The 2009 Nissan Rogue is a bit of a cross-breed between the Murano and the Sentra, to which it owes a lot of its frugality. But, to be quite frank, when it comes to drive-ability, looks, and practicality, the Rogue is a better choice than either of its parents.
The 2009 Nissan Rogue is, when you look at the book, a compact crossover SUV that will comfortably seat five. It’s available in two levels of trim, both of which are available with either front- or all-wheel drive. The S-trim level is the base package that comes standard with cruise control, 16-inch steel wheels, tilt wheel steering, air-conditioning, keyless entry, full power accessories, and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player. There are no options that can be added at the S level.
For more luxury, you can opt for the SL trim level which includes everything on the S level and adds a few more options, including 17-inch alloy wheels, a fold-down front passenger seat, roof rails, a dual-level tray for the center console, tinted windows, and a trip computer.
When compared to other compact crossovers on the market, the Rogue stands out. It drives and handles like a car and has a wonderfully crafted interior. The Rogue features a proficient four-cylinder engine that has enough push to keep up with cars and SUVs alike. But there one drawback – the power is run through something Nissan calls a “continuously variable transmission” (CVT).
To be sure, Nissan has used the CVT very well in the V6 Altima and Maxima, and it seems that they were thinking, “Hey, it’d be great to add more smoothness by creating a gear box that gets rid of shifting.“ While this choice might earn the folks at Nissan an A for effort, unfortunately, there’s now an almost rubber band-like feeling in the drive line. More worrisome is that now when you go on and off the gas, you experience a subtle rising and falling feeling that can take some getting used to.
Even in the face of these issues, the 2009 Nissan Rogue is a good alternative to the other small crossovers that are out there on the market. The Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4, do offer more creature comforts and greater cargo room, but the Rogue is a better deal for those who only need a little utility and frequently find themselves stuck in the stop and start traffic you normally find in the city.
For performance specs, all 2009 Nissan Rogues have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. This engine will produce 170 horsepower and 175 foot pounds of torque. Depending on the model, the transmission is a CVT that drives all four wheels or just the front wheels. In testing, reviewers said that the AWD Rogue SL got to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds, which places it right in line with the other four-cylinder compact crossovers on the market.
In the mileage competition, the Rogue falls right in the middle of its competitors, with an EPA estimate of 22 mpg city/27 mpg highway – nothing outstanding, but not bad for a crossover SUV. If this all sounds great to you, you can expect to find a MSRP of between $20,000 and $25,000 on the Nissan Rogue.
