Nissan Unveils Refreshed Rogue, New Rogue Hybrid

Nissan reveals the refreshed ’17 Rogue and introduces an all-new hybrid variant to the compact CUV’s U.S. lineup tonight at the Miami auto show.

The automaker hopes the new Rogue Hybrid, as well as updates to all Rogues for ’17, make an increasingly popular nameplate even more so, predicting the CUV will become its top-selling model.

The Rogue was Nissan’s best-selling model in the U.S. in August with 32,979 delivered, topping the Altima midsize sedan for the fifth time in 11 months, WardsAuto data shows. Rogue sales of 215,160 through August were within 2,130 units of the Altima’s 2016 tally.

“There are so many enhancements to Rogue for 2017, with every one of them designed to enhance its appeal with the fastest-growing segment of buyers in the industry,” Michael Bunce, vice president-product planning for Nissan North America, says in a statement released ahead of the Miami unveiling.

Despite reports it would peak at 28 mpg (8.4 L/100 km) combined, the ’17 Rogue Hybrid’s fuel economy is estimated to average 34 mpg (6.9 L/100 km) in a front-wheel-drive configuration and 33 mpg (7.1 L/100 km) in an all-wheel-drive layout.

The mileage figures best the only other mass-market compact hybrid CUV in the U.S., the year-old Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which does not offer FWD and for ’17 is rated at 32 mpg (7.4 L/100 km) combined by the EPA.

The Rogue Hybrid pairs a 141-hp 2.0L DOHC inline 4-cyl., a small lithium-ion battery pack beneath the cargo floor and a 30-kW (40-hp) electric motor making 118 lb.-ft. (160 Nm) of torque. Bridging those power sources is Nissan’s Intelligent Dual Clutch system, with one clutch between the engine and motor and the second clutch between the motor and the continuously variable transmission, to enable smooth starts and quick shifts, Nissan says.

A stop-start system further improves fuel economy, shutting off the engine at idle.

Total system horsepower is 176, just above the standard Rogue’s 170 hp.

The new Rogue Hybrid is set to go on sale before year-end, with two grade levels offered, SV and SL, but only in the vehicle’s 2-row, 5-passenger configuration, not 3-row, 7-passenger layout. HEV badging and a sound generator for driving in electric mode are two unique features of the Rogue Hybrid.

Nissan bestows all Rogues with a slew of appearance updates for ’17, including redesigned front and rear fascias, new wheel designs, three new exterior colors (orange, blue and ruby) and chrome-trim side-door moldings.

A major addition, says Nissan, is a motion-activated tailgate standard on the Rogue’s SL grade and optional on Rogue SV. It uses a kick sensor beneath the bumper, similar to the Ford Escape’s.

Interior updates for ’17 Rogues include a new D-shaped steering wheel, an available heated steering wheel, new seat fabric, new shift knob and a revised center console and console lid.

Also, using language from its Titan pickup which has a Platinum Reserve grade, a new Platinum Reserve package is available for Rogue SLs. The package includes interior niceties such as tan-leather seats with quilted inserts.

Also new for ’17 is the availability of adaptive cruise control, forward-emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning and lane-departure prevention.

Rogue sales of 215,160 through August were 14.4% ahead of like-2015. The vehicle trails the segment-leading Honda CR-V by roughly 16,000 units and is 15,000 behind the RAV4, the latter also surging this year as Americans flock to CUVs.

As the Rogue has grown in popularity since the second generation was introduced three years ago, Nissan has been building the vehicle for the U.S. in three locations: Smyrna, TN; Busan, South Korea; and Kyushu, Japan. This arrangement will continue for ’17, Nissan says.

No word from Nissan on sales expectations for the new Rogue Hybrid. Through August, Toyota sold 28,838 RAV4 hybrids, accounting for 12.5% of all RAV4s sold in the period.

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