Awards & Reviews

2008 Rogue Received Highest Side-Impact Safety Rating
Rogue has received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) highest rating - 5 stars - for side-impact crash safety.

Rogue awarded Best New Small Crossover by Kiplinger's
In March 2008, Kiplinger's Personal Finance chose the Nissan Rogue as Best New Small Crossover, calling the Rogue "sportier and less expensive" than competitors Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

2008 Rogue Wins MotorWeek's "Driver's Choice Award for Best Small Utility"
The annual MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards are unique for their consumer focus and represent the definitive list of best automotive picks for a range of lifestyles. The judges said Rogue "...delivers a strong balance of practicality, front or all-wheel drive performance, style, and affordability. Plus, this sharp little crossover is fun to drive, can carry plenty of stuff, and won't beat you up at the gas pump." It's easy to see why MotorWeek named Rogue a winner.

2008 Rogue Receives Parents Magazine's "Best Family Cars for 2008" Award
Parents Magazine teamed up with Edmunds.com to select the safest and most family-friendly cars for 2008. In naming Rogue one of its "Best Family Cars for 2008," the magazine found, "The brand-new Rogue has two irresistible qualities: a sleek, modern design and a very modest sticker price. And the advanced transmission makes for a quiet ride and quick acceleration, so it's a blast to drive." Certainly, any parent's dream.

Pros

Fuel efficiency is a major selling point for Nissan's new 2008 Rogue crossover; EPA fuel economy figures range up to 22 city, 27 highway. The interior promises to be flexible for cargo demands, with a front passenger seat that folds flat, and Nissan also says that the Rogue is one of the longest vehicles in its class, allowing good back-seat and cargo space.

Model Highlights

Nissan's sleek new 2008 Rogue comes in just two models, S and SL, and both are powered by a single powertrain, a 170-horsepower, 2.5L aluminum-block four-cylinder engine and "shiftless" Xtronic CVT automatic, with either front-wheel drive or the so-called Intuitive all-wheel-drive system, which comes with yaw moment control for added stability on slippery road surfaces. Paddle shifters are available for those who want to control the CVT's shifts through a set of simulated gears. The Rogue's suspension and steering are configured to provide good ride comfort and stable handling. There are struts, rebound springs, and coil springs in front and a multi-link setup with rebound springs in back, while the steering uses electric power assist. Braking is also sure-footed, with standard four-wheel vented disc brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist. Electronic stability control is also included on all Rogues. All the other expected safety features come on the base Rogue, including front seat-mounted side air bags and roof-mounted supplemental curtain bags with rollover detection, along with active head restraints in front. The Rogue's instrument panel follows a driver-oriented, cockpit design and the interior has many versatile storage spaces such as a partitioned glovebox, dual-level center console, and a rear cargo organizer with vertical cargo nets. The 60/40-split rear seat folds down to expand the cargo area, and the front passenger seat also folds flat for especially long items. There's also a removable, washable rear cargo tray and a rear cargo cover available. SL models add a few more standard features including larger 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, a chrome exhaust tip, and rear-seat heater ducts. Other options of note include a Bluetooth hands-free system, xenon headlamps, a moonroof, and steering-wheel audio controls.

Model News

The 2008 Nissan Rogue is an all-new, budget-price compact crossover utility vehicle, breaking into a long-established class that includes vehicles like the Saturn Vue, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Subaru Forester.

Value Writeup

Contemporary styling; fuel efficiency; cargo flexibility; low price.