The availability of a two-person third row 50/50 split seat (available only in the SV AWD as part of the $2,050 Family Tech Package) adds to the Rogue’s appeal as a family vehicle. Parents with large families or extended families, and parents who carpool will find that extra rear seat handy for the little ones. I say “little ones” because the third row seat isn’t really comfortable for adults even though the second row seats can be slid forwards (individually) to increase legroom. The reason is the third row floor height is higher, the cushion is lower and headroom is reduced, and the seat cushions aren’t as comfortable.

Cargo space behind the optional third row seat is limited (266L), but when it is folded down, cargo area behind the second row seats is generous (906). And with the second and third row seatbacks folded down, the cargo area is a cavernous 1,982L though not the best in its class. The Rogue also features a front passenger seatback that reclines almost flat, creating a long load floor up to eight feet long. But it’s a pity that there are no levers in the cargo area to drop the rear seatbacks – it must be done by pulling up on levers on top of the seatbacks.

Nissan’s Divide-N-Hide cargo system is pure genius. Available in Rogues with two rows of seats, removable rear cargo floor panels can be arranged in various configurations. They can be lowered a couple of inches to increase cargo volume or placed in dedicated slots at a higher level, creating a two-level cargo compartment. As well, the cargo floor panels can also be positioned at an angle or positioned vertically to act as a barrier to keep items from sliding around. The Rogue’s cargo area also includes a 12-volt power outlet, cargo hooks, and a sliding privacy cover that can be removed if necessary for tall items. There is a temporary spare tire under the cargo floor. My only criticism of the cargo area is that the plastic side walls are not protected from damage by solid objects that may be sliding around the trunk.

The rear cargo opening is large and has a low loading height. Our SL AWD tester had the power tailgate which can be opened and closed remotely with the keyfob or closed by pressing a button on the inside of the tailgate. The rear bumper is body coloured and I would recommend a plastic sill guard to avoid scratching the paint when loading cargo.

Powering the Rogue is Nissan’s familiar 170 hp 2.5L four cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. The Rogue’s horsepower and torque figures are comparable with its four-cylinder competitors and performance could be described as “adequate”’, but the Rogue’s engine sounds thrashy under hard acceleration. That’s due in part to the CVT’s need to maintain constant revving while accelerating, but it’s also because the Rogue’s engine is noisier than some of its competitors engines, notably the Honda CR-V’s. Still, under light acceleration and when cruising, the Rogue’s powertrain is very quiet because of the engine’s low revs. At 100 km/h, the engine turns over just 2,000 rpm.

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