2017 Nissan Rogue Sport; Don’t Let The Nameplate Fool You

Nissan is filling a spot in their lineup they hadn’t covered before. The all-new 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport slots right below its Rogue stablemate and just above the smaller Juke, and fits in the small compact crossover segment. Its got a lower profile with sleek exterior styling, seating for five (no third row here), and comes with a rear hatch offering up decent cargo space. Rogue Sport is smaller and less powerful than the popular Rogue, but it’s a good city commuter for singles or young couples just starting a family.

This week, we drive the top-of-the-lineup 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport SL AWD

What’s new for 2017?

The 2017 Rogue Sport is all-new crossover Nissan has brought to U.S. shores.

Features and options

The top-of-the-line 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport SL AWD trim ($27,420) comes nicely equipped with 19-inch wheels, automatic high beams, fog lights, heated mirrors, remote start, a hands-free lift-gate, leather upholstery, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, a universal garage door opener, a 7-inch touchscreen, a surround-view camera system, NissanConnect emergency and convenience telematics, Siri Eyes Free iPhone control and a navigation system.

The SL Premium package ($2,280) added a sunroof, LED headlights, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The SL Platinum package ($570) adds adaptive cruise control with forward collision mitigation and pedestrian detection as well as lane departure warning and lane keeping assist. Total MSRP including destination: $31,240.

Interior highlights

Stepping inside the the Rogue Sport reminded us of the Rogue Hybrid we recently drove for a week with the redesigned front center console, new trim and finishes. We appreciated the soft-touch quality materials through the cabin, heated steering wheel and heated front seats in the top-trim SL as temperatures dropped this week in the high country west of Denver.

The leather-appointed seats in the SL are comfortable and offered plenty of adjustment with 6-way power driver’s seat to find the perfect driving position. The tilt/telescoping steering wheel also helped and front and rear legroom are generous enough for adults.

Rogue Sport offers up a configurable cargo area with 60/40 split-folding rear seats. It has 22.9 cubic feet of storage space behind the rear seats and 61.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. There’s enough room for a small table like the video below shows for those “impulse buys” on the way home from work. The rear cargo area also includes a flip-up panel to store valuables or keep things from rolling around in the back.

Engine and fuel mileage specs

The 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower and 147 lb. ft of torque coupled with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with Eco mode that sends power to the front wheels. This Sport tester came with the optional all-wheel drive. EPA/DOT fuel mileage estimates come in at 24/30 city/highway mpg and 27 combined mpg.

Driving dynamics

The Rogue Sport excels in the city and is the perfect size to squeeze into tight spots. We had to find a parking spot on the streets of downtown Denver this week, and one open up infant of us. The only problem?, it was a tight spot and we had to parallel park. No problem for the Rogue Sport with its short wheels base. We were able to squeeze right in, where other longer crossovers would have been left out in the cold.

The Sport isn’t the most powerful small crossover out there, but it’s lively enough for city commutes, and has decent handling characteristics. We don’t like Continuously Variable Transmissions, which the Sport has, but it offers up good gas mileage as we averaged around 28 for the week of city and mountain commuting. Consumer Guide Automotive just named the new 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport as a "Best Buy” for urban consumers.

The Rogue Sport has well-cushioned seats on the top trim SL tester we had this week, and offers a generally quiet cabin at highway speeds. The all-wheel-drive came in handy as we had a small snowfall this week in the Denver area giving us a comfort level as we navigated the mountains roads near Evergreen. Rogue Sport has a raked roofline which does cut down on visibility out the car and sides from the drivers seat, but the optional LED headlights offered a good view of the road on the dark mountain roads at night. This Sport tester came with a host of safety features that will keep any family safe on the commute.

Conclusion

Nissan brings a new small crossover to the U.S. and the Rogue Sport is a good option for urban dwellers. It offers up good fuel mileage, cargo carrying abilities and all the latest safety tech. The SL AWD trim gives consumers a small crossover with plenty of luxury for the price.

Photo credit: Nissan USA