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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
My loaner came equipped in SL Premium AWD trim, which means that LED auto on/off headlights join the standard LED daytime running lights with fog lamps underneath pulled up from mid-grade trims, the otherwise white roof getting a shiny black patch across its mid-section that not so subtly hints at the panoramic glass sunroof appreciated from below, additional SL Premium exterior features including
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
You really notice the change wrought by SL Premium trim inside, where an already nicely designed and well built cabin is upgraded with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone auto climate control, a seven-inch colour touchscreen infotainment
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Additionally,
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
I mentioned that the Rogue is nicely designed and well built, but it also features some premium detailing that’s become de rigueur in the compact SUV class these days, although not offered by all. A soft touch dash top joins pliable synthetic door uppers, while just below are nicely padded leatherette armrests with French-stitched seams. The centre armrest isn’t so fancy, but gets finished in comfortable padded leatherette just the same, while the leather seats are well formed and thoroughly comfortable with perforated leather inserts that keep you cooler in summer. Satin-silver trim adorns the steering wheel spokes and switchgear, the vent
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Ahead of the driver is a large dual dial primary gauge package with chrome rings around each meter, while a large colour TFT multi-information display is well stocked
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The Bose audio system sounds great, with nice deep bass and bright highs, the perfect complement to Sugar by Maroon 5 or any other dance track. It’s good for other types of music too, from classical to jazz, new wave to ’90s grunge and other types of harder rock. You can plug in your personal devices via USB and aux ports
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The auto climate control interface is nicely laid out with a large LCD display and the benefit of two front zones, some of the Rogue’s competitors only offering single-zone auto HVAC in top trims. The front seat heaters are only two-way, however, and while they heat up quickly the highest temperature isn’t all that hot. Rear seat heaters were not available, but a very nice large panoramic sunroof was, something that’s not always on offer and much appreciated when included. It boasts a powered sunshade that fully encloses and insulates the glass roof, a best of both worlds’ scenario.
The
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Out on the road the Rogue’s ride quality is quite good, with plenty of suspension travel to minimize intrusions from pavement irregularities. Still it’s a fairly firm setup, so it’s not like you’re floating along on a cloud. You’re going to feel bridge expansion joints, bumps and frost heaves, manhole covers and the like, but it’s not intrusive. The Rogue balances this ride comfort with fairly good handling too, again not the best in its class but certainly good enough for most peoples’ wants and needs, while highway stability is excellent.
Overall the Rogue’s straight-line performance is fairly strong, with plenty of pull off the line and decent passing power on the highway. Its mere 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque might have you thinking it’s not as quick as some rivals, but
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The CVT delivers pseudo shifts too, although there is no manual mode offered at all. An electronic overdrive button located on the shift knob lets you drop a “gear” when needed, and there’s also a low gear that brings revs up quite a bit more. With Sport mode engaged revs are allowed to climb almost completely to redline before shifts rapidly occur, the process feeling a bit artificial but certainly quick. I’m not a big fan of CVT transmissions from a performance perspective, although if left to their own devices
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
To engage that just noted Sport mode you’ll need to reach over to the left lower panel, next to the left knee, which is rather awkward and odd. I’m the type of driver that switches between sport and eco modes often as it’s nice to have a little more performance when needed and save fuel when not, so this type of setup wasn’t to my liking as it required me to take my eyes fully off the road in order to locate, and that’s certainly not what I want to be doing amid a curving stretch of road, exactly when I’d rather be enjoying the benefits of such a system. What’s more,
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Of course, none of the competitors in the Rogue’s compact SUV class are perfect either, but if Nissan wants its sales to pass by the CR-V and likewise desires to keep the new Jeep Cherokee and soon to be redesigned Chevy Equinox far behind it’ll want to remedy its shortcomings in its next generation, although that model isn’t expected for another couple of years. Until then the Rogue offers a lot of capability in an efficient, well-equipped, good-looking package, a certain recipe for continued success.
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