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"One of the most fun and delightful five-passenger family cars I have driven." That is what a friend said of the new 2008 Nissan Rogue Crossover. As we test drove this car, we found that to be true as well. The Rogue proved to be roomy and easy to get into and offered an impressive 28 MPG.
Crossover vehicles, as they have recently been dubbed, are basically a larger version of a five-passenger sedan with a hatchback instead of a trunk. They have proved popular due to the extra room in the rear of the vehicle that the hatchback offers. They also provide the driver and passengers with a high seating position making you feel as if you are sitting up higher as you are driving.
The new Rogue had many features that intrigued us. First is the 28 MPG. The Rogue seemed to truly get that fuel economy rating if not better. This rating is also considerably better than the competition. The new Mazda CX-7 is only rated at 22 MPG at best, and the Toyota RAV4 is around 24 MPG.
The roomy interior of the Rogue also impressed us. The doors were large and three car seats could easily be fit in the back seat. The cargo room behind the back seats was also impressive. Strollers and groceries could all be stored with ease with the seats up. The cargo area was also flat and level with the opening making it extremely easy to load and unload various items. More cargo room could also be created by lowering the back seats.
Peppy is also a word to describe the new Rogue. Despite the 2.5 liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine, it offered 170hp and did not seem to underpowered. The Rogue can also come equipped with intuitive all-wheel drive and a 2 or 4 wheel limited slip differential increasing safety.
Combined with the Rogue's quiet, gas-saving motor is a continuously variable transmission (CVT). These transmissions are somewhat new and take a little getting used to. A CVT transmission does not create that "shifting" feel when changing gears. Instead, the transmission perfectly matches the engine speed in time with the driving conditions to create a seamless and quiet feel. Nissan's newest version of this transmission is true to expectations. Once you get used to the transmission never "shifting," it is then quite a jolt to ride in a car that does.
The exterior design of the Rogue is fresh and fun, but it also created the only thing we did not like. The rear side windows were small and hard to see through. This created a low visibility blind spot when conducting maneuvers such as changing lanes or backing out of a parking spot. Extra caution need always be used. The problem could be solved by adding a couple of small blind spot mirrors to the already existing rear view mirrors.
A test drive of the new Nissan Rogue would be recommended if you are in the market for a nice, roomy family vehicle with great gas mileage. The price tag isn't bad either. Starting at only $19,430, the Rogue is nice with or without the many features that can be added.
Starting price: $19,430
Price as tested: $21,675
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Daniel Souza can be reached at
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Laughter is wine for the soul; laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness; the hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living.
-- Sean O'Casey.
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I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
-- Susan B. Anthony
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