2020 Nissan Rogue

Steering on the Rogue is an extremely one-sided interaction, with the wheel silently taking inputs and giving nothing in return. Only a whisper of resistance is given at higher speeds, if only to make the driver feel like the car has any idea what it is doing. Handling is, at least, slightly better. The SUV won't roll out of your control, but don't expect to get any pleasure from getting it to behave on the road. Sadly, even the brakes inspire no confidence, as they suck up input before any reaction becomes evident. Nevertheless, they are strong enough to bring the Rogue to a halt in a segment-average 127 ft from 60 mph

The one area where the Rogue is better than just average is comfort. Comfortable seats and a soft suspension soak up most road imperfections, though consecutive larger bumps put one in mind of sitting on the floor of a bouncy castle. Luckily, the chassis recovers quite quickly. Despite the engine giving off whines of displeasure at higher speeds, the cabin remains remarkably insulated from any external noises. The Nissan Rogue won't thrill, but it probably won't actively ruin your driving experience either.

The Rogue is getting old now, and it has made little effort to keep up with the times. It might have received a facelift in 2017, but what it really needs is a complete overhaul to bring it more in line with the competition. While it offers an array of driver-safety features, they are dated and don't provide the level of safety the SUV promises. The underpowered 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine has been one of the car's weaknesses for quite some time now, and the rest of the powertrain has received no updates either over recent years.

At the very least, the interior looks decent, despite some less refined elements showing through the stylish facade, and cargo space is undoubtedly among the best in the class. The Nissan Rogue's price is beaten by many of its competitors, which begs the question; is the Rogue really worth it for the few redeeming qualities it offers?

It could be argued that the Nissan Rogue is a good car, but we believe such an argument would be specious. There are certainly much better SUVs available in the USA, and Nissan should be focusing on redesigning this antiquated compact model before it completely loses credibility in the segment.

Sporting a brand-new design for 2019 and more sporting performance figures, the Toyota RAV4 has a lot to offer. In many ways, it is very similar to the Rogue, offering a lot of standard safety features and excellent cargo capacity - although the Rogue still offers more trunk space. But the potent 203 hp engine in the RAV4 is hard to argue with, promising significantly better drivability. However, the Rogue does offer a more comprehensive infotainment suite, despite the RAV's recent redesign. If you don't mind sacrificing smartphone integration and a bit of comfort, the Toyota will offer more enjoyment on the road and will look better in the vacation photos, too. But passengers may prefer the better-appointed interior of the Rogue. The Toyota will cost you around the same as the Nissan, initially, but it offers better fuel economy guaranteeing savings in the long run.

With its punchier 184-hp 2.4-liter inline-four engine and optional 190 hp turbocharged four-cylinder, the Honda CR-V delivers significantly better performance on the road, offering buyers an athletic and engaging driving experience. While the Honda does come with fewer standard features than the Nissan, it makes up for this with extra maximum cargo space, a better-built cabin, more refined handling characteristics, and almost identical fuel economy. Looking at the two SUVs objectively, it is all but impossible to choose the Rogue over the CR-V.