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Mathieu Godin
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Mathieu Godin
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Mathieu Godin
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Mathieu Godin
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Mathieu Godin
Words by Mathieu Godin @pathfinder_overland
As we were getting closer to Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, it was apparent with the amount of snow on the sides of the road that we were heading toward a snowshoeing paradise. And the mountains’ icy and twisty roads were the perfect test ground for the Nissan Rogue’s intelligent AWD system. Seating on 19 inches wheels equipped with snow tires, the little Rogue felt like it was glued to the road, or more precisely, to the icy roads as we would not see much of the tarmac underneath the packed mix of snow and ice.
For this snowshoeing adventure, I had borrowed a 2019 Nissan Rogue SL Platinum with ProPILOT assist (Nissan’s semi-autonomous driving tech). The Rogue is Nissan’s best-selling vehicle in Canada. For a full week, I would take it to the mountains and drive it around town as my daily driver to find out why this little crossover was getting so much love from Canadians.
All Rogue models come with a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine rated at 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with an Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with Sport Mode. AWD is optional on the S and SV models but standard on the SL. While it has enough power to move around, I just wish it had a little bit more. Perhaps the D-shaped steering wheel also gives the impression that it is supposed to be sportier, but this is not a GT-R, it’s a small crossover better suited for the daily commute than to go around a race track.
Entering the cabin, you immediately get the feeling of being in a more prestigious vehicle. The quality of the material is very good, and since my tester also came with the Platinum Reserve Interior (this option provides you with Tan leather seats with special quilted leather inserts), those quality leather seats particularly stood out.
If you’d ask my buddy and I what was our favorite feature on this vehicle, we’d tell you it was the heated front seats. Nissan calls them “Zero Gravity” seats. I can tell you that after a three-hour snowshoeing trip in -23C (-9.4 Fahrenheit) territory, those seats might not have provided a full astronaut experience, but they were super warm and cozy. Nissan designed them so they’d heat up key areas of your body in a particular sequence to warm you up quickly. Perfect for mildly hypothermic winter adventurers!
After spending a week with the Rogue, I now have a good idea as to why it is so popular with Nissan: Those seats must be some of the most comfortable out there, and the Rogue is just a polyvalent daily driver. My tester was fully loaded ($37,898 CAD), but the less expensive models also come well equipped. The testing took place in mid-January, and the intelligent AWD system worked flawlessly on our winter roads. There is also a function to lock the AWD system ON for when you need all the traction you can get. Overall, I found the Rogue to be a great commuter and well equipped to help us get through our Canadian winters. With a max towing capacity of 500 kg (1,100 lb) you won’t be pulling much however.
The Rogue has many competitors in its segment. However, Nissan did a great job improving it every year since it was first introduced in 2008. It is definitely worth a look if you are looking for a crossover that’s comfortable, economical and that comes equipped with a plethora of safety features to keep you and your small family safe during your travel.
