Used 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport

Smaller and less expensive than its larger Rogue sibling, the 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport is designed to appeal to young singles and older empty-nesters. As a subcompact SUV, the Rogue Sport offers a nice balance of features, price, accommodations and good fuel economy. Although missing the Rogue’s available 3rd-row seat and larger cargo bay, the Rogue Sport features the same dash, and by default most of the same high-tech infotainment and safety features. The Rogue Sport’s rear seat isn’t as versatile as the Honda HR-V’s Magic Seat, but it is larger than that of the Mazda CX-3. And while we love the idea of a pint-sized Rogue, the Sport is lacking in power and some must-have options, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In car language, adding "sport" to the name is something like making a "fun-size" candy bar: all the same flavor in a smaller package. That’s certainly the case in the 2018 Rogue Sport. With 141 horsepower under the hood, a continuously variable automatic transmission, and a suspension that’s tuned to be neither too soft around corners nor too firm around town, the Rogue Sport walks the right line between comfort and control, and acceleration and fuel economy. Acceleration isn’t stunning, considering that 141 horsepower has to haul around 3,225 to 3,380 pounds of Rogue Sport, depending on model. But aside from passing on the freeway the drivetrain showed little resistance to the usual duties of getting around town. At freeway speeds noise levels were nicely controlled as well, allowing easy conversation. The Rogue Sport benefits from its bigger sibling by feeling more substantial than many competitors, without feeling bulky.

As the 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport is basically a three-quarter version of the larger Rogue, it’s no surprise the interior layouts are pretty much the same. The dash, instrument cluster, steering wheel and door panels are mirror images of one another, creating a well-organized if not somewhat generic design that serves its purpose. Front-seat legroom is also identical, but the rear seats come up a bit short in both headroom and legroom. However, compared to its competition, the Rogue Sport’s interior dimensions are right in line, with an acceptable 22 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, and 61.6 with them folded down.

Visually, we like the Rogue Sport’s exterior design. It looks more sporty and modern than the larger Rogue upon which it is based. Familiar Nissan styling cues such as the V-motion grille and sleek wraparound taillights are in place, as are the attractive black wheel-arch moldings and lower plastic cladding. A dramatic up-kick at the rear-quarter-panel glass gives a rather sinister look, as do the available 19-inch alloy wheels. Compared to most competitors in this segment, the Rogue Sport is slightly larger, nearing the dimensions of larger compact SUVs like the Jeep Compass and Ford Escape.

AROUND-VIEW CAMERA
If one camera looking backwards is a good idea, then a gaggle of cameras providing a bird’s-eye view of all fours sides is an exceptional one. Nissan pioneered this technology and we’re glad to see them offering it even on entry-level models like the Rogue Sport.

DIVIDE-AND-HIDE CARGO
Using a set of solid plastic movable shelves, the Rogue Sport’s cargo area can be customized to whatever configuration best suits your needs. You can create a 2-tier loading floor, or move the front floor panel to a vertical position to create a box-like area perfect for storing loose items.

The base 2018 Nissan Rogue Sport S comes standard with Bluetooth phone integration with Siri eyes-free, a rearview camera and Nissan’s clever Easy Fill Tire Alert, which honks the horn once the tire pressure has reached the correct level. You also get air conditioning, manual cloth seats, remote keyless entry, and cruise control. Also standard are 16-inch alloy wheels and LED accents in the headlights. The only engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

The mid-level Rogue Sport SV adds larger 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, push-button start, a 6-way-power driver’s seat, and dual-zone climate control; a premium package adds blind-spot detection and the around-view monitor. The top-level SL gets 19-inch wheels, fog lights, remote start, Nissan’s Around-View Monitor bird’s-eye-view camera system, navigation, leather on the shifter, and heated steering wheel and seats. Option packages include the SL Premium package that adds a power moonroof, LED low beams, intelligent cruise control, lane-departure warning and prevention, and emergency braking with pedestrian detection on SL models. Unfortunately, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not currently available on the Rogue Sport.

You can have any engine you want in Nissan’s 2018 Rogue Sport, as long as it is Nissan’s 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that puts out 141 horsepower. It’s routed to either the front wheels (FWD) or all four wheels (AWD) through a continuously variable automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive system on this SUV, however, is set up for foul weather and dirt roads, not true off-roading. The little engine delivers decent power, and even though it’s not what we’d call quick, pretty much everything in this class suffers from the same complaint. Fuel economy is good, although it trails the EPA estimates for the Honda HR-V.

2.0-liter inline-4
141 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
147 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/32 mpg (FWD), 24/30 mpg (AWD)