2011 Nissan Rogue Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Nissan Rogue overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 Rogue, and includes Nissan Rogue safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

Minor interior and exterior styling changes accompany the Nissan Rogue as it enters its fourth year of production. Also along for the ride are updates to the crossover’s list of comfort and convenience features, and fuel economy improves for both front- and all-wheel-drive models. Nissan also revises the model lineup; the S remains, while the Krom Edition has been transformed from a separate trim level into an option package and the top-level SL morphs into the new Rogue SV. But you can still get the SV with an SL Package. Confused? We’ll try to sort things out below.

Car shoppers familiar with the Nissan Rogue will recognize the base S model with its 16-inch wheels with plastic wheel covers and collection of amenities including power door locks with keyless entry, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, power windows, power mirrors, and air conditioning. Those who select the Rogue S also get a CD player, an auxiliary audio input jack, an iPod interface, and deeply tinted rear windows. The Krom Edition introduced last year now boasts 18-inch alloys, dark-tinted rear privacy glass, and numerous exterior upgrades designed to give the vehicle a more aggressive appearance.

Normally, this is where we’d tell you about the more upscale SL variant, but the Rogue SV has replaced it this year. Behind the new name are standard features including a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a small display screen located in the center of the dash that showcases radio information and transmits an image from the rearview camera, a USB port, Bluetooth hands-free calling capability, and a keyless ignition system. The Premium Package carries over for 2011, though it now includes a touch-screen navigation system with XM NavTraffic, a power moonroof, automatic headlights, and automatic climate control. And the SL name has actually been retained, now used as a label for an option package filled to the brim with the contents of the Premium Package plus leather upholstery, heated front seats, a Bose sound system, HID headlights, and front fog lights.

With owners of large SUVs on the lookout for smaller, more efficient alternatives that still provide a good bit of versatility, models like the 2011 Nissan Rogue stand to grow in popularity. The Rogue’s impressive fuel economy is partly attributable to the efficient operation of the Rogue’s continuously variable transmission, which is partnered with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine pumping out 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. With front-wheel drive, the Rogue gets 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The Rogue AWD matches that city rating, and drops to 26 mpg on the highway.

The Rogue is well equipped with safety features. Stability and traction control, six airbags, and four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist are standard on every model.

For 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has updated its crash test methods and scoring, making it harder to achieve a 5-Star safety rating. As a result, the Nissan Rogue now carries a 5 Star rating only for side-impact protection, with 4 Stars awarded for rollover resistance, front-impact protection and overall safety performance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted its own tests, finding the Rogue to be Acceptable in terms of rollover protection but top-notch when it comes to sheltering occupants from front-, side-, and rear-impact crashes.

Shifting gears to the topic of reliability, the 2011 Nissan Rogue is expected to provide better-than-average dependability according to Consumer Reports, while J.D. Power and Associates forecasts average reliability over time.

Nissan’s little crossover has grown up this year, though not in size. Perhaps matured is a better way to put it. The styling has been refined a bit, and the array of features has broadened to include a