Should I Buy the 2018 Nissan Rogue?

December 11, 2017

The 2018 Nissan Rogue is like a Pixar movie – it is predictably satisfying for the entire family, but full of subtle nuances that are best enjoyed by savvy adults.

The plot for this year’s model is definitely familiar. However, the 2018 version of the Rogue is enhanced by a whole slew of new characters. Notably, there are multiple new tech and safety gadgets that pair nicely with the familiar cast of other class-leading features.

Let’s take a deeper look at the 2018 Nissan Rogue and determine if it’s worthy of an Oscar. Or something like that.

Is the Nissan Rogue a Good Car? (Hint: It’s an SUV that Drives Like a Car)

The 2018 Nissan Rogue is a class-leader in performance and fuel-economy. It grips corners with effortless zeal and zips forward with pep and precision. Often times more powerful cars sacrifice on fuel economy, but that is simply not the case with the Rogue. With its EPA-estimated rating of 32 mpg, it is on par with the Honda CR-V but miles ahead (literally) of competitors like the Kia Sportage, Ford Escape, and Jeep Cherokee.

Want more gadgets in your life? The 2018 Rogue satisfies. Debuting within the Rogue this year is the Nissan ProPilot Assist. It uses stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist to help with the nuances of daily driving. Furthermore, a new 7-inch touchscreen has been added to every Rogue along with Apple CarPlay and a second USB port.

The drastic leap forward in technology coincides with a desirable aesthetic upgrade as well. For the first time ever, the 2018 Rogue utilizes the Vmotion Corporate Design theme. Additionally, there are pleasing interior changes throughout. Updates include an updated center console, new materials, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. Not radical by any means, but enough to keep the repeat buyers sufficiently intrigued.

Name the Adventure – the Rouge is Ready

Do you like adventures? I like adventures. Not all adventures require an epic road trip through 4hrs of snow, to hike for 3hrs to a remote helipad to then be airdropped on a remote mountain top to ski into a remote ski village (though that almost sounds like fun).

If your usual weekend spans navigating concrete jungles, car loads of home improvement projects and the occasional escape from reality – the Rouge has you covered. For the other 5 days of the week? Roll to the office in comfort knowing you have the means to check out for the next weekend adventure.

Available Now in South Portland at Dick Hannah Nissan

As a writer, auto enthusiast, and a reasonably ambitious human – I choose to never rest on my laurels while always striving to advance. I expect automakers to adopt that same philosophy as well, although sometimes it feels like they do so only begrudgingly.

The updated Rogue is exactly what I expect from automakers. It is a refined model – comfortable within its own skin, but still adapting, growing, and advancing while effortlessly maintaining its identity.

And to support that, Nissan released a mid-year update (2017.5) model to move some of their newest features into your hands – and not wait until a convenient model year update. This is the kind of automotive thinking we can get behind.