I doubt you've ever heard of
the Nissan Qashqai (pronounced cash-key) and the Renault Koleos and it's even
less
likely you've seen either one. You might know the Nissan Rogue, though.
Here's the genius of the Renault-Nissan
alliance: all three crossover wagons share a single global car platform and
were engineered to meet government rules and consumer tastes around the globe.
Nissan builds the Rogue in Japan
and the Qashqai in England. Renault's South Korean unit, Renault Samsung Motors,
builds the Koleos, which is sold around the world. We get the Rogue in Canada
and the United States, while the Japanese
and Australians get a right-hand drive version called the Dualis.
Confused? They aren't in Paris
or Tokyo. And now you know why Nissan made half-a-billion dollars in the most
recent
quarter even as its light trucks sales in North America tanked and combined
sales Europe, Asia and North America
were essentially flat.
The Renault-Nissan partnership,
forged in the Nissan crisis of 1999, has managed to sort through the complexity
of
global markets and contradictory government regulations. So we're talking
about a smart, streamlined, efficient company.
In car business circles, Nissan-Renault
CEO Carlos Ghosn is sometimes the target of snide comments about his ego,
but there is no denying his accomplishments in fostering a global alliance
of French and Japanese companies.
You don't have to like him, but you gotta respect him.
You may both like and respect
the Rogue itself. This is a smart little wagon for young buyers starting a
family, or active buyers
of all ages who have stuff to haul and want a fuel-efficient, modern-looking
ride. The tall-car styling of this crossover follows
the formula used by others of this ilk, though there are distinguishing details.
I'd argue the 2008 Nissan Rogue
— sold in both front- and all-wheel-drive form — is among the best vehicles
in this new
crop of entry-level crossover wagons.
Chrysler has the Jeep Patriot/Compass
and Dodge Caliber, for example, along with the larger Dodge Journey
(which by the way starts at less than $20,000). There's no shortage of other
competitors, depending on what you want
to spend, how many goodies you plan to add and if you want three rows of
seating.
Realistically, the Rogue can
compete with the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix, along with the Toyota RAV4,
Honda CR-V,
Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute and Mitsubishi Outlander.
The best comparisons, though, are with the RAV and the CR-V.
The Rogue's assets includes a
decent price (C$24,998 to $29,598), great room in the front seats, a good
fuel-efficient
powertrain and a sparkling exterior design.
It loses points because, unlike
some rivals, there is only one engine choice (a 170-horsepower four-cylinder)
and one
transmission choice (a continuously variable transmission, or CVT) and that
pairing has its negatives, despite solid fuel
economy (9.5 litres/100 km in the city, 7.7 on the highway).
The Rogue gets noisy at highway
speeds, sports some bargain-basement cabin materials, offers less cargo room
than
some competitors, and the back seat is tighter than some of the alternatives.
The space issues seem to be the
result of its sporty good looks — looks that are more streamlined but perhaps
a bit less
practical. The Rogue is about the same length as the CR-V and RAV4 so you
would think cabin space would be the same,
but it's not. Front head and leg room and rear head room are very similar
to the RAV4 — adequate for average-sized adults.
But rear leg is noticeably more cramped than the RAV4, and a comparable CR-V
or RAV4 has significantly more cargo
space with the second-row seats both up and down.
Like the Honda, the Rogue comes
with only two rows of seats. The RAV4, with its optional third row, has greater
carpooling
potential. With the rear seats down, the Rogue's cargo area more or less
matches the Mazda CX-7 and Saturn Vue.
However, Nissan does well with
storage compartments, which are spread all around the Rogue's cabin; the glove
box is
spacious and the innovative storage rack in the rear keeps groceries from
spilling (it folds up when not in use).
Another plus: a removable tray under the rear deck designed for storing wet
gear.
What's missing are bottle-holders
moulded into map-storage spaces in the front doors, as well as storage spaces
moulded into the rear doors. People in the back have stuff, too.
One of the Rogue's strongest
points is fuel economy, which is better than a comparable CR-V and RAV4.
Why?
Less weight and the CVT increases fuel efficiency by up to 10 per cent.
(But save those pennies, because if the CVT ever needs repair..............)
The 2008 Rogue earned four- or
five-star ratings in all crash-test categories from the U.S. Government's
National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration. Front, side, and head-protecting side curtain
air bags are standard, as are four-wheel
anti-lock brakes and stability and traction control.
Here's betting that most people
will like the way the Rogue feels from behind the wheel. The cockpit-like
design is sporty
and the two-tone seat upholstery is attractive. Seat height can be adjusted
up and down to improve visibility.
On the road, the car-based Rogue
drives well, but it's not overly fast. I clocked zero-to-100 km/hour in about
nine seconds.
If you want more power, get the V-6 RAV4 (269 hp) or the Mitsubishi Outlander
(220 hp) — and pay more at the pump.
I am not a big fan of how Nissan
has connecting paddle shifters to a CVT here. In automatic mode, the transmission
winds
and unwinds like an outboard motor — without changing gears. In manual mode
you can do the shifting yourself or let the
transmission do it. Software creates the sensation of gears changing.
Because of the Rogue's strong
points, Nissan isn't tarting up the Rogue with price deals. There is only
a $700 rebate
on this crossover and you'll need to bargain for it. But it is very well-priced
given the competition, so there is not much
need for wheeling and dealing. You will pay more for some of the Rogue's
rivals, when both vehicles are comparably equipped.
I like the Rogue, and it offers
better than fair value in a good-looking wagon.
But in this market, with so much competition and such aggressive pricing,
it will pay to shop around.
2008 Nissan Rogue SL AWD
Type: Compact crossover wagon
Price: $29,598.
Engine: 2.5-litre I-4 (DOHC)
Horsepower/torque: 170 at 6,000 rpm and 175 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm.
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CTV).
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 9.5 city/7.7 hwy using regular fuel
Alternatives:
Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Toyota RAV4, Honda
CR-V,
Subaru Forester, Saturn Vue, Mazda CX-7, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe, Hyundai
Santa Fe
I Like
I Don't like
