The New 2014 Nissan Rogue

A Svelte Redesign for Nissan's Compact Crossover We were positive the snazzy SUV coming up behind us on a rural road outside Nashville was an expensive luxury SUV. The boomerang-shaped LED lights shimmering off the front end looked striking, but it took us a beat to realize what it was. It wasn't some high-dollar sport-ute, but rather the same vehicle we were driving: the redesigned, and now built-in-Tennessee, 2014 Nissan Rogue. More than just a new face, this new compact crossover has been upgraded from top to bottom. With an all-new body, clever interior packaging and some pretty superb fuel mileage claims, the new Rogue will offer an honest challenge to the segment-leading Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The fact that the Rogue looks so good on the outside is just another reason to take a second look. A French and Japanese Collaboration Although this second-gen Rogue is all-new, dimensionally it's very similar to the old version. The 106.5-inch wheelbase is only 0.6 inch longer than the outgoing model, while overall length is actually 1 inch shorter. Width is up by 1.5 inches while height has increased slightly, too. While the original Rogue was based on a platform shared with Nissan's Sentra sedan, the new Rogue uses a structure called the Common Module Family (CMF), an architecture developed with its corporate partner Renault. "We took the best of Nissan and Renault's C segments and melded them together," said Carla Bailo, senior vice president of R&D at Nissan Americas. Besides shared efficiencies at play here, clever interior packaging allowed Nissan to offer a third-row option for the new Rogue, something its archrivals from Honda and Toyota don't have. Taro Ueda, vice president of Nissan Design America, said the key word for the Rogue's new styling was "Biokinetic Synchronicity." That's two words, but who's counting. Strange Japanese-isms aside, Ueda said they needed to bring the Rogue more in line with Nissan's new brand identity, so now it looks like a mini Pathfinder. How It Gets 33 MPG on the Highway But while the 2014 Nissan Rogue has a fancy new Euro-esque architecture and svelte body, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood produces the same 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque as the previous version. It still isn't direct-injected and it's still mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Sounds familiar, but there is some new stuff going on under the hood. The compression ratio was raised from 9.6:1 to 10.0, while the engine now features both intake and exhaust variable valve timing. The new-generation Xtronic CVT, just as with the new Altima, was made considerably more efficient. Nissan engineers also incorporated "direct-step" logic to simulate shifts at higher rpm, per customer feedback. Put it all together and Nissan says the Rogue's fuel economy has been raised by 18 percent despite its larger size and extra 100 pounds of weight. Official estimates for the front-drive Rogue are 28 combined/26 city/33 highway, while the all-wheel-drive version should deliver 25 city/32 highway. This puts the new Rogue at the same level as the class-leading 2014 Mazda CX-5. Does It Drive as Well As It Looks? Driving around the not-so-mean streets of Nashville, the Rogue's MacPherson strut front and multilink rear suspension provided a quiet and comfortable ride. Good sound-deadening and hum-free all-season tires on 17-inch alloy wheels kept road noise to perfectly acceptable levels while smoothing bumps nicely (slightly less so with the standard 18s on the top-level SL). Point the heftily weighted electric steering toward the open road, peg the right pedal and you're suddenly reminded it has a CVT. At half throttle and above the transmission winds the four-cylinder out incessantly, which only serves to highlight that the engine can get slightly thrashy at high revs. Of course, the benefit to this high-rpm running is that the Rogue is no slouch in acceleration. For now all Nissan would tell us is that they expect it to be "a tick quicker than the previous Rogue." We hit 60 mph in 8.6 seconds with the last Rogue we tested. But the CVT's preferred modus operandi is to bring the revs as low as possible for fuel economy purposes. It lugs the engine so much at lower speeds that some bad vibrations make their way into the cabin. Pressing the Sport button raises the revs slightly, but you'll forsake the mileage benefits. New for 2014, all Rogues come with what Nissan calls Active Trace Control and Active Ride Control. The trace control (which can be turned off) automatically applies brakes to various wheels in an effort to keep the Rogue on the intended line you're taking. Basically the system attempts to curb understeer both on corner entry and exit, which is especially helpful in wet conditions. We fiddled with it on a wet skid pad and while it's not dramatic, you notice the difference when it's not on. The purpose of the ride control system is to reduce the Rogue's body motions. It adds throttle and/or brakes depending on the situation to minimize bobbing over big bumps. It only comes into play at speeds above 25 mph and, as with the trace control, most owners will never know it's there. The Upgraded Interior Won't Go Unnoticed It's hard not to be impressed with the 2014 Nissan Rogue's fabulous new interior. With a high degree of soft-touch materials, it has a notably upmarket look and feel. We particularly appreciated the well-padded door and center armrests, although the center console cupholders allow water bottles to just flop around. There are large, easy-to-read analog gauges, straightforward climate controls and even the base S front-drive model ($23,350 with $860 destination, $24,340 for the S AWD) comes with a 5-inch display screen, a back-up camera and Bluetooth. In the case of the Premium package-equipped SV AWD we spent most of our time driving ($27,860), it had a 7-inch touchscreen with navigation, power tailgate, blind spot and lane departure warning, moving object detection and Nissan's Around View Monitor. The NASA-inspired "zero gravity" front seats are superb and the 40/20/40-split rear seats have padding in all the right places. Even the middle seat is livable. Other improvements include a folding center armrest, 9 inches of fore/aft seat travel plus reclining seatbacks, though the behind-the-shoulder lever position is awkward to reach when sitting. The rear doors now open a whopping 77 degrees, which makes hopping in and out a breeze. Is the Third Row Worth It? Only the S and SV models have the option of a third row. It's called the Family package ($1,190 S, $940 SV) and it also adds run-flat tires since there's less room for a spare. Why no third row for the top-level SL? Nissan says it already has a $30,000-plus three-row crossover, called the Pathfinder. Nissan openly admits the cramped third row is just an "occasional seat" best suited for children, but this describes most third-row accommodations in vehicles of this size. Of course, cargo room suffers with that third row in place as there's only 9.4 cubic feet available. Fold both rows down and the Rogue opens up to offer 70 cubic feet of total space. Stick with the two-row Rogue and you get the benefit of Nissan's new Divide-N-Hide cargo system. This rather ingenious two-piece cargo compartmentalization offers 18 configurations. It allows you to separate out wet and dirty boots and clothes, hold groceries in place and even offers a three-tiered shelving system, if you include the underfloor storage. The Bottom Line If you like the idea of a sporty compact SUV, the 2014 Nissan Rogue isn't for you. Try the 2014 Ford Escape instead. The Rogue is all about no-fuss transportation from A to B, and it delivers on that promise as well as anything in the class. In the process it offers flawless usability, competitive mileage numbers and a first-rate interior. In other words, it does all the things a compact crossover should. Oh, and it doesn't look half-bad either.

NIssan Pathfinder Hybrid

The Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid had its world debut at the 2013 NY auto show and it will soon go on sale. The Pathfinder Hybrid is the most fuel efficient version of the SUV and it's available in two versions: with front-wheel-drive and with an all-wheel-drive system. The Hybrid version of the Pathfinder is powered by a 2.5-liter supercharged petrol engine, which works together with a 15 kW electric motor. The hybrid Pathfinder is rated with a total output of 250 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. This is 10 hp less and 3 lb-ft more than the 3.5-liter V6 versions of the Nissan Pathfinder. Thanks to this powertrain, the

Pathfinder Hybrid is able to two as much as 3,500 pounds of weight. The hybrid Pathfinder is equipped with the Nissan Intelligent Dual Clutch System (one motor / two clutch parallel system) and a new generation Xtronic CVT transmission. The SUV is equipped with a regenerative braking system too. Nissan rates the Pathfinder Hybrid with a 26 mpg combined fuel economy, which is 24% better in comparison to the regular version of the SUV. The Pathfinder Hybrid's fuel consumption in the city is rated at 25 mpg and on the highway at 27 mpg. With a 19.5-gallon fuel tank it has a maximum range of 526 miles. Apart from the new powertrain, the vehicle comes with several other novelties. For instance, the Hybrid Pathfinder is equipped with the EZ Flex Seating System with LATCH AND GLIDE technology and LED taillights.

Some of the distinctive design features of the Pathfinder Hybrid include new bumpers, a wide chrome grille, recessed windshield wipers, and chrome door handles. The Hybrid can be optionally equipped with a Dual Panorama Moonroof. At the interior, the Pathfinder Hybrid comes with three rows of leather seats, Intelligent Key with Push Button Start, and a Bose sound system. The seats can be moved and split anyway you want to make your access into the vehicle as easy as possible. They also fold down to make room for more luggage. Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid equipment list: - Advanced Drive-Assist Display - customizable 4.2-inch color monitor - Nissan Navigation System with NavTraffic, NavWeather, Zagat Survey - Bluetooth connectivity - RearView Monitor - Around View Monitor - Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control - tri-zone entertainment system with 2nd row head restraint-mounted DVD display screens - Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Hill Start Assist. Nissan equips the Pathfinder Hybrid with an independent strut front/multi-link rear suspension, hydraulic electric power-assisted steering and 20-inch alloys. The all-wheel-drive hybrid Pathfinder comes with the ALL-MODE 4x4-i system that has three operating modes: 2WD, Auto and 4WD Lock. The Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid's price has not been disclosed yet, but the carmaker says it will go on sale this summer.

Cars to Drive Themselves

Driverless Cars Coming To Showrooms By 2020, Says Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn

 

Ghosn: Bullish on the future. (Image credit: AFP/Getty Images via @daylife)

Looking to kick back, text, do your nails, read your iPad or mindlessly snack while driving, all without the inconvenience of potentially killing other people? Thankfully, the wait is nearly over. By the end of this decade autonomous driving will be ready for prime time, Nissan’s top executive said today, ushering in an era where entire families can share the boredom of long road trips once reserved only for small children strapped into the back seat.
Kidding aside, “there is a lot of marketing interest in it,” Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn told reporters today at the Detroit Auto Show.  The change won’t be driven by Silicon Valley tech types looking for the next cool thing, though. An aging population with serious purchasing power and a hunger to retain their mobility as they get older will likely be the reason why driverless, or less-driven cars are adopted into the mainstream according to Ghosn.
Already Google has operated autonomous vehicles on California’s highways for years as part of a long-term experiment with the technology. Many other car companies, from Audi to Nissan to Honda are working on the case as well, with big trial run by the U.S. government currently underway. Improved mapping software, drive-by-wire systems, like those now in use on some of Nissan’s Infiniti cars, are all part of the path.
“Without a doubt we are working on it,” Ghosn said.
That’s not surprising. Ghosn has been one of the most-forward thinking executives in the auto industry of the past decade.
But while his enthusiasm for developing new automotive technology is undisputed, the results are another story. The main topic of today’s news conference was Nissan’s announcement that  it was cutting the price of the 2013 all-electric Nissan Leaf by more than $6,000, or 18% from its predecessor model. The car, championed by Ghosn, has struggled to find a market for a host of reasons, all well known. Not enough charging stations (when will the government build them?) reliability (that will improve as the technology matures, right?) and price (don’t worry, it drops to $19,000 or so when you factor in all the juicy state and federal incentives) were all roadblocks to Leaf sales that precipitated the repricing and redesign.
But the most worrysome part of Leaf’s business plan, at least in my mind, can’t be fixed by engineers or marketers. The problem remains its deep reliance on government subsidies and infrastructure investment in an age where austerity, not moonshots, are in vogue.
The Leaf has already proved a pricey distraction for a company that saw its 2012 market share dip to 7.9% in the US from 8.2% the year before, all while promoting a goal of 10% market share by 2016. Overall, the company is targeting 8% operating profits on 8% of the world market. Currently it is at 6% and 6%, leaving a long way to go. A reviving US market and new low-cost offerings in India, Russia and Indonesia under the Datsun nameplate will help reach that goal, he said, as will a weakening yen, which should help exports.
Still, “I don’t consider 2012 a great year for Nissan,” he said. But he won’t measure the business based on one off year. “I’d worry if it was two years in a row.”
As for the Leaf, he remains bullish. “Zero emissions are here to stay,” he said. “I fundamentally believe it is the technology of the future.” That, and driverless cars.