As cars get bigger, more practical, more economical, smarter, and better equipped as standard, something has to give. Of course, that’s the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. In the case of the facelifted Nissan Rogue compact crossover, customers will have to pony up $530 more for base trim for the 2017 model year.
Excluding the $940 destination and handling, the Rogue S FWD starts from $23,820. Higher up the food chain, the Rogue SV FWD is $25,240, representing an increase of $500 compared to the 2016 model year.
The top-of-the-range Rogue SL FWD, on the other hand, is $25,170, representing a mind-boggling jump of $1,270. If you want all-wheel-drive capability for your Rogue, that’s a $1,350 option regardless of trim level.
The hybridized model will have its price announced at a later date. The question is, however, is the pricing difference reflected in additional standard equipment? The answer is yes, all across the range. Most importantly, the Nissan Safety Shield technology suite now integrates more goodies. The exterior is also much easier on the eyes of the beholder compared the preceding model year, particularly the aggressively-styled front end design.
As far as the interior is concerned, enhancements include better materials, new door finishers, a revised shift knob with a leather boot, as well as a redesigned center console and harder-wearing seat fabric. For 2017, the Rogue S adds a motion-activated hatch, while the SV ups the ante with remote start, heated seats, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind spot warning.
The range-topping SL boats a nine-speaker Bose boombox, voice recognition, remote access via a smartphone app, and more. Optionally, the Rogue SL can be equipped with radar-based cruise control, complete with pedestrian detection and emergency braking. As ever, a 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft 2.5-liter four-banger is standard across the range, matched with a Xtronic CVT box with Sport Mode and Eco Mode. On that note, front-wheel-drive models return 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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