2022 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD Review: Quick Take

Last month, we held a massive 2022 AutoGuide Compact SUV comparison presented by NRS brakes.

During our evaluations, a lot of time was spent in each of the eleven vehicles, weighing their pros and cons. One of the stronger entries in the comparison was the third-place finishing 2022 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD. We are now going to take a deeper look into how it achieved a podium finish.

Ride comfort is excellent as this small SUV handles bumps and road imperfections with ease. There’s ample refinement without completely isolating the driver from what is happening on the road surface. Steering feel does still exist, but the Rogue isn’t pretending to be one of the sportier offerings in the class.

Rear seat comfort is another area the Rogue excels, featuring one of the best back rows for adult passengers in its class. The 39.2 inches of headroom and 38.5 inches of legroom made not sound class leading on paper. But the seat cushion height, arm rest placement, and window openings all make it pleasing for full-size rear seat occupants.

Inside, the materials used on the dash, front doors, and center console are all high quality. They look great and most are pleasing to the touch. The general layout and design of the dashboard and center stack controls are logical. We like the addition of built-in sunshades on the rear doors, but wish the material at the bottom of the window frame was of a higher quality.

The sheer number of features that are available in the 2022 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD are impressive. They include items like a tri-zone climate control, around view exterior cameras, a panoramic sunroof, and a fully customizable digital gauge cluster. All this gear comes in at an as tested price of $40,520 including destination charges ($45,073 Canadian with destination charges).

Besides the excess comfort and plentiful convenience features, the real secret to the Rogue’s success lies under the hood. New for the 2022 model year is a 1.5-liter turbo three-cylinder engine. It uses trick variable compression, which acts in a similar vein to variable valve timing. In total, the little three-cylinder produces 201 hp, and more impressively, 225 lb-ft of torque.

The torquey engine sends power to all four wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission. It provides amble low-end power and makes the Rogue feel positively quick around the city. On the highway the power is little less impressive as there’s a bit of lag in power delivery and the power band flattens out quite quickly. Still, it’s noticeably punchier than some other small SUVs on the market, like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester.

Worse still for Honda and Subaru, the Rogue beats both of those vehicles when it comes to fuel economy. Rated a combined 31 mpg, no other all-wheel drive gasoline-only compact SUV in our comparison rated as high as the Nissan. Even non-turbocharged engines making less horsepower in vehicles like the Mazda CX-5 can’t match the Rogue.

The Rogue offers a great counterpoint to some of the wilder styled entrants in the segment. With its more conservative, yet contemporary sheet metal, it’s the antithesis to the dramatically shaped Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. It’s not what we’d call boring to look at, it’s just toned down.

The Rogue is also a great alternative to those who aren’t quite ready to commit to a hybrid drivetrain just yet, but are looking for increased power and efficiency in a compact SUV. Of course, it’s also an excellent choice for someone that just wants a well-executed compact SUV, regardless of what’s under the hood.

FAQs

What is the price for a 2022 Nissan Rogue Platinum?

The 2022 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD costs $40,520 including destination charges ($45,073 Canadian with destination charges).

What is the Platinum package on a Nissan Rogue?

The Platinum is the highest trim level on the 2022 Nissan Rogue. It includes features like a tri-zone climate control. 

Where are Nissan Rogues built?

The 2022 Rogue is built at Nissan’s assembly plant in Tennessee.