Last year, the Nissan Rogue was refreshed for a new generation. It was a very good update but it had one issue. The engine felt underpowered and it struggled to provide any meaningful movement. For the 2022 Nissan Rogue, it has a new engine that looks to solve the problem.
Performance
Engine – The old 2.5L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine has been replaced by a new 1.5L 3-cylinder turbocharged variable compression engine. The new engine is capable of producing 201 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque (150 kw & 305 Nm). Those figures are reached at 5,600 & 4,000 rpms respectively. With the Nissan Rogue typing the scales at 1,689 kg (3,723 lbs), this little engine has plenty of grunt to get the SUV moving. It takes less effort from your right foot to bring the Rogue up to merging speeds on highways. It feels so much more effortless than the old 4-cylinder engine. By the way, the base Rogue S still uses the old 4-cylinder engine in the Canadian market. All other trim levels receive the new 3-cylinder engine.
This 3-cylinder turbo engine utilizes Nissan’s variable compression technology. This was first introduced on the Infiniti QX50 and without getting into too much detail, the combustion chamber can change the compression ratio. Under light throttle applications it has higher compression for improved fuel efficiency. Vice versa when you stomp on the throttle and the turbo produces more boost, the compression ratio decreases to allow for a larger volume of air/fuel mixture for more power. You don’t feel any of this change as it is seamless but you can see it happening on the digital driver display.
Fuel Economy – With the size of the engine and the variable compression technology, the 2022 Nissan Rogue AWD can return impressive fuel efficiency numbers. It is rated for 8.4 L/100 km (28 MPG) in a city and 6.8 L/100km (34.6 MPG) on a highway. During my time with the SUV, I managed a respectable 7.9 L/100 km (29.7 MPG) with the majority of my driving being in a bustling city.
Transmission – The new engine is paired with a CVT automatic transmission. These are not the most enjoyable transmissions for driving enthusiastically but this is not a car to do that in. The Mazda CX-5 is your answer for driving dynamics. This CVT is, honestly, forgetful. And that’s a good thing. It performs well in the given situation. It reacts quickly enough for a burst of acceleration, it quietens down the engine when cruising on highways, and it gives you a few virtual gears when you require a bit more control.
Braking – The Nissan Rogue’s brakes provide enough force to bring the nearly 1.7 tonne SUV to a stop in an emergency situation. The brake pedal has a lot of travel – more than I’d like – but it allows for smooth stops at intersections.
Handling – This new generation of the Nissan Rogue drives better than the outgoing version but, as mentioned earlier, it’s no CX-5. However, it feels more planted around corners and the steering is direct, as are all other electro-assisted steering racks. The feel is light which makes it easy to maneuver the SUV on city streets or parking lots. In Canada, all trim levels except for the base come standard with AWD. In the United States, AWD is optional on all trim levels.
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Comfort
Ride Comfort – The 2022 Nissan Rogue is arguably one of the most comfortable rides in this class of vehicles. Bumps and road imperfections are very well ironed out by the suspension. It’s not like “driving on clouds” but it’s darn close.
Further aiding to the comfort in this top Platinum trim are the quilted leather seats. They are extremely comfortable to sit in for long…. really long periods of time without any back pain. Also, the 2022 Nissan Rogue has a three zone climate control system. A rare feature for a compact SUV.
Interior Space – The 2022 Rogue – like many new generation vehicles – offers more interior space than the outgoing model. However, the increase in size is not in all axes. Front and rear passenger legroom is greater as is total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. But headroom and cargo capacity with the rear seats up is a tiny bit less than the previous generation Rogue. While the headroom is a few millimeters less than last year’s model, there’s still ample headroom for tall adults like myself at 6’4”. Getting in and out of the Rogue is a breeze, especially in the back row, thanks to the rear doors that open at an almost 90 degree angle. This also aids in loading and unloading with the seats folded.
Speaking of which, the trunk can accommodate 1,028 L (36.3 cu-ft) behind the rear seats and 2,064 L (72.9 cu-ft) with the seats folded. These are specifications with the panoramic moonroof. Without it, the capacities increase by 5 & 34 Liters respectively.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – A refined interior is also one of the biggest changes to the new Nissan Rogue. The cabin is insulated from most outside noises with very minimal intrusions from wind or tire noises at highway speeds.
The 3-cylinder engine is an inherently unbalanced engine by design. But the vibrations do not get translated into the cabin. The engine mounts are working overtime to keep the little engine isolated from the cabin occupants.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2022 Nissan Rogue starts at $29,498 CAD ($27,150 USD) but, here in Canada, this still has the old 2.5L engine. In order to get the new 1.5L 3-cylinder, you have to move up to the SV trim which starts at $36,098 CAD ($28,840 USD, FWD). This top spec Platinum trim costs $42,748 CAD ($38,430 USD, AWD). In the United States, all trim levels have the new 3-cylinder engine.
Gadgets – In base form, the Nissan Rogue S is quite well equipped. It has an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and a full suite of advanced driver and safety aids.
At the other end of the spectrum this Platinum trim is equipped with a panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, head-up display, surround view cameras, heated rear seats, a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, a 12.3-inch driver display, Bose premium audio, and wireless phone charging to name quite a few.
Interior Design – When you step inside the new Rogue, it still feels like a Nissan vehicle but it also feels modernized. The steering wheel is a traditional D-shape that Nissan always likes to use but it’s just a tad on the skinny side for my extra long fingers to grab a hold of. The infotainment touchscreen has physical quick access buttons & knobs on the bottom and the climate controls are pretty much dummy proof.
One interior design that I particularly like is the choice of trim on the floating center console. It’s plastic but it looks like a blend of wood & aluminum trim. It feels like it’ll stand the test of time and won’t show dirt & fingerprints like traditional piano black plastics.
When I first test drove this new generation Rogue last year, I found the gear selector and drive mode selectors to be a bit “flimsy”. Well, it would seem that Nissan paid attention and these controls don’t feel as flimsy as before. They match up with the rest of the interior.
Exterior Design – The outside of the 2022 Nissan Rogue seems to take a bit of inspiration from the old Nissan Juke. It has thin daytime running lights at the top of the bumper and actual headlights further down. It looks a bit odd to me but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example, I actually like the look of the new BMW 4-series. But back to the Nissan, the design language is instantly recognizable as a Nissan product. It has the deep “V” grille on the front and wrap-around taillights that are reminiscent of the Murano.
Safety – As mentioned earlier, the Rogue S has a vast majority of the available safety and driver aids. Moving up in the trims will add on things like front, rear and side parking sensors, surround view cameras, traffic sign recognition, blind spot sensors, adaptive cruise control, and driver seat-mounted front-center supplemental air bags.
The IIHS gave the 2022 Nissan Rogue a Top Safety Pick+ with good scores in every category. However, in an updated side impact test, it received a revised Acceptable grade. As well, the NHTSA gave the 2022 Rogue 4 out of 5 stars for safety.
Warranty – The 2022 Nissan Rogue is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle basic warranty and a 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty, click here.
Conclusion – In all the 2022 Nissan Rogue is a good overall compact SUV. It’s not as good to drive as the Mazda CX-5 nor is it as big as the Honda CR-V, but the Rogue is less expensive than both and features a lot of the same gadgets & gizmos. So in a way, you’re getting more value for your money with the Nissan Rogue than other competitor compact SUVs. I just wouldn’t recommend the base trim with the old 2.5L engine. If you don’t have the budget for the SV trim (or higher) with the new engine, then the competitors are better as base trimmed vehicles.
Thank you to Nissan Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Nissan.ca
2022 Nissan Rogue Platinum Gallery
