2013 Nissan Rogue – Hitting All The Right Spots

For a car that is entirely aimed at the budget-conscious, the 2013 Nissan Rogue does a great job of disguising itself. From no angle will you think this car is affordable. The design might be a little old and may need a refresh, however, that does not take away the fact that it has aged tremendously well. It is a budget crossover and Nissan has always attempted to make the car as unique as possible. This is why the rakish-looking front has been the same throughout the years.

The front bumper and grille both come with rakes that are unique in the class. The headlights are also uniquely shaped and bode well with the angular front hood. The windows look like a teardrop, almost seamlessly blending in.

The overall look of the car is akin to a larger hatchback than an SUV. Despite that, the car looks big, much bigger than it is. We are not exactly sure of the magic that Nissan has used here, but it is working. The car looks soft and curvy, you can tell this is not the kind of car you take off-roading.

Good maneuverability, decent response

The primary complaint and among the few 2013 Nissan Rogue problems is the lack of direction. The car moves around well, but the response can leave you wanting more. You want more engine options; however, this is a full-blown budget car and your option is limited to just one. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces a decent 170 bhp.

The automatic transmission is a CVT, which helps the car pull off from 0-60 in just a hair under nine seconds. By crossover standards, that figure is nothing too great. Perhaps the biggest caveat is the combination of the two.

The automatic isn’t the best in the best in the business. The car feels sluggish when taking off and passing cars in traffic or even highways requires a little effort. The engine is capable, we are sure of that. However, the car is nimble on the roads. It moves freely and the lack of performance is our only critique. The 2013 Nissan Rogue is good in a city environment and does not want to be challenged and for the budget, we don’t expect it to.

Well-designed layout, lackluster seats

The 2013 Nissan Rogue is very roomy. It is ideal for families that want space, after all on a budget the first thing you want is a lot of space. The Rogue does that well. The car’s layout is all about practicality. The head and legroom are perfectly adequate. You get good padding on the back seats but the front seats feel thin. This could impact longer drives as comfort reduces over time. The back seats also recline and can be folded to give you more cargo.

While the Rogue looks like a crossover, it certainly does not feel like one. The car does well to adjust itself to the cityscape, however, it is not intended to be used as an off-roader. The interior might feel like it lacks a little refinement and that comes along with some of the 2013 Nissan Rogue problems. But you must keep in mind that this car is intended to be a budget-friendly SUV and the interior quality on offer here is on par and perhaps even slightly better than the competition.

No compromises on safety

The 2013 Nissan Rogue is safe, very safe. It does fall short of taking the cake as the best car in the category. The 2013 Nissan Rogue is a car that is in a very crowded bunch. The rest of the cars in the segment come loaded with safety features and score excellent marks across the board. The Rogue gets an overall “good” rating from the IIHS. However, it earns only an “acceptable” rating in the roof-crush tests. This slight caveat keeps the car from getting the Top Safety rating award from IIHS.

Similarly, in federal government tests, the yielded results are the same. The NHSTA also rates the car highly. It gets four stars overall and a five-star rating for side impact.

Perhaps the best feature that we want to highlight is the Around View Monitor that aids outward visibility feature. The Nissan Rogue’s visibility is hampered by the low position of the front seats, the big rear pillar, and the styled window lines. The Around View Monitor helps improve that aspect. It uses a wide-angle camera in close proximity to show smaller objects. This is helpful, especially if you have kids or pets. The attention to detail from Nissan is noteworthy and it shows that they know who the target audience is.  

Value for money

The features on a 2013 Nissan Rogue are great, so good that you will forget that this is a budget car. Power windows and locks, an entertainment system with steering controls, and cruise control are standard. Bluetooth connectivity is optional. On the special edition package, you get two more speakers and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

If you get the Rouge SV package, you will get a rearview camera, 17-inch wheels, and a USB port. There are other options you can add to the Rouge, these include a navigation system, moonroof, satellite radio, and xenon headlights.

The verdict

The 2013 Nissan Rogue is value for money. Period. The car is aimed at people who want a car that is affordable and comes with a lot of space. The idea behind the car is that it fills the needs of families that want a good spacious SUV, without the heft. This heft is both the price and the size. The Rogue is comparatively smaller, and the price is better than anything in the segment you can think of. The 2013 Nissan Rogue is a car for the masses.

The design is simple and will age well, the front may stand out a little, however, it will grow on you. The performance may be subpar, but when you are hauling your kids from soccer practice, you will completely forget about it. It does the little things well, and for a homely car, that trait is perfect.

Similar Posts