2020 NIssan Rogue SV
2020 Nissan Rogue SV in Monarch Orange (a $395 option)

Quick Spin

2020 Nissan Rogue SV AWD

Class: Compact Crossover

Miles driven: 404

Fuel used: 16.8 gallons

CG Report Card
Room and ComfortB+
Power and PerformanceB-
Fit and FinishB+
Fuel EconomyB+
ValueB
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 GuyB
Tall GuyA
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 Specs170-hp 2.5-liter
Engine Type4-cylinder
Transmission CVT Automatic
Drive WheelsAWD

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.

Monarch Orange Rogue
The extra-cost Monarch Orange is an especially vibrant hue. SVs come standard with a motion-activated power liftgate.

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

Monarch Orange Rogue
The Rogue’s control layout is simple and easy to use. The cabin isn’t quite as classy as some rivals’, but the ambiance is pleasant, and the Rogue’s rear-seat space is among the best in the compact SUV class.

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.

Test Drive: 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL

Nissan Rogue Cargo Management
The Rogue’s clever “Divide-N-Hide” panels allow the cargo area to be partitioned off to create hidden storage spaces and/or keep smaller items from moving around. There’s up to 39.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and an even 70 cubic feet with the rear seat backs folded.

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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Nissan Rogue SV Wheels
The Rogue’s sole engine is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that puts out 170 horsepower and is paired with a CVT automatic transmission. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are included in the Premium Package, and replace the standard 17s.

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.

Test Drive: 2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure

2020 Rogue in Monarch Orange
Though its basic platform is now among the oldest designs in the compact SUV class, the Nissan Rogue continues to offer an attractive blend of attributes–and a generous list of features–at reasonable prices.

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2020 NIssan Rogue SV

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