The 2013 Nissan Rogue is a crossover SUV, but it is really only worth for road use. The average fuel economy, decent pricing, and above par acceleration make it a good buy, but the lack of more traditional transmissions may be a downside. Overall, the safety and reliability of the Rogue is worth a look.
New For 2013
The 2013 Nissan Rogue is a crossover SUV, but it is really only worth for road use. The average fuel economy, decent pricing, and above par acceleration make it a good buy, but the lack of more traditional transmissions may be a downside. Overall, the safety and reliability of the Rogue is worth a look.
Exterior
The 2013 Nissan Rogue is a small crossover. The base model, the Rogue S, comes with 16-inch steel wheels, folding side mirrors, and a keyless entry system. The special edition package adds 16-inch alloy wheels, foglights, and a rearview camera. The special edition package also includes rear privacy glass. The Rogue SV comes with all of the special edition package plus 17-inch alloy wheels and roof rails. The SV offers a premium options package with automatic headlights and a sunroof. The SL package comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, and automatic xenon headlamps.
The Nissan Rogue S comes in six color options, four of which are shades of black and white. A rear spoiler is standard on all models, and the rear liftgate door has a fixed liftgate window. Exterior options include a rear bumper protector. The SV comes in an additional paint job, and it allows for the option of aluminum kick plates. For a crossover, the Nissan Rogue still looks a lot more like a car than an SUV. Lines and trims are soft, and chrome accents make the Rogue look even more attractive than it already does. The grille looks a bit goofy, but otherwise the exterior is relatively attractive.
Interior & Cargo
The interior of 2013 Nissan Rogue appears to be a composite of other Nissan models. This is a good thing. The seating is comfortable, materials are of good quality, and there are plenty of small storage areas. The rear seats are static, except they fold for additional storage. With seats in place, storage measures at 28.9 cubic feet, which is a decent number for this class. With the seats laid down, this expands to 59.7 cubic feet. The SV even features a fold down front passenger seat that allows for even more storage room.
The Rogue S comes with cruise control, leather seating, six-way powered driver seat, and a clock. Also standard is a trip computer, rear view camera, tilt and telescopic and steering wheel. Air filtration works with the standard air conditioning for extra freshness in the vehicle. The S comes with a four-speaker stereo system with AM/FM/CD radio with MP3 CD playback and an auxiliary input for other audio devices. The SV gets a six-speaker Boss premium brand stereo with a subwoofer and satellite radio.
Doors, windows, and mirrors are all powered. The special edition package adds a 4.3-inch video display to the S model, and it also adds the rearview camera. The SV gets upgraded upholstery, and a six-way power driver's chair. The premium edition package add automatic climate control, a navigation system with real-time traffic, and the upgraded stereo. The SL package adds an eight-speaker Bose system, 360 degree camera, and five-inch touch screen with a navigation system.
Safety
During crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2013 Nissan Rogue received and overall score of ""Good,"" but the testing also suggests that the roof strength is only ""Acceptable."" The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests resulted in a four out of five star rating. These crash tests also prove that side strength is superb for the Nissan Rogue. Other standard safety features include anti-lock brakes, braking assist, and traction control. Stability control is also standard.
Airbags include dual front side airbags and front and rear head airbags. The passenger seat features a sensor that only deploys the airbag if the passenger is actually present. A built-in review camera makes it easy to see in front of and behind tie vehicle. With the SV's SL package, an around view camera and monitor are added for easy seeing. This is especially welcome as rear visibility is something of a challenge.
Overall, the safety is more than adequate, but it falls behind many of its competitors in the same class. With improvements to roof strength and better rear visibility without the camera, the Nissan Rogue would likely rate higher, and it may even qualify as a top safety pick.
Driving Experience
The 2013 Nissan Rogue comes with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine under the hood. The transmission for both models is a continuous variable transmission rather than a traditional automatic or manual transmission. These engines produce 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration is quick for a four-cylinder crossover SUV, and the Rogue reaches zero to 60 miles per hour in about 8.6 seconds. That's nothing outstanding, but it is more than ample and quite impressive for a small engine with a CVT transmission.
The S and SV are both available as either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is estimated at 23/28 mpg city/highway for the front-wheel drive Rogues and 22/27 mpg city/highway for all-wheel drive Rogues. This is about average in its class.
Overall, the Rogue handles well and accelerates adequately. The steering is impressively responsive. The crossover may not be ideal for off-road use, but the all-wheel drive option does help in inclement weather. Unfortunately the CVT transmission leaves the driver with a droning sound when pushed hard, and it can be a bit loud and uncomfortable.
Key Competitors For The 2013 Nissan Rogue
- Honda CR-V
- Hyundai Tucson
- Toyota RAV4
- Volkswagen Tiguan