Last year, the mid-size Rogue crossover became Nissan’s top-selling vehicle, surpassing the Altima as it climbed close to 330,000 yearly sales. When something is drawing in that many customers, it’d be foolish not to try to build on that momentum. So, for the 2017 model year, Nissan is expanding the brand and introducing the compact Rogue Sport (sold as the Qashqai elsewhere) to the U.S. market. It will start at $22,380, which is about 10 percent less than the regular Rogue.
Similar to the Rogue lineup, the Rogue Sport will have three trim levels: the base S, the $23,980 SV, and the $27,030 SL. All three can be upgraded from front- to all-wheel drive for $1350. A USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, a backup camera, tire-pressure monitoring, and satellite radio come standard on the S. The SV adds 17-inch wheels, a proximity key, push-button start, a roof rack, automatic headlights, and a rear multifunction cargo system. The SL is loaded with heated front seats, leather, 19-inch wheels, remote start, navigation, a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, a heated steering wheel, and a 360-degree-view camera. The S has an optional Appearance package, the SV has available All-Weather and Premium packages, and the SL has available Premium and Platinum packages.
Those looking to the Rogue Sport for better fuel economy will be disappointed to learn that the mini Rogue actually drinks slightly more. The sole powertrain is a 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve inline-four that makes 141 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The EPA has rated the FWD Sport at 25 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined, while the FWD 2.5-liter four-cylinder Rogue is 1 mpg better in all measures. The AWD Sport is rated at 24/30/27 mpg, compared with the AWD Rogue’s 25/32/27 mpg. This despite the Sport’s 200-pound advantage. When we asked about this, a Nissan spokesman attributed the loss of fuel efficiency to “tuning.”
The Rogue Sport, which is 12.1 inches shorter and has a 2.3-inch-shorter wheelbase than the Rogue, will join the Juke to compete in the subcompact-crossover market against the Kia Soul, the Jeep Renegade, and the Toyota C-HR, among others. Considering the current market climate, it’s not hard to imagine these things will be flying off showroom floors when they go on sale starting May 11.
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