How We Wish the Nissan Rogue Was Like the Toyota RAV4 (and Vice Versa)
Plus, quirks we’ve noticed on our long-term Rogue.
In many ways, we're satisfied with what our long-term Rogue SV has to offer. As we've mentioned before, the SV trim is probably our pick of the Rogue lineup.
Priced around $30,000, the compact SUV comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a handy 360-degree camera system. It benefits from a full suite of standard driver assist features, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and ProPilot Assist. This semi-autonomous driving feature, which helps you accelerate, decelerate, and steer in a given lane on the freeway, is helpful for everyday driving. But the steering assist function on our previous long-term Hyundai Sonata was more precise.
We don't miss the Sonata too much, though. Even though it was a great car, this author's growing family simply needs an SUV that can be stacked to the gills with gear. Instead, we find ourselves longing for another one of our previous long-termers, the Toyota RAV4. Our RAV4 XLE, priced similarly to the Rogue SV, had noticeably more accelerative oomph, and it's a bit more stylish inside and out. But a 360-degree camera? It's reserved as an option for higher trims on the RAV4. And unlike the rear doors on our Toyota RAV4, the doors on the Rogue open nice and wide.
The SV trim is a strong value for the features you receive. But its value proposition fades when you look at five-year ownership costs. The 2021 Nissan Rogue SV received a Mediocre value rating from IntelliChoice, which looks at various factors including depreciation, insurance, fuel costs, maintenance, financing, state fees, and repairs.
Before ending this update, let us spare new Rogue owners an embarrassing moment at the car wash. There are a few things you should know about putting the Rogue into neutral, as it can be tricky.
Shifting between drive and reverse is straightforward: Press down a button on the left of the shifter while moving the lever. Neutral is positioned in the middle, and to access this gear, you hold the lever on N for a second and refrain from pushing the button. Once you know this trick, you'll have no problem shifting into neutral. Still, it would be nice if you didn't have to think so much when moving between the different gears. Some quirks, and some satisfaction—that's what we're finding in the Rogue so far.
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When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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