Take a Look at a Used Nissan Rogue

Here at McCluskey Chevrolet, we understand that shopping for a used SUV can be an overwhelming experience. With so many manufacturers, models, and model years to choose from among the used cars for sale, it can be difficult to even know where to start. So today, we have decided to shine a spotlight on one of our favorite models, the Nissan Rogue. While we believe that Chevrolet makes some of the best cars on the road, this sporty midsize Japanese SUV stands out among the competition, and a used Nissan Rogue SV has plenty of compelling features that deserve a closer look.

Meet the Nissan Rogue

To begin with, the Nissan Rogue is a midsize crossover SUV with seating for five (although there is an available option to fit two additional seats in the cargo area, bringing the total to seven). The current Nissan Rogue is the second generation of the vehicle, and it was first introduced for the 2014 model year. While this means that a new Nissan Rogue is no longer the most modern SUV on the road, it also means that if you buy a used Nissan Rogue, you will not be missing out on many new features.

The main competitors to the Nissan Rogue on the used car market are the fourth generation Toyota RAV4 (the 2013-2018 model years) and the fourth generation Honda CR-V (the 2012-2016 model years). All three of these midsize SUVs are extremely similar in terms of size, performance, and features, but the Nissan Rogue is just a bit better than the others in nearly every category.

Compared to the competition, the Nissan Rogue is a slightly larger vehicle, with an overall length of 184.5” against 180.9″ for the Toyota RAV4 and 179.4″ for the Honda CR-V. While this is nearly unnoticeable from the outside, it does translate into a touch more room on the inside. The overall interior volume of the Nissan Rogue is 145 cubic feet against 141 cubic feet for the Honda CR-V and 139 cubic feet for the Toyota RAV4. Not only does this result in the Nissan Rogue having more cargo space than the competition, but the front seats of the Nissan Rogue is also noticeably roomier than those of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. This makes the Nissan Rogue a great choice if you are on the larger side or if you simply spend large amounts of time in your car and need a bit more space.

Average Power but Solid Fuel Economy

The engine in the Nissan Rogue is nothing particularly inspiring. The 2.5L four-cylinder is fairly generic for this segment, with the Toyota RAV4 using a similar engine and the Honda CR-V being powered by a slightly smaller 2.4L four-cylinder engine. But while the performance of the Nissan Rogue is not something to rave about, it will more than suffice for getting you around town, and the competition is not doing much better. And like any SUV, the Nissan Rogue is available in AWD to give you superior performance in bad weather or off-road conditions.

Even if it does not stand out in terms of performance, the Nissan Rogue does get excellent gas mileage. This is partly because the Nissan Rogue makes use of an advanced CVT (continuously variable transmission) instead of the older six-speed (Toyota RAV4) and five-speed (Honda CR-V) automatic transmissions of its competition. Not only does the CVT make for a smoother ride by avoiding the need for the system to switch gears, but it allows the engine to run at its most efficient speed for superior fuel economy.

A Standout Safety Choice

A used Nissan Rogue is also a significantly safer car than the competition. In independent IIHS (Insurance Institute of Highway Safety) safety testing, the 2014 Nissan Rogue achieved top marks in every crash test and earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating. The same cannot be said about the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V from the same year, with the Toyota RAV4 scoring particularly poorly in front crash testing. The Nissan Rogue has continued to maintain its IIHS Top Safety Pick status every year since the introduction of its second generation, meaning that you do not have to worry about trying to avoid certain model years for safety reasons.

However, if safety is a top concern for you, then look for a used Nissan Rogue with its optional advanced safety features. When first introduced, the optional safety equipment on the Nissan Rogue was fairly basic and consisted of forward collision alert, blindspot monitoring, and lane departure alert. For the 2016 model year, automatic emergency braking was added to this package, bringing it up to date. Finally, late in the 2017 model year, all these features were made standard equipment rather than options. This makes the 2017 and newer cars the ones to look for to make sure that you get the full package of advanced safety equipment.

Modern Features in an Older Car

When it was introduced in 2014, the second generation Nissan Rogue had a good variety of features that still stand up well today. The best version of the Nissan Rogue to look for on the used market is the middle SV trim. This trim level includes a plethora of luxuries such as keyless entry and push-button start, dual zone automatic climate control, a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, satellite radio, and automatic headlights.

Available options for an older Nissan Rogue included a power sunroof, a flat-folding third row of seats, navigation, and advanced safety equipment, so you should shop around to make sure you find a used Nissan Rogue SV with all the features that you want. And while they are not as common, a top trim Nissan Rogue SL will also give you a nine-speaker Bose sound system, heated front seats, leather interior accents, a center console touch screen, and fog lights.

If you want some more features, then look for a used Nissan Rogue from after the 2017 model year refresh. While most of these changes were rather minor, with the exterior styling update and LED tail lights being the most obvious. However, small but significant changes were the addition of the more advanced Nissan Connect infotainment system and added sound-dampening material for a quieter ride. Valuable new optional features added during the refresh included LED headlights and adaptive cruise control. Still, while these extra features are nice, the refreshed Nissan Rogue is not so much better that you should avoid the older version.

But no matter which model year or trim level you end up with, at McCluskey Chevrolet, we believe that you will be happy with a used Nissan Rogue SV. If you want to know more about this great SUV, then swing by our dealership and let the experts on our team answer any questions that you might have. Even if you ultimately decide that a used Nissan Rogue is not the car for you, then we are sure that we can find something that fits you perfectly from among our wide selection of used cars for sale.