Hauls More Than You'd Think - 2014 Nissan Rogue SL AWD Long-Term Road Test
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Hauls More Than You'd Think - 2014 Nissan Rogue SL AWD Long-Term Road Test
2014 Nissan Rogue SL AWD is a compact crossover with a deceptively large cargo area.
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I love hatchbacks and their hauling ability but am I the only one that sees that suitcase on top as a potential projectile if someone cuts directly in front of you bringing you to a nearly instant stop on impact? According to: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ConsumerNews/summer-safety-safety-summer-road-trips/story?id=11144976 "At 55 miles per hour, a 20-pound object hits with 1,000 pounds of force -- so powerful that a suitcase can literally sever the arm of a crash test dummy. "
Flying projectiles have been on my radar for years, since I usually drive a "big empty" minivan and often have it full of camping gear, bikes and other junk. I just got a "new" used Grand Caravan and almost immediately augmented the couple of factory built-in tie downs with eight or ten footman loops. These are just nylon and screwed into the paneling, so if push comes to shove, they'll fail, but they should help a bit, especially since I usually have the cords and bungies intertwined with each other. And I rarely have anything packed higher than the top of the seat, but that's as much for visibility as anything else.
Even the loose "soft" clothes duffles get bungied off.
Good stuff to remind people about.
Is this a gag photo? That does not look safe to me. Guy thinks it's ok because he can see behind him with the camera. Wow.
Good point on the tall stacking, although the rear seat head restraints provided a bit of blockage to keep the suitcases from sliding forward, and two of the suitcases in the photos were there only for the trip from Napa to the Oakland airport. The load was a bit lower after that.
And the article doesn't say I used the rearview camera to see behind me while driving - only that it was helpful when backing up. As should any driver with limited or no view from the rear window (commercial vans, pickups with campers, trucks towing trailers, etc), I used the side mirrors.
I wouldn't pack it that tight but, with mirrors and blindspot warning, I'd rather drive in a rogue than in some completely blind alternatives. But again, I wouldn't drive with potential projectiles at head level.