The small SUV has been redesigned for the 2021 model year, and a replacement can’t come fast enough for a company battered by falling sales, mounting losses, a financial scandal and a model lineup that many
Enter the revamped Rogue, a vehicle that
“They do have to hit it right,” said
Last year, Nissan’s
In 2017 and 2018, Rogue sales reached above 400,000 per year, and the SUV was the fifth-best selling vehicle in America. But last year sales fell to just over 350,000.
The compact SUV ousted the midsize car as the most popular
Company officials unveiled the new Rogue on Monday, with an updated yet familiar look with a more athletic stance and a squared-off back end.
Executives say they dramatically improved the interior so it matches or exceeds luxury vehicles. It has an electronic shifter, removing cables to free space for storage. Door pockets can now handle large coffee cups and water bottles.
They improved head and knee room in the rear seat, and the rear doors open to nearly 90 degrees, making it easier to load things. The Rogue has standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure and blind spot warnings, and other safety features.
The only powertrain choice, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with a continuously variable transmission, now makes 181 horsepower, 11 more than the current version. Fuel economy also rose by one or two miles per gallon depending on how the Rogue is equipped. The base all-wheel-drive version gets 33 mpg on the highway and 26 in the city.
“It’s just that perfect balance of a family SUV without being too soft, without being too harsh,” White said.
Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst for Guidehouse Insights, said the new Rogue is competitive but doesn’t do enough to set it apart from the crowd.
“They didn’t take any risks with it,” he said. “It’s a little bit better in every way, but nothing about it shouts ‘hey, look at me.’”
Under its latest turnaround plan,
Mears says there are signs of improvement already with updated versions of Nissan’s sedans. He likes what he sees in the Rogue, which accounted for 34% of his dealerships’ sales through May.
Mears said the new version looks like a Rogue, but is different enough “that it’s going to make it more attractive than it was before.”
The new Rogue goes on sale in the fall. Price wasn't announced, but the current model starts at
AP Business Writer
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