2020 Nissan Rogue

The North American car market has developed a voracious appetite for compact SUVs and the Nissan Rogue is one of its favourite main courses. All kidding aside, the Rogue has positioned itself as a go-to option in this highly competitive segment and figuring out why this is could not be simpler.

Nissan is no stranger to building and selling SUVs. They’ve been at it for decades and the result is that there are currently no less than six different models to select from. Each of them caters to various buyers depending on their needs. The Nissan Rogue finds itself in the sweet spot between large and small, but not quite midsize.

In fact, the Rogue may be compact on the outside, making it easy to drive, but its cabin provides generous amount of room for passengers and gear alike. The trunk is surprisingly capacious at over 1,100 litres – a number that grows exponentially when the second row is stowed.

Where utility is concerned, the 2020 Nissan Rogue has everyone covered, from empty nesters who love golfing or cycling, to families involved in camping or hockey tournaments. The road to any and all these activities will never be boring. Standard features include, among many others, a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats and a complete battery of safety innovations called Nissan Intelligent Mobility.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect is the Rogue’s value proposition. A base FWD S model with the mentioned equipment starts at less than $27,000. For 2020, Nissan upped the deal by introducing a new Special Edition which, for just over $30,000, fulfills the vast majority of consumers’ desires. Included in the price are AWD, 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate controls, a heated leather steering wheel and more.

Those who crave more luxury features will be pleased with the SV and SL Platinum. The latter includes ProPILOT Assist, 19-inch alloy wheels, Bose Premium Audio, navigation, Intelligent Around View Monitor, dual-zone climate controls and leather seats.

Every 2020 Nissan Rogue is motivated by a standard 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine. With 170-horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque, there’s plenty of power but it does not come at the expense of fuel consumption. Thanks to the included highly efficient Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with Sport Mode, the Rogue consumes as little as 7.1 litres of fuel per 100 km on the highway.