A good road trip companion should be able to travel long distances without breaking a sweat and carry its passengers in comfort. Luggage space is also important for these long jaunts. A capable drivetrain is also a high priority in this case; one that balances performance and mileage. Unlike a full-size SUV that can be cumbersome to use, mid-size SUVs or crossovers offer a lot in an affordable and comfortable package. The Nissan Rogue is a good example of this, offering loads of interior space and a comfortable ride, two factors that are important on a road trip. Rogue is also one of the best-selling Nissan offerings for several years now. You can even find Nissan manuals to help make your trip a smoother and safer one.
Since its launch in 2008, the Nissan Rogue has always been a competitive offering by the brand in the compact crossover segment, catering to customers looking for a rugged yet city-friendly SUV for everyday use. For 2021 MY, it also received a redesign both inside and out. Nissan has also tweaked the performance and handling aspects, making it more enjoyable and comfortable to drive.
Let’s take a look at how the 2021 Nissan Rogue ticks all these boxes and if it makes a good road trip companion.
Does the 2021 Rogue perform well?
While the performance has been tweaked slightly, the Rogue continues to be powered by the same 2.5L inline-4 engine. This time around, power has been bumped to a modest 181 hp. The CVT transmission has also been tweaked for better responsiveness and the car does feel quicker on its feet compared to the outgoing model. As usual, all-wheel drive is available as an option like most of its competitors.
With adequate power on tap, the 2021 Nissan Rogue can cruise comfortably on long road trips. CVT transmission does a good job munching miles while cruising while still being responsive enough when the situation demands it. The manual mode also works well. Opting for the all-wheel-drive model is recommended if you’re from the northern states for additional grip and control.
Is the 2021 Rogue fuel efficient?
Another factor just as important as performance is efficiency, especially when we’re considering a road trip companion. Fortunately, the Rogue scores well in this category, returning 35 MPG on the highway and 27 MPG in the city. It is also equipped with a large gas tank which delivers a highway range of 460 miles; with fewer stops for refueling. However, expect a slight drop in fuel economy when opting for the all-wheel-drive system. According to the EPA, the AWD variant returns 26 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway.
Can the 2021 Rogue keep you comfortable?
2021 Rogue receives a completely revamped interior with plenty of design elements lifted over from models like the Altima. Designed with practicality in mind, the interior offers plenty of storage space and comfortable seating for five passengers. Although there is no increase in passenger space compared to the outgoing model, it is still more than adequate for a comfortable road trip. The wide cabin can also accommodate three passengers at the rear without squeezing them in. Being a family SUV, the Rogue can also accommodate child seats easily with accessible latches and plenty of rear-seat space, making it an ideal companion if you’re planning on traveling with your toddler. Even tall adults will be comfortable at the rear with oodles of legroom and headroom on offer. The new 90-degree opening rear doors also help the Rogue earn some brownie points for practicality and ease of use.
Another important aspect to consider about the Rogue that further helps its case as a comfortable cruiser is the “Zero Gravity Seat” technology that was co-developed with NASA. Like most other models in the lineup, the front seats use this design to provide exceptional comfort and support. There is plenty of bolstering on offer and the seats are designed to reduce fatigue over time.
What about storage space?
Coming to the cargo capacity, the 2021 model is slightly smaller by 2 cubic feet, offering 31.6 cubic feet with the seats up. Higher trims feature an adjustable cargo floor which increases the cargo capacity to 37 cubic feet. Folding the rear seats flat will significantly boost the capacity to 74.1 cubic feet. You also get some clever storage areas in the trunk and around the cabin.
How cool is its infotainment unit?
Nissan also includes plenty of tech with the 2021 Rogue to keep passengers entertained. An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system takes center stage, offering all the expected features including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, voice control, Bluetooth, and a lot more. Higher trims like the SL and Platinum get a larger 9-inch touchscreen system. The interface is neat and crisp with fluid menus and animations. Nissan also offers a premium 10-speaker Bose audio system to blast your tunes on the highway. Other notable additions include a 10.8-inch head-up display and a configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Convenience features like wireless charging, several USB ports, and smartphone storage areas are of great use to keep phones juiced up.
How safe is the 2021 Rogue?
With an overall 4-star rating from the NHTSA, the Rogue is not the safest compact SUV on the market. But, Nissan has equipped it with a lot of active driver assistance features including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, Surround-view parking camera system, and even a driver attention monitoring system. Nissan also offers its ProPilot Assist system as an option on the higher trims, offering semi-autonomous driving, making highway jaunts and road trips that much easier.
Overall, the 2021 Nissan Rogue ticks all the boxes that make it an excellent road trip companion, offering plenty of performance, safety, and comfort for the whole family.
