Editors at TheCarConnection.com read the most respected reviews from around the Web to write this comprehensive review on the 2008 Nissan Rogue. TheCarConnection.com's editors also drove the new Rogue, to be able to provide more details and their own opinions in cases where other reviews on the Web had conflicting views.
Likes
-Looks like the larger Nissan Murano
-Well-balanced ride and handling
-Attention to fit and finish
-Clever cargo organizer
Dislikes
-Middling acceleration
-CVT isn't familiar to many consumers
-Rear visibility suffers from styling
-Rear-seat room can be tight for adults
The 2008 Nissan Rogue is the Japanese automaker's first attempt at a small crossover along the lines of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and it's largely a success. Based on Nissan's Sentra sedan, the Rogue wears a tall body styled like the company's larger Murano crossover, and provides seats for five, though four adults will be about the maximum you'll transport in its compact body.
The Rogue has a sole engine and transmission combination: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and a continuously variable transmission. The unconvetional transmission uses pulleys and a belt to simulate gear ratios--and Nissan outfits some Rogues with paddles for shifting that mimics an automatic's five or six gears. It works well enough, but CVTs are less familiar than the usual manual or automatic gearboxes.
The 2008 Nissan Rogue offers a flexible cargo area with easy-folding second-row seats and a strong list of features, including a nifty cargo organizer. All-wheel drive is an option, as is satellite radio, but no navigation system can be ordered.
The Bottom Line
With the 2009 Nissan Rogue, the crossover market gets another right-sized entry that's just a little tighter inside than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
Other Choices
If you like the 2008 Nissan Rogue, also consider:
- Honda CR-V
- Toyota RAV4
- Saturn Vue
- Ford Escape
Reason why
The Honda CR-V is the class sales leader; it has great interior room, a controversial new nose, and only a four-cylinder engine. The Toyota RAV4 offers a third-row seating option as well as a V-6 engine, along with the base four-cylinder. Ford's Escape and Saturn's Vue both come in Hybrid models, and both were significantly redesigned in the 2008 model year.
Buying Tip
It's a rare case where we prefer the more expensive version of a new vehicle, but the 2008 Nissan Rogue fits that bill. Many of our favorite features--including Bluetooth connectivity--are only available in the upmarket Rogue SL. Still, with the wave of new vehicles in this class, it shouldn't be hard to strike a good deal on a new Nissan Rogue. And don't hold out for a hybrid version: Nissan has no plans to add a gas-electric powertrain.
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