The 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport SL AWD is Nissan’s venture into the growing marketplace for compact SUVs, and the timing is spectacular. This all-new Sport model is riding an epic vibe as it was released not long after the buzz surrounding Nissan’s initial partnership with LucasFilm’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and its corresponding 5,400 Limited Editions with Death Trooper helmets.
Since that announcement summer 2016, among other monumental Nissan news, I’ve had the pleasure of driving the Rogue around the curvy roads at Cherokee Ranch and Castle in Castle Rock in Colorado. I’ve driven both the Rogue and Rogue Sport in the city of Denver and through the plains just to the East. I must admit that while driving, my mind is entertaining images from those cool commercials simulating the Rogue, with that infamous V-motion grille and signature lighting, maneuvering through enemy fire. The drama is exciting and intense.
But in the real world, how does the Rogue Sport perform?
Equipped with a 141-horsepower, 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine, the Rogue Sport is fun to drive, especially in tight spaces prevalent in urban areas, and it is fast enough for you to flex the speedometer on the open highway. Eco mode is on your side. Interior comforts include power seats, heated front seats, a touch of leather from the heated steering wheel to the leather-booted sport-mode shifter.
Take away a foot of cargo space and the available third-row seat, and the all-new Sport model is generally the same as the Rogue, which is hailed as the most technologically advanced Rogue ever. In short, the five-seater offers a little less trunk for your junk. But it’s not too much of a change, offering up to 61.1 cubic feet of cargo space when the 60-40 second row is folded down. In fact, the available Divide-N-Hide Cargo System offers lots of flexibility, providing 18 adjustable variations between the cargo and seating areas. If you like to compartmentalize your stuff, you’ll have a blast with the cargo system that includes a cover.
The black magnetic color that I happen to be test driving was equipped with a Wikipedia suite of Nissan Intelligent Safety Shield technologies, including forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection. My wow factor was in the comforting moments created by the around view monitor with moving object detection.
For example, we all have that person in the front passenger seat that automatically twist and turns – and rightly so — to check out the area and then commands us to ‘go’ or ‘stop’ when backing out of a parking spot, parallel parking or when trying to change lanes. They can still do this if they choose. Who am I to take their self-appointed job away from them? I, personally, am going to relax.
2017 Nissan Rogue Sport SL AWD MSRP: $27,420. Combined City/Highway MPG: 27.
Visit Nissan
