2018 Nissan Rogue

2018 carries over the second-generation (T32) Rogue's 2.5L four unchanged from the 2017 facelift. At 170 hp it sits near the floor of the SUV band.

175 lb-ft arrives high in the rev range at 4,400 rpm. That is typical for a naturally aspirated compact SUV and behind turbo rivals.

An instrumented 9.3 s is among the slowest times in the mainstream compact SUV class of 2018.

The 2.5L is quiet at a steady cruise. It strains and gets buzzy when merging or passing with a load, and reviewers consistently call it underpowered.

The Xtronic CVT is smooth and shock-free around town. Under hard throttle it holds high revs with drone and a rubber-band feel.

A 1,000 lb rating covers only the lightest utility trailers. It is at the floor of the SUV band, below the 1,500 lb CR-V and RAV4.

Intelligent AWD with a driver-selectable AWD Lock is optional on every trim (S, SV, SL). It is a basic on-demand system with no terrain modes or low range.

About 8.2–8.4 in of ground clearance and AWD Lock handle gravel and snow. There is no off-road trim, skid plating or terrain selector.

For 2018 the Rogue offers the 2.5L gas four and the Rogue Hybrid (2.0L plus electric motor), each in FWD or AWD. There is no turbo or plug-in option.

The EPA rates the 2018 Rogue AWD at 27 MPG combined and the FWD at 29, unchanged from 2017. That is mid-pack for a gas compact SUV of the era.

25 MPG city with AWD is typical for a naturally aspirated compact SUV.

32 MPG highway with AWD is a strong figure for the class at the time.

A small 14.5-gallon tank at 27 MPG combined gives about 392 miles for the AWD, below average for a gas compact SUV.

The EPA estimates $2,400 a year for the AWD on regular fuel, middling for the class.

The naturally aspirated 2.5L runs on regular unleaded on every trim.

Every 2018 Rogue configuration NHTSA listed earned 4 stars overall. One frontal occupant rated 3 stars (the passenger on early-release builds, the driver on later-release builds), and the rollover rating was 4 stars. Many compact-SUV rivals earned 5 stars overall.

It was a 2018 Top Safety Pick but not a TSP+, and the award applied only with the LED headlights. Driver small overlap, moderate overlap, side, roof strength and head restraints were all Good. The newly added passenger-side small-overlap test was rated only Acceptable.

New for 2018, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on every trim. The volume SV still lacks standard adaptive cruise and lane assistance. Adaptive cruise is a package option on the SV. Lane departure warning, lane intervention and pedestrian-detecting AEB are standard only on the SL.

Both AEB variants earned IIHS's top Superior rating in the vehicle-to-vehicle test, and the system is now standard. IIHS had no pedestrian or nighttime test for this model year. The Center for Auto Safety petitioned NHTSA over phantom-braking complaints on 2017–18 Rogues.

Radar blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on every trim from 2018, the base S included. Both systems only warn the driver: there is no steering or braking intervention and no safe-exit alert.

The volume SV has no lane departure warning or lane keeping. The SL gets lane departure warning and brake-based Intelligent Lane Intervention. Lane-centering steering assist is available only through ProPILOT Assist in the SL Platinum Package, and reviewers found that it tends to wander toward one side of the lane.

The volume SV comes with conventional cruise, and Intelligent Cruise Control is available in the SV Premium or Sun and Sound packages. The SL has ICC as standard. The SL Platinum's ProPILOT Assist adds full-speed-range stop-and-go with hold, a class-leading feature for 2018, but it reaches only a small share of buyers.

No hands-free system is offered. ProPILOT Assist, new for 2018 and limited to the SL Platinum, is a hands-on single-lane assist that requires the driver's hands on the wheel.

The halogen reflector headlights on the S, SV and base SL, with or without high beam assist, were rated Poor by IIHS. The only better lamps are the LED projectors in the SL package, and they were rated just Acceptable.

It has an upright greenhouse with good forward sightlines, but the thick rear pillars and a sloping rear window leave rear-quarter blind zones. Blind-spot warning is now standard on every trim to help cover them. The 360-degree Intelligent Around View Monitor is standard on the SL and available on the SV through a package.

IIHS rated the LATCH hardware Marginal. The lower anchors sit too deep in the seat, only two positions have full hardware, and the rear center has a tether only. Wide-opening rear doors and the sliding, reclining EZ FLEX second row help somewhat.

For 2018 every Rogue seats five; the 7-seat option on S/SV was dropped.

