Test Drive: Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition 2023 | Daily driving | Consumer Guide® The Daily Drive
Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition 2023
Nissan Rogue SV AWD Midnight Edition 2023
Class: Compact crossover
Color: Boulder Gray Pearl w/Super Black
Miles Driven: 106
| Corporate Governance Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Rooms and Facilities | ONE |
| Power and performance | B+ |
| match and finish | B+ |
| energy saving | B+ |
| Value | ONE |
| Scores in the report card are taken from the consensus of the test driver’s assessments. All classes are compared to other vehicles in the same class. The value type is for the specific trim level evaluated and may not reflect the Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire product line. | |
| Comfortable Big & Tall | |
| Big guy | ONE |
| Tall guy | ONE |
| The Big & Tall comfort rating is for the front seats only. The “Big” rating is based on a male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, the “Tall” rating is based on a 6’6″ tall male tester. | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine Specifications | 201 hp 1.5 liters |
| Engine type | Turbocharged 3 cylinders |
| Transmission process | stepless automatic |
| wheel drive | AWD |
Observed fuel economy: 27.8 mpg
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 28/35/31 (mpg city/highway/combined)
Fuel Type: regular gas
Snow performance: do not apply
Cost: $30,550 (excluding $1295 destination fee)
Options on test vehicle: Waterstop ($210), two-tone paint ($745), Midnight Edition Package ($1535), floor mats ($425), SV Premium Package ($2660)
Like a test: $37.420
Quick hits
Wonderful thing: General fine-tuning, space utilization, premium feel
Good: Ride and handle, accelerate, save fuel
What’s not so good: Motor vibrates at no load
Tom calls for:
Nissan has enjoyed rapid success with the launch of the redesigned Rogue for 2021. The updated compact crossover has arrived with a new design, updated cabin, and a host of new safety and technology features. About the only element of the Rogue that is not new is the engine. Bringing along is a 181-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder that is generally considered “enough” by Consumer Guide employees. In fact, the engine is perhaps the most unattractive part of the new crossover.
Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition 2023
The 2021 Rogue has been very warmly received by shoppers and remains Nissan’s best-selling model by large margins. The Consumer Guide will name the Rogue the Best Buy option in the compact crossover category; it’s one of many awards the car will be awarded. Here’s the funny part…
After all the launch frenzy had died down, Nissan quietly replaced the Rogue’s big four-cylinder engine with a 201-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder. And quietly I mean the engine change is not mentioned in the advertising and Rogue examples with the new engine have not been made available to the media, at least for a while.
Now, if buying a car with a 3-cylinder engine gives you pause, it’s probably a good idea to do so. Configuration examples have now become standard in the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Buick Encore GX, and in both cases, the engine performed well but idling was accompanied by wobbling and shuddering at start and stop.
Similarly, the 3-cylinder engine found in the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport is powerful enough but lacks the general smoothness and refinement of 4-cylinder examples of the same vehicle. So it’s no surprise that Nissan wants to keep quiet about the convertible under the hood.
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Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition 2023
Here’s the thing: Nissan’s new three-cylinder engine — featuring the manufacturer’s VC-Turbo variable compression ratio technology — is much more powerful and efficient than the old engine, with no real downsides. any for the swap. While older four-cylinder engines are sometimes said to be a bit more refined, the three-cylinder’s power and efficiency more than make up for a bit of idle roughness. Note that Nissan does not mention that the new engine is a 3-cylinder unit on the Monroney sticker, only noting the displacement of the engine. A bit shady if you ask us.
But we really like the Rogue, and we also like — actually like — the new engine. Odds are, you will too.
Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition 2023
For 2023, Rogue is offered with five trim levels or just four, depending on how you count them. For savers, there is an S entry level, which starts at $29,055 including destination fees. Next is the popular SV cutoff, which starts at $30,745. The well-equipped SL starts at $35,205. The lineup peaks with luxury-grade Platinum, which starts at $38,635. If you’re looking for some bad-weather traction, AWD is available on every trim level for $1500.
New for 2023 is the Rogue Midnight Edition, a fun, sporty, sleek addition to the lineup positioned in terms of price and content between the SV and SL. While Nissan treats the Midnight Edition as a unique trim level on its website, the window stickers tell a different story. According to the sticker that came with our test car, the Midnight Edition is actually a $1535 bundle on the SV. No problem, as the black grille outline, black wheels, black mirror caps and unique badges create a Rogue that looks completely unlike the other models in the lineup.
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Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition 2023
Consumer Guide recently spent a week with a 2023 Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition AWD with a more expensive two-tone paint job and the SV Premium package. Here are ours:
More than most compact crossovers, the Rogue makes excellent use of space, providing both front and rear passengers with plenty of legroom. Once inside, people will find a well-appointed cabin, even in the midsize class. The “PrimaTex” seat surface convincingly resembles leather, creating a beautiful and modern feel.
We found the touchscreen digital interface simple to use and responsive to touch. The screen itself is not particularly large by modern standards, but is large enough and easy to read. We also want to thank Nissan for including an actual physical knob to tune the radio.
In the process, we found the Rogue to be an excellent driver with excellent cruise control and a remarkably quiet cabin. Without exaggeration, we can say that the Rogue has come close to serving a luxury-level travel experience, even in more affordable configurations. Plus, the aforementioned engine is rarely heard, although the sound is a bit rough during intense acceleration.
And, about that engine: There’s plenty of power to overtake and merge, and the Rogue’s initial throttle response is almost snappy, making acceleration easy and useful in traffic and stopping conditions and Go. And, speaking of stop-and-go driving, Nissan’s ProPilot system does a good job of reducing driver fatigue in heavy traffic. Yes, you have to keep your hands on the wheel, but you don’t have to constantly move between the gas and brake pedals, and that’s a great thing.
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Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition 2023
Back to the 3-cylinder engine: Most of the time in city driving, we averaged 27.8 mpg. This compares favorably with the 26.2 profit we observed on a 2021 Rogue Platinum equipped with the old 4-cylinder engine. As we noted earlier, there are no real downsides to the new engine.
Unless you have a strong aversion to odd cylinder counts, the Nissan Rogue remains one of the best options in the highly competitive compact crossover segment. We’re most impressed with the spacious cabin and overall refinement, but there’s also a strong argument for value made here. For the Midnight Edition Bundle, $1535 doesn’t seem like a lot of money to spend if you’re looking for a bit of sportiness and visual difference. We say go for it.
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Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition 2023
Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition 2023 showroom
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