The 2012 Nissan Rouge is Nissan’s entry to the arena of compact and affordable SUVs.
Overall, the new Rogue has good looks, excellently made cabin and innovative storage attributes.
The powertrain does not meet many peoples expectations, it still manages to give you an enjoyable ride.
Specifications
| Vehicle Type: Crossover | Base Price: $22,070.00 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity: 15.9 gallons (60L) | MPG: 23 city / 28 hwy |
| Length: 183.3 in. (465 cm) | Wheel Base: 105.9 in. (268.9 cm) |
| Height: 65.3 in. (165.8 cm) | Width: 66.3 in. (168.4 cm) |
| Curb Weight: 3276 lbs (1486 kg) | Ground Clearance: 8.3 in. (21 cm) |
| Luggage Capacity: 28.9 cu ft | Maximum Seating: 5 people |
| Engine: 16 Valve 4 Cylinder DOHC | Displacement: 2.5 Liter |
| Horsepower: 170 HP | Max RPM: 6000 RPM |
| Torque: 175 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm | Transmission: Xtronic CVT® |
| Option:Rogue SV | MSRP: $24,510; MPG: 23 city / 28 hwy |
Engine
The 2012 Nissan Rogue is equipped with a 4-cylinder 2.5 liter engine that delivers 170 horsepower and 175 lbs/ft of torque. The powertrain is paired with the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT).
The front-wheel drive Rogue, according to the EPA, has a fuel economy rating of 28 mpg for highway and 23 mpg for city driving. The all-wheel drive trim has a rating of 26 mpg for highway and 22 mpg for city driving.
Performance
The 2012 Rogue provides adequate power for city and highway driving. However, it is still not as powerful as other cars. If you are the type of car owner that looks after power, the Rogue may not deliver what you expect especially when you need that extra power for passing.
And although the CVT works well for the Nissan Murano, it makes the Nissan Rogue noisy especially during hill climbs. It helps make the compact SUV more fuel efficient though.
The steering for the Rogue is accurate and gives adequate feedback which ultimately makes the car a good handler. Other testers are not satisfied with the Rogue because of the noticeable body leans. The Rogue is composed during straights but loses some poise during sharp turns in corners and twisted roads.
Exterior
The styling of the 2012 Rogue is inspired by the appearance of the 2012 Murano. It has fine lines and subtle curves that make it very modern. It is sleek and smart but it does not have the same sportiness that its bigger brother exudes. Nevertheless, there is no reason for you not to love the looks of the Rogue.
Interior
The Nissan Rogue has a good interior, considering its price. However, its competitors can give better. It can seat up to five persons, provided that the rear passengers are children or teenagers. If you are bringing full grown adults, it is ideal to limit the passengers to four. Remember that the Rogue is compact and therefore cannot provide space like midsize SUVs can.
The center console of the Rogue is compatible with many modern devices. If you are in your 20s and you are buying a Rogue, you will find its technology useful. It provides entertainment and wireless connectivity with your SmartPhone. Also, the center console is fairly easy to use.
Safety
The federal government gave the Rogue 4 out of 5 starts for rollover and front crash tests, and 5 out of 5 stars for doing well in side crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave “acceptable” for roof strength but gave it a “good” score in rear protection, side impact and frontal offset tests.
Reliability
The 2012 Rogue comes with the standard 3-year limited warranty and a 5-year warranty for the power train. It also has a 5-year corrosion and perforation warranty. All these warranties are typical for its class.
Pros & Cons
The Rogue has good handling, good interior and good looks. It doesn’t have enough passing power and the CVT produces a lot of noise.
Although there are some flaws, the 2012 Nissan Rogue still has many things to offer, making it worthy of your consideration.
Competition
There are many Crossovers available in the market. They’ve become popular along with the likes of the Subaru Forester (MSRP $21,795; 21 city / 27 hwy), Hyundai Tucson (MSRP $22,295; 22 city / 32 hwy), and the Honda CRV (MSRP $22,495; 23 city / 31 hwy).
Overall Rating
What others say:
“The 2012 Nissan Rogue’s comfortable ride and versatile layout make it a good fit for a value-conscious small families–but it’s far from exciting to drive.”Car Connection
“Body lean in sharp corners is pronounced. Steering feel is responsive. Rogue is subject to wandering in gusty crosswinds, making steering corrections at highway speeds necessary. The brakes provide good stopping control, but one test model suffered from a slightly touchy pedal.”Consumer Guide
“Based on the Sentra, the compact Rogue is enjoyable and competitive in the small-SUV class.”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports
“The 2012 Nissan Rogue crossover departs from the traditional quasi-SUV look popular with so many competitors and replaces it with a curvaceous carlike design.”KBB
“The 2012 Nissan Rogue is a comfortable crossover with an unusually nice interior. It’s also unusually fun to drive. Unless you require maximum cargo space and rear-seat functionality, it’s a strong contender.”Edmunds