Generous front headroom for the class.

Competitive front legroom.

Good second-row headroom for a compact SUV.

Roomy rear seat, and it slides and reclines.

No third row is offered on the 2018 Rogue, so this scores at the bottom of the band.

Among the larger cargo holds in the compact class, though the SUV band runs up to full-size SUVs.

Class-competitive maximum cargo space.

The Divide-N-Hide cargo system and EZ Flex seating make the cargo area more flexible than most rivals'. Cabin bins are ordinary and there is no onboard AC power.

Nissan's Zero Gravity front seats are widely praised, and the rear bench reclines. The S has only basic manual adjustment.

The ride is composed and comfort-oriented, one of the Rogue's strengths.

Quiet at cruising speed, but the 2.5L drones under the CVT when you accelerate.

Heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate come on SV packages and up, and the SL adds a heated steering wheel. Rear-seat amenities are limited to A/C vents.

The 2018 Rogue S FWD started at $24,680 before destination. That is up $860 from 2017, largely because standard equipment grew, and it still sits at the low end of the mainstream compact SUV class.

The SV was the volume trim, and AWD was the most common configuration. At about $28,200 delivered it undercut a comparably equipped CR-V EX AWD or RAV4 XLE AWD.

Routine service on the 2.5L QR25DE is inexpensive. However, the second-generation Rogue's Jatco CVT has a documented record of failures after the warranty ends, which puts projected repairs at mid-class or slightly worse.

Heavy rental and fleet volume and deep incentives kept residuals well below the CR-V and RAV4, which hold about 60%. The 2021–23 used-car price spike temporarily lifted real-world values for this model year.

Nissan's basic coverage is the industry baseline. It matches Honda and Toyota and trails Hyundai and Kia's 5 years / 60,000 miles.

Nissan's 5-year / 60,000-mile powertrain coverage sits at the bottom of the band. That is a real exposure given this generation's CVT reputation.

There was no complimentary scheduled maintenance, which puts it behind ToyotaCare's 2 years / 25,000 miles. Owners got roadside assistance for the basic-warranty term plus a SiriusXM trial on equipped trims.

$28,225 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (48% retained, or about $13,548) leaves about $14,677 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,800 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $20,477 in total.

The 2018 Rogue is a carry-over year of the facelifted second generation (T32). Its model-specific rating is slightly above average, but it is held back by the CVT complaint history and by the phantom-braking investigation that centres on this year, when automatic emergency braking became standard.

In this era Nissan sat mid-pack to slightly below average in dependability studies, and its CVT reputation weighed on its brand standing. It was never a top-5 brand.

The gas 2018 Rogue has lighter recall activity than the 2017: two campaigns, neither a powertrain or fire recall. It does sit at the centre of the NHTSA phantom-AEB probe, which was remedied by a software update, and it shares the fleet-wide jackknife-key campaign.

The naturally aspirated 2.5L QR25DE has a proven high-mileage record. The Jatco Xtronic CVT of the 2014–2018 era, though, has a widely reported history of judder, shudder and early failures, which puts the powertrain at the low end of the middle band.

The cabin is competitive for the class: soft-touch surfaces on the upper dash and door tops, hard plastics in lower zones, and an upscale-feeling SL. It sits a step behind the class benchmarks.

Assembly at Smyrna and Kyushu is generally solid, and complaints are scattered. Unlike the 2017, this year carries no assembly-escape recalls such as the seat-weld or water-intrusion campaigns.

The network is dense nationwide, but Nissan's service satisfaction runs around or below the mass-market average.

The Rogue was the best-selling Nissan and one of the top-selling SUVs in 2018, and its QR25DE powertrain is widely shared, so parts are abundant and cheap with broad aftermarket support. An out-of-warranty CVT replacement is the one expensive risk.

For 2018 the 7-inch touchscreen is standard on every trim, but it sits at the bottom of the band and no larger screen is offered.

Simple and usable, with physical knobs for volume and tuning, but the small screen and dated graphics trail the class. Phone projection covers most of that.

Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2018 trim, new for this year. Wireless projection is not offered.

Native navigation is standard only on the SL (optional on SV). Nissan Voice Recognition is basic, and most owners use phone projection instead.

The base 4- and 6-speaker systems are ordinary. A 9-speaker Bose system is available on SV packages and standard on SL.

Analog gauges flank a 5-inch color Advanced Drive-Assist Display. There is no full-digital cluster.

No over-the-air update capability. Map updates are done at the dealer or by download.

