By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(August 9, 2017) Sales of the mid-cycle freshened 2017 Nissan Rogue are so hot, it's now the brand's best-selling vehicle. It’s also the best-selling sport utility vehicle and the single best-selling nameplate in the U.S., excluding full-size pickups. It seems consumers can’t get enough of the compact Rogue, whose sales continue to skyrocket.

To capitalize on its momentum by creating more variants to the booming segment, Nissan recently introduced a smaller version of its sales-leading Rogue — the Rogue Sport — to meet demand for slightly smaller crossover utility vehicles and to compete with the smaller Honda HR-V, Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Renegade and others.

Nissan also launched a first-ever hybrid version of the Rogue for 2017, tested here, that competes with the very successful Toyota RAV4 hybrid of which 44,000 were sold last year.

The 2017 Rogue Hybrid reviewed here was the SV trim level with all-wheel drive and a base price of $28,530, including destination charges. It’s also offered in the upscale SL trim level with leather-appointed seats, motion-activated rear liftgate, Around View monitor with moving object detection and other upgraded features.

We found the 2017 Rogue to be a significant improvement over the 2016 model, more premium, by far quieter and with improved driving dynamics. Still, the Rogue is nowhere near what one would call “sporty,” especially with the CVT that still feels like a slipping clutch in a manual shifting vehicle, with high revs while the vehicle gradually gathers speed. It’s a better transmission than the Nissans of old but other automakers do CVT better.

To be fair, however, in the Rogue Hybrid, the traditional CVT behavior is mitigated by the immediate torque of the electric motor at the start.

Unlike the Toyota RAV4, which uses a two-motor gasoline-electric hybrid system similar to the previous-generation Prius, producing a combined 194 horsepower, the Rogue Hybrid has only a single 30-kw (40 horsepower) electric motor, fitted between the 141-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and an adapted version of Nissan’s continuously variable transmission (CVT). Total peak horsepower for the Rogue Hybrid is 176.

The Rogue Hybrid system isn’t bad, but we much prefer two-motor systems that operate more smoothly. We do give the nod Rogue for noise suppression with the numerous engine starts and stops when the hybrid system engaged and disengaged.

We covered 380 miles during our weeklong testing: about two-thirds suburban lower speed driving and about one-third highway. Our all-wheel drive Rogue is rated at 31-mpg city, 34-mpg highway and 33 combined. Our driving for the week indicated 27.6 mpg — 19.5 percent below the combined rating. Depending on personal driving styles, other drivers may get better mileage.

The refreshed styling for 2017 starts with the “V-Motion” grille that looks more like a “U” to us. LED headlights are now optional with new LED boomerang signature taillights out back; a foot-motion automatic liftgate now available.

Inside the five or seven passenger Rogue, the driver will be greeted by a new flat-bottomed steering wheel. There are new door and instrument panel finishers, new shift knob design, center console and seat fabric. We like that rear seats both recline and slide fore and aft for added comfort, maximizing cargo space or passenger comfort. There’s ample rear-seat room for full-sized adults. The Hybrid is only available with two row seating.

Other new enhancements include standard forward emergency braking for both SV and SL and Hybrid grades. One buzz kill, however – still no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Overall the Nissan Rogue and Rogue Hybrid are excellent vehicles. Whether you have a small family or are thinking about moving in that direction, the Rogue is definitely affordable, loaded with standard features with a lot to like.

Vital Stats
Base Price:  $28,530
Price as Tested: $31,625
Engine: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline and single 30-kw (40-hp) electric motor
Horsepower: 176-hp
Fuel Economy: 31-mpg City – 33-mpg Highway
Crash Test Safety Ratings: IIHS Top Safety Pick+ - NHTSA Overall 4 Stars

Competes With:
Kia Niro
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

What Stands Out
Excellent vehicle for small families
Roomy, upscale interior with attractive finishes
Safety features and crash test ratings