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Automakers are shoving as many crossovers as possible into their lineups these days. The Nissan Rogue Sport is one of those models, but that doesn't make it bad. It's a smaller version of the Rogue, as the name suggests, making it a great choice for families that somehow find the standard Rogue too big. It also serves as a compact crossover that isn't as small as the entry-level Kicks. We also found a lot of useful features for the price, and almost all of them are found in the larger Rogue as well. including dual-zone climate control, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and standard blind-spot monitoring to name a few.
Pros
- Sharp Styling
Despite being around for just five years in the US, the Rogue Sport is even older overseas. The only aspect that has aged very well is the exterior design, which carries the automaker's latest design direction. You'll find the signature V-Motion grille in front, while the front and rear DRLs feature a design that is present across Nissan's entire model lineup. There are also optional fog lights mounted onto the front bumper, which tie in well with the bountiful front intakes. The tight greenhouse brings it all together and emphasizes the Rogue Sport's compact dimensions.
- Tons Of Standard Safety Tech
We were impressed with the amount of standard safety technology that the Rogue Sport offered, especially in the base S guise. An extensive suite of safety features is included on the Rogue Sport, with rear-cross traffic alert, an anti-lock braking system, a surround-view monitor, forward collision warning, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, a blind spot monitor, pedestrian detection, and high beam assist. Not all of them come standard on the entry-level model, but forward collision warning, rear automatic braking, rear sonar, and high beam assist are some of the features found on the S trim.
- Surprisingly Large Trunk
The Nissan Rogue Sport may be a compact crossover, but it amazingly manages to keep up with the regular Rogue's cavernous trunk. We tested the space with various large items that you would generally store in the trunk, and we didn't experience any problems. Standard underfloor storage and gaps in the sides of the trunk allow abundant small item storage, if you don't notice the variety of cubbies in the passenger area. With all five seats up, there are 20 to 22.9 cubic feet of space, and a spacious 53.3 cubic feet of space is available with the second-row seats down. The large cargo area doesn't sacrifice rear legroom too much, with 33.4 inches of space to stretch out.
Cons
- Aging Interior Design
As the Nissan Rogue moves on to a more modern interior design for 2021, it leaves the Rogue Sport with a dashboard dating back to 2016.
- Outdated Technology
While we appreciated the detailed animations on the small gauge display, the 7-inch central touchscreen display doesn't have any perks whatsoever. The outdated menus only displayed basic features like the satellite radio, smartphone integration, audio controls, and other settings. Most competitors feature at least one interesting feature that sets it apart from the rest, making the Rogue Sport's infotainment pale in comparison. A navigation system is only an option, and while that may offer something to play around with, we are impatiently waiting for the next-generation model to arrive with more appealing technology.
- Lazy Acceleration
The Nissan Rogue Sport's 2.0 liter 4-cylinder doesn't bring atrocious acceleration, it definitely lags behind most rivals. This 141-horsepower crossover felt annoyingly slow at times, and the noisy ride experience didn't help the matter. The Rogue Sport cruises from 0 to 60 in 8.1 seconds, which is much slower than the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, and Kia Seltos.
Verdict
The Nissan Rogue Sport proves to be a worthy choice for small families, even though a few flaws hinder its overall excellence. It starts at $24,160 for the 2021 model year, and comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, one USB port, cloth seating and upholstery, and a four speaker sound system.
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