2022 Rogue, New Engine For The Win

With a new 1.5-liter 3-cylinder variable compression turbocharged engine the 2022 Nissan Rogue is a performer. Pretty much everything else is a carryover from 2021.

Disclosure: Nissan sent us a 2022 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD to test for a week.

2022 Rogue Exterior

This 2022 is nearly identical on the exterior to the 2021 Nissan Rogue SL we tested a year ago. Therefore we won’t dive deep into the exterior design. Suffice it to say that many people around the office like the look of the new Rogue and it received numerous compliments during the time we had it.

Interior

Inside is a slightly different story. The two tone color of the Platinum trim breaks up the monotony of other trim levels and adds a bit of flair. Apart from that nearly everything else is identical to the previous year.

Driving the 2022 Rogue

Driving dynamics is where things have really changed from the 2021 model year. The new variable compression engine is a game changer for the Rogue. It has more power at 201hp and torque at 225 ft-lbs. This is 20 hp and 44 ft-lbs of torque more than the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder it replaces. It does all this while achieving better fuel economy.

Along with that Nissan has retuned the CVT to work better with the new engine. This change while appearing minor is quite significant. Noise levels are down, the transmission is smoother, and overall the drivability is much better. Yes there are still simulated shift points, which shouldn’t exist in a CVT as far as we understand it, but it didn’t bother us in this application.

Power delivery is very smooth, despite having a turbocharged engine with variable compression. The only gripe is the initial acceleration when launching from a stop without brake torqueing. There is a significant delay in power initially, but once the Rogue is on the move there is no such issue.

Cruising on the highway there is always plenty of power available. Going up overpasses doesn’t cause the Rogue to lose speed at all. Handling is good around town and the throttle is very responsive without being jumpy. A clear surround view camera system makes the Rogue easy to park.

Off-Pavement

This is best watched rather than read, but in case you don’t want to or can’t watch the video below keep reading. The 2022 Rogue performed admirably off-road. To transfer power to the rear axle an electronically controlled hydraulic wet clutch system engages as needed. Not many crossovers are able to climb the hard line of our steep hill test. The Rogue was able to make it up a medium hard line, and the hard line was only avoided due to clearance issues.

In the articulation and higher speed travel over rough dirt road tests, the Rogue performed about average for the class. There simply isn’t much wheel travel, which means the brake based traction control and wet clutch AWD systems have a lot more work to do.

2022 Nissan Rogue Pricing

Our 2022 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD tester had a base MSRP of $38,430. Adding in some (relatively inexpensive) features like the Head-Up display ($400) and Two-Tone premium paint ($745), and the $1,225 destination charges brought the total MSRP to $42,325.

This pricing is about on par with other top trims in the class. Looking at the Toyota Rav4, Honda CRV, Subaru Outback, Chevy Equinox, and VW Taos and you will find that the Rogue is better equipped than most, but with a similar price tag.

Conclusion

Nissan continues to impress with its new and updated lineup. While the 2022 Rogue is mostly a carry over from the previous year, the engine improvement has done wonders for the crossover!