Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2011 Nissan Rogue is a five-passenger compact crossover SUV available in three trim levels: S, S Krom Edition and SV.

The base S comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, rear privacy glass, cruise control, a tilt (but non-telescoping) steering wheel, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a trip computer, keyless entry and a four-speaker audio system with iPod connectivity, a CD player and an auxiliary jack.

The S Krom Edition starts with the S model's standard equipment and adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a different grille and front fascia, center-mounted sport exhaust and steering wheel audio controls. The SV trim level starts with the S model's standard equipment and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, keyless ignition/entry, upgraded upholstery, a six-way power driver seat (with power lumbar adjustment), a fold-down front passenger seat, Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview monitor and an upgraded six-speaker audio system with a color display, satellite radio and steering-wheel-mounted controls.

The SV also qualifies for a couple of available packages. The Premium package bundles together a sunroof, a navigation system with real-time traffic, automatic climate control and auto on/off headlights. The SL package includes the equipment from the Premium package and adds 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, foglights, heated side mirrors, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a premium Bose audio system with a subwoofer.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2011 Nissan Rogue is available with either front- or all-wheel drive. It's powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque and employs a CVT. In Edmunds testing, a front-drive Rogue took just 8.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is quick for a four-cylinder compact crossover.

Fuel economy is similar to most of the competition. The front-wheel-drive Rogue has EPA estimates of 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway while the AWD variant drops slightly to 22/26 mpg.

Safety

The Rogue comes standard with antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.

In government frontal crash tests, the Rogue earned a four-star (out of five) rating for both driver and passenger protection. Front and rear side-impact tests resulted in five-star ratings. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, the Rogue received a "Good" rating (the best possible) in both frontal-offset and side-impact tests.

In the Edmunds 60-0 mph braking test, the Rogue came to a stop in a short 121 feet.

Interior Design and Special Features

The 2011 Nissan Rogue boasts one of the nicest interiors of any compact crossover at its price point. The seats are comfortable front and rear, the controls are intuitive and the materials are top-notch. Storage compartments are in relatively short supply, but the Rogue makes up for it with a substantial center console bin, a massive glovebox and a clever under-floor organizer.

Unlike the rear seats of competing crossovers, however, the Rogue's don't recline or slide fore and aft. There is also no rear center armrest. With the rear seatbacks upright, storage stands at 28.9 cubic feet, an average figure for this class. With the seatbacks folded, cargo space jumps to 57.9 cubes, but that's significantly less than the competition offers.

Driving Impressions

Small crossovers are supposed to drive like cars, and the 2011 Nissan Rogue does them one better -- it drives like a car with great handling. Road bumps and imperfections are gobbled up with ease, highway stability is exemplary and handling is aided by good body control and precise, well-weighted steering. Power from the four-cylinder is ample, but the CVT can be annoying due to the constant engine drone it produces at full throttle.