior design than the previous generations. Buyers can choose one particular aspect that's becoming more popular among many new vehicles: available 2-tone paint. The 2024 Rogue SUV offers various body colors (including an available vibrant bronze known as Sunset Drift ChromaFlair) topped off with a black roof. The SV trim's Midnight Edition cosmetics package brings black exterior elements such as 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, plus front and rear fascias. The base S comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, while the top two trims have 19-inch rims. And every new Rogue comes with LED lighting at both ends.

Our favorite features and tech

Infotainment systemRogue is the first Nissan to come with Google built-in with Google Automotive Services included. It's standard in the SL and Platinum trims. It brings with it a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The entire Rogue lineup has Apple (AAPL) CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration and at least four USB-C ports.

Front seatsNissan vehicles are known for their comfortable front seats, enhanced with enough support to help keep fatigue at bay during long trips.

Variable compressionAlthough this is a highly specialized feature, variable compression involves clever engineering that helps the Rogue reconcile the conflicting aims of performance and fuel economy. No buttons to press, and everything is done automatically to optimize engine efficiency.

Rear passenger doorsYes, all compact SUVs have rear passenger doors. But these ones open a full 90 degrees. That's a boon for parents installing a child seat and then installing the child into said seat.

Big door pocketsA 36-ounce bottle will fit into any of the four door pockets in the 2023 Rogue compact SUV. That's about the size of a typical water container used by hiking types.

Hands-free liftgate operationStandard in the top two trims, a powered liftgate that opens automatically (when a motion sensor is triggered) is another boon for parents and everyone else who has their hands full with other stuff.

Engine and transmission

The 201 horsepower the Rogue's turbocharged 3-cylinder engine delivers stacks up well against the competition. It'll hit 60 mph in about eight seconds, which is about average for the segment and sufficient for everyday needs. Its acceleration may not put a huge grin on your face, but 33 mpg probably will.

Also read: Automaker Nissan expands research ties in China in bid to regain market share

3-year/36,000-mile warranty

Nissan warranty coverage is about normal for mainstream carmakers. The limited bumper-to-bumper coverage is for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The powertrain protection is for five years or 60,000 miles.

Safety ratings

Out of a possible five stars, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Rogue an overall score of 5 Stars. In the midst of the Rogue's lifecycle, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently changed its testing protocol. In two new tests developed after the current Rogue generation's launch, the Rogue did not post the highest score of Good. In the six older tests, the Rogue did earn the top Good score. Furthermore, Nissan equips the Rogue with a full array of advanced safety and driver-aid technologies like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and lane departure warning.

Be sure to read: These are 2023's safest new cars

KBB's car review methodology.

This story originally ran on KBB.com.

-Russ Heaps

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