NissanConnect Services (remote start, lock and locate through the app) comes with the SL or navigation package and needs a subscription after the trial. There is no digital key.

Only a few USB-A ports and 12V outlets, no USB-C, and no wireless charging for 2018.

Intelligent Key with push-button start and remote engine start come on the SV and SL. The S uses a traditional key, and a motion-activated liftgate is available.

A rear camera is standard, and the Intelligent Around View Monitor (360°) with Moving Object Detection is standard on the SL and optional on the SV.

No head-up display is offered on any 2018 Rogue trim.

Wide rear doors, a sliding and reclining 2nd row and 39 cu ft of cargo suit family duty. The IIHS rates LATCH Marginal, with the anchors set deep in the seat.

New for 2018, AEB, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on every trim, which is strong for the price. The NHTSA rates it 4 stars overall, and the base halogen headlights rate Poor.

Comfortable Zero Gravity seats, a reclining rear bench, rear A/C vents and a big cargo hold. Rear USB and entertainment amenities are thin.

A smooth, easy commuter with a composed ride. The CVT's rubber-band delay and the slow 9.3 s 0-60 are the annoyances.

Average running costs for a gas compact SUV on regular fuel. There was no Rogue Hybrid discount on the volume trim.

A manageable compact footprint and 37.6 ft turning circle, and the Around View Monitor helps in tight spots on the SL.

A 1,000 lb tow rating and a modest 170 hp mean it is not meaningfully work-capable beyond light cargo hauling.

Common in rental and fleet use, but the T32's CVT reliability record argues against hard use.

Divide-N-Hide shelves and a fold-flat front passenger seat for long items help, but there is no 120V outlet or work-focused upfit.

Comfortable seats and a quiet cruise, and ProPILOT Assist is available on the SL. The ~390 mi AWD range and a CVT that drones on grades hold it back.

Available AWD with AWD Lock and about 8.2–8.4 in of ground clearance handle gravel roads. The towing rating is low for campers or boats.

Big cargo numbers for the class, plus a 40/20/40 sliding bench, Divide-N-Hide shelving and roof rails, make it genuinely flexible.

Secure and fairly nimble, but comfort-biased and not the sportiest in the class.

Accurate enough but largely feedback-free, typical of the class.

A 124 ft stop from 60 mph is average for the segment, and the pedal is a bit soft.

The CVT is smooth, but its rubber-band delay between pedal and acceleration makes response feel slow and disconnected.

The 2.5L four gets loud and drones under hard throttle, though it is quiet at a steady cruise.

A mid-pack turning circle for a compact SUV.

A commanding, comfortable position with tilt/telescope wheel and simple controls. The S lacks power seat adjustment.

Pleasant but appliance-like, with the slow CVT powertrain sapping any enthusiasm.

For 2018, Nissan made automatic emergency braking and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto standard on every grade, and blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert became standard fleet-wide. The volume SV also gained the larger touchscreen and a motion-activated liftgate. That base content is competitive for the class.

A low sticker price, richer standard safety and smartphone content, and heavy discounting give good content per dollar. Against that, the 170-hp CVT powertrain is sluggish, resale is weak and the warranty is short, so the Rogue is fair value rather than a standout.

S, SV and SL are each offered with FWD or AWD, plus the Rogue Hybrid in SV and SL. The SL Platinum Package added ProPILOT Assist. The optional third row on the S and SV was dropped for 2018, which narrowed the lineup slightly compared with 2017.

In 2018 the Rogue was Nissan's top seller for the third straight year, and it posted a best-ever calendar year. Its total ran neck and neck with the CR-V and RAV4 for the segment lead, although the volume leaned heavily on fleet sales.

Nissan's image was neutral to slightly negative, weighed down by its reliance on fleet and incentives, its CVT reputation, and the late-2018 Ghosn arrest turmoil. It has less loyalty and resale halo than Toyota, Honda or Mazda.

Nissan kept pushing volume in 2018 with some of the industry's richest incentives. Rogue buyers commonly saw cash-back offers, low- or 0% APR financing and aggressive leases, which is a clear buyer benefit.

This was the fifth year of the 2014 generation, one year after its facelift. New standard safety technology and the first ProPILOT Assist kept it current, but the platform was aging and the redesign came in 2021.

Reviewers praised its comfort, cargo flexibility, fuel economy and newly standard safety tech but consistently criticized its slow acceleration and CVT drone. It generally ranked mid-pack behind the CR-V, CX-5 and RAV4, with no major awards.