2020 Nissan Rogue SV AWD
Class: Compact Crossover
Miles driven: 404
Fuel used: 16.8 gallons
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B+ |
| Power and Performance | B- |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | B+ |
| Value | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 170-hp 2.5-liter |
| Engine Type | 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | CVT Automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Real-world fuel economy: 24.0 mpg
Driving mix: 40% city, 60% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 25/32/27 (city/highway/combined)
Fuel type: Regular gas
Base price: $27,970 (not including $1045 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Monarch Orange paint ($395), floor mats with cargo-area protector ($290), Premium Package ($1800)
Price as tested: $31,500
Quick Hits
The great: Passenger and cargo versatility; user-friendly control layout; good range of available comfort and technology features
The good: Pleasant driving personality
The not so good: So-so acceleration, and engine can get noisy when accelerating
More Rogue price and availability information
CG Says:
The last time that Consumer Guide tested a hybrid-power Nissan Rogue was in 2017. That will indeed be the last time. The compact crossover SUV drops its hybrid models for 2020, which is the product line’s only change of note for the model year.
That being the case, the ’20 Rogue that CG tested felt as comfortably familiar as a favorite sweater that always seems to survive the latest closet culling. It was an intermediate-trim SV, which fits between the entry-level S and high-line SL. All trims are available with front-wheel drive or—for an additional $1350—all-wheel drive. Gifted with an $1800 Premium Package option plus extra-cost paint and floor/cargo-area mats, the AWD test vehicle’s $29,015 starting price (with delivery) puffed up to $31,500.
Why the Nissan Rogue is a Consumer Guide Best Buy
With the various features and functionalities that have been added to the Rogue since its major freshening for 2017, the SV’s base price now buys cloth seats, heated in front and with 8-way power adjustment for the driver; sliding and reclining second-row seats; tilt/telescoping steering column; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; cruise control; dual-zone air conditioning; remote engine start; keyless entry and starting; hands-free liftgate; LED taillamps and daytime running lamps; power-adjustable heated exterior mirrors; and roof rails. Standard convenience and safety technologies count automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection; blind-spot, rear cross-traffic, and lane-departure warnings; “Intelligent Lane Intervention;” high-beam assist; rear automatic braking; rear-door alert for safer exits; and NissanConnect infotainment with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone connectivity, 7-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and Bluetooth hands-free telephone and audio streaming.
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The Premium Package replaced the standard 17-inch alloy wheels with 18-inch rims; reinforced the infotainment arsenal with navigation, Sirius XM Traffic & Travel Link, and HD radio; and upgraded to adaptive cruise control. It also threw in a surround-view monitor, heated steering wheel, memory function for the driver’s seat and exterior mirrors, electronic parking brake, and ProPILOT Assist—Nissan’s autonomous-lite system that pairs the cruise control with automatic lane centering to take control of spacing and steering under certain conditions (though the driver’s hands must remain in contact with the steering wheel).
The remaining powerteam is the same 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT automatic transmission that has been serving gas-only Rogues in recent years. CG hasn’t been bowled over by its acceleration—and the noise it makes while doing so—but at least the transmission shows some interest in providing quick kickdown when the throttle is stabbed at speed. We’ve listed respectable fuel economy as one of the Rogue’s “plus” qualities—though not every one of our testers does that well in every test stint. Easy handling and a ride that’s comfortable in most circumstances make the Rogue more agreeable to live with.
The best thing Nissan did for cargo hauling was when it got rid of the cramped available third-row seat and made the “Divide-N-Hide” organizer available in all models. Floor panels can be inserted at different heights to segment the ample cargo hold or create hidden storage spaces. The backs of the 60/40-split second-row seats retract to form a rising but uninterrupted expanded load platform.
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It’s easy to get comfortable in the front seat. Meanwhile, rear-seat legroom is good for a compact vehicle, and the very low driveline tunnel permits three adults to squeeze across the rear seat. Headroom is good throughout. Options for personal-item storage in the cabin are good, large and legible gauges and displays assist the driver, and climate and audio systems are cinches to operate.
It’s no wonder that CG has figuratively clapped Nissan on the back for the Rogue in recent years. As Nissan’s best-selling product, car shoppers are doing likewise—and we’ll let you guess which “attaboy” means more to the manufacturer.
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2020 NIssan Rogue SV
