2014 Nissan Rogue First Drive


Edmunds' First Drive of the 2014 Nissan Rogue. Includes driving impressions, specifications and photos of Nissan's redesigned compact crossover.
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Edmunds' First Drive of the 2014 Nissan Rogue. Includes driving impressions, specifications and photos of Nissan's redesigned compact crossover.
Comments
The CVT in our 2012 Altima snaps to attention quickly and doesn't lug the engine, and is far more responsive and intuitive than many 6-speed autos I've driven. However, that 2.5 is a really coarse and unrefined engine and I'm surprised more reviews don't mention that. Perhaps Nissan stuffed some more sound insulation in the firewall in the new Altima and this Rogue.
How does the CVT do in stop-n-go traffic or city traffic? Does it give a good amount of engine braking or does it feel like the it rolls ahead too much and you're constantly stressed you'll re-end someone?
I don't get much time in stop-n-go (thank god almighty), but the few times I have the CVT has been well behaved. It's smooth, doesn't shuffle and shudder between gears like some automatics do in stop and go. Not much engine braking, unless you put it in the manual ratio mode, but roll-ahead isn't really a problem either. It's a great transmission for normal driving, but it magnifies the lawnmower engine when driven harder.
To me, the new version does look good. Perhaps, even better than the previous. But, just because there's a new one doesn't mean the old one's ugly.
Also, I really don't understand all the hate being thrown at CVT's. I think they're awesome. And, the one in the Rogue works really well. There's NO shift shock whatsoever. Why do you need to FEEL shifts on an automatic? Doesn't make sense. That's what manuals are for. Plus, automakers have done everything in their power to make their regular automatics shift as smoothly as possible. So, why is it a bad thing that CVTs are seamless with no shift points?
As far as my Rogue goes, the power just comes seamlessly. The only time the engine "drone" is present is when you accelarate hard and/or floor it. Honestly, that doesn't happen much. But, when it does, the Rogue does get loud, but it at least you feel the engine working and it makes up for the noise with good accelaration. My Rogue hauls!
Speaking of which: To Alex38: The Rogue is NOT underpowered. Edmunds clocked it at 8.6 to 60, with some other sources getting even quicker numbers. For a heavy, 4-cylinder crossover, that is not underpowered at all. As far as power, not noise-level, I've always felt my Rogue feels like it has a V6, as have other people who have driven my car. They've all been surprised when I tell them it's only a 4. So, if Nissan's saying this new one is even quicker, then cool! Can't wait to test it out.
And, to answer the question about roll-ahead issues. I've actually noticed the opposite with CVT's vs. regular automatics. Regular automatics, to me, seem to roll-ahead more than CVT's. I kinda wish my Rogue would roll ahead a little more than it does. At some times, it even behaves kinda like a manual. And, if you want engine braking, then just turn overdrive off and it'll provide a lot more of it.
All in all, I really like this new Rogue and can't wait to test drive it. If I like it even more in person, then I'm definitely trading my 2011 in as soon as possible.