Nissan Rogue Generations Overview: How It Became The Top-Selling Nissan
Many years after Honda and Toyota established their grip on the compact crossover segment with the CR-V and RAV4, Nissan arrived on the scene with the Rogue. Like those crossovers, the Rogue aimed to be a little bit of everything to buyers: Cheap enough, practical enough, and with a bit more rough-road capability than a sedan or hatchback. Over three generations, the Rogue has gone on to become Nissan's best-selling model in the United States; only the Sentra is anywhere close to it in 2025 so far. Here's an overview of each Rogue generation and how the crossover has changed through the years.
This Nissan Rogue's model years were from 2008 to 2013, after going on sale in 2007. It had slightly oddball styling from the front, even after a mid-cycle refresh for 2011.
Power comes from a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, with front-wheel drive being standard and all-wheel drive an option. From the Nissan Rogue's first year, all models used a CVT, and this has generally been one of the Rogue's weak points. Not only did the CVT create a noisy, unrefined driving experience, but this transmission was unreliable, even leading to a class-action lawsuit filed against the brand.
If you're willing to live with the CVT and keep up with maintenance, the rest of the Rogue package is pleasant enough. Efficiency was good, crash-safety scores were high, and the Rogue was practical enough. It's a pity that this model was held back by a lackluster powertrain.
Related: Toyota RAV4 Generations Overview: Evolution Of The Crossover Pioneer
Manufactured for the 2014 to 2020 model years, the second-gen Rogue was a larger and more handsome crossover. Nissan managed to free up enough space for an optional third row, something that set apart the T32 from most rivals, although it could only offer up 31.4 inches of legroom in this back row.
The company persisted with its CVT transmission and the same 170-hp four-cylinder engine, so there was no improvement in performance. Reliability remained an issue with the CVT, so much so that Nissan extended the warranty on second-gen Rogues, but that was merely a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. For the 2017 model year, the Rogue gained a hybrid model with 176 hp - it returned up to 34 mpg combined, as opposed to the non-hybrid model's 29 mpg.
Overall, the second-gen Rogue was more practical but continued to be let down by sluggish acceleration and CVT issues. Despite this, Rogue sales in the USA reached over 400,000 annual units in 2017 and 2018, the last time it achieved this level of sales success.
Related: Hyundai Tucson Generations Overview: How This RAV4 Rival Has Evolved
On sale since the 2021 model year, the T33 is the current generation of the Nissan Rogue. Inside and out, this is a big leap forward, with the T33 boasting the smartest of all Nissan Rogue body styles and a plush interior, especially on top trims, which get features like quilted leather upholstery.
Initially, Nissan stuck with its 2.5L four-pot with 181 hp, but this was soon replaced by an all-new 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine. This smaller mill had variable compression technology, allowing for a better balance of power and economy. Its 201 hp and 225 lb-ft were better than before, and FWD models can achieve 33 mpg combined.
Unfortunately, Nissan continued to stick with a CVT, spoiling the driving experience. In December 2013, an investigation into engine failure was also opened, concerning the 1.5-liter unit, continuing a theme of powertrain maladies that have affected all generations of the Rogue.
We do know that a new Rogue Hybrid is on the way, and this will fill a major gap in the Rogue lineup, since the RAV4 and CR-V both have more powerful hybrid options. We only hope this model achieves the performance, refinement, and reliability to match the many strong attributes of the T33.
Related: This Is The Most Reliable Nissan Rogue Model Year
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