This week we are reviewing the Nissan Rogue Platinum. Our vehicle was assembled at the Smyrna, Tennessee plant in United States and has an MSRP of $42,773.00 CAD.

Fun Factor: 7

Can it Family: 7

Fuel-Friendly: 6

HWY-warrior: 7

Karaoke Friendly: 7

Baby-friendly: 7

City Cruising: 6

The Nissan Rogue used to be the last vehicle we would have suggested for families when we first tested in 2013. Interior quality was below average, and it was a far cry from being anything remotely engaging. It seemed that the mighty Nissan had fallen from their pedestal from making great cars during this period. However, a few years and a change in management have done wonders for Nissan. Especially for the Rogue, it has grown in size and maturity. The Rogue is now equipped with a 2.5L engine making 181hp and 181 lb/ft of torque, which is adequate for the vehicle, making it possible to achieve a 0-100km/h in 8.1 seconds. We are not fans of CVT, especially ones from Nissan; they had not had the best track record in the past when it came to reliability. The programming of this one gives this SUV a touch of engagement. The same goes for handling; it's pretty remarkable for a vehicle in this price category. We haven't had this much fun driving a consumer product in a while. I think this is also expressed on the vehicle's exterior with its two-tone paint job, giving it a more hip look. Our only dislike of the driving experience is the weird gear shifter lever that feels somewhat flimsy to touch.

Nissan cleaned up the interior to make it look more modern and mature. The seats are comfortable enough for long trips with the family. In our Platinum model, you will not only find heated seats in the front; you can rest assured that those sitting in the back seats will keep warm too during the winter. Since the Rogue has increased in size, the passengers in the back will enjoy the seating comfort for years to come. You will not have to worry about your children outgrowing them. The cabin feels roomy, and the panoramic sunroof helps to make the vehicle even more comfortable. Finally, you can partition the trunk space, so things don't fly everywhere. The rear seats can be folded directly from the trunk, making the Rogue versatile when needing to transport large items.

With the growth in size, we anticipated an increase in fuel economy. It wasn't the case; the fuel economy we observed in the city was 11.1L/100km. On the Hwy, we averaged 7.0L/100km and 8.9L/100km over a 600km round trip. While we tested this vehicle, the exterior temperature oscillated between 16c and 31c.

On the Hwy, the Rogue is quiet and, compared to the outgoing model, has a better steering feel even though it's not perfect yet. ProPILOT Assist makes driving the Rogue relaxing with its hands-on cruise control. The system will steer around corners and, when used in combination with the navigation system, will adjust the speed depending on the traffic ahead. The system worked well; the only negative aspect is that we found that the angle of attack around corners would come in late at a lower speed, requiring adjustments to take the curve pleasantly.

Now to the infotainment, what a refresh, it certainly was needed. The 9-inch display is crisp and user-friendly. It offers wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto and a wireless charger for a truly wireless experience. On our Platinum model, the Bose sound system sounded well enough. Nissan also updated the driver's cluster with a larger 12-inch screen that looks modern and pleasing, especially in its minimalistic setup. Additionally, climate control is easy to use and uses physical buttons that are easily accessible. Another cool addition is that you can charge your devices using a traditional USB-A port and a future-proof USB-C port.

The doors open widely; if you have grandparents to move alongside your kids, the door opening will surely be welcome. This provides a more enjoyable entry into the vehicle and makes it easier to get car seats inside. You will find the anchors hidden under small plastic flaps. The anchors themselves are positioned quite inward into the seat; at times, this made the latching a little more complicated. Otherwise, the rear seats made it possible to fit various car seats, even rear-facing car seats. You'll easily fit 2 cars seats in the back 3 might be a bit of a stretch unless you're only using boosters. We really found it practical that there was an additional port for the middle seat as our son loves to take the middle spot between his 2 sisters.

In the city, the redesigned Rogue makes it easy to navigate; the 360 camera makes sure you can see all around the vehicle safely. While the vehicle has grown in size and fuel economy in the city is respectable for this size, we surely would have liked to see a hybrid version or even a plug-in hybrid for those using the Rogue, especially in urban environments.

Why would we buy the 2021 Nissan Rogue, or what we liked about it? Lots of interior space, competitive pricing, clean and very user-friendly interior. Nissan has stepped up their game with this vehicle and shows that they are going in the right direction again.

Why would we not buy the 2021 Nissan Rogue, or what we did not like about it? The gear shifter felt a little flimsy for our taste; the CVT doesn't make for the sportiest feeling, not hybrid available.

Nissan has lent us this vehicle one week as a press vehicle. We have no affiliation with Nissan Canada. The above is a recollection of our personal opinion of the car referred above.