Nissan’s new crossover is a lovable Rogue

A continuously variable transmission is supposed to match the efficiency of a manual transmission but with the convenience of an automatic. In the Rogue, it also matches the driving quality of a good automatic transmission. And for drivers who miss shifting gears, a steering wheel-mounted paddle shifter is available — it lets the driver change from one ratio in the CVT to another, simulating the feel of gear changes.

The Rogue’s CVT transmits power to the front wheels on the regular models and to all four wheels on the all-wheel-drive versions. A standard electronic stability control system also oversees the Rogue’s status, directing power to the wheels where it is needed and applying brakes to others if the car starts to slip.

Driving in urban traffic is aided by the Rogue’s well-calibrated throttle response. There’s no “jumpy” reaction here meant to trick the driver into thinking the engine’s more powerful than it really is — the Kia Rondo is currently the top offender on that list — so it’s easy to ease smoothly forward in stop-and-go traffic.

Likewise, the brake pedal yields a progressive response, slowing the Rogue just as the driver expects. These details may sound obvious, but too many manufacturers continue to overlook them.

The Rogue’s thick-rimmed steering wheel feels good when driving, but the electric power steering, like most such systems, is numb and steering efforts are overboosted at parking lot speeds.

Nissan fine-tuned the Rogue’s handling placing special attention on the lurching and body lean to which taller vehicles are prone. The result is a solidly planted feeling when driving on twisty roads. Hopefully, this will not only please the driver but minimize any car sickness in the back seat.

That rear seat is exceptionally large. The Rogue is bigger than its competitors and there’s no available third row of seats, such as in the RAV4, so there’s plenty of room for a spacious second row. The Rogue’s cargo space is also rather large when compared to those of its peers and Nissan accounts for this by pointing out a nifty pop-up organizer built into the floor that’s designed to keep grocery bags in place while the driver tests that curvy road handling.

The Rogue is slightly larger than its competitors and has an incrementally larger, more powerful engine. But its EPA gas mileage of 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway (under the new tougher 2008 EPA test) tops that of its rivals, probably because of the efficiency of the CVT transmission.

All this could mean good things for Nissan. The automaker’s return from financial distress has been fitful, with boom and bust cycles, but the Rogue is a very appealing contender in a segment that’s on the rise. The result should be a flood of happy customers who appreciate the Rogue’s combination of comfort and efficiency, even if it isn’t very roguish.

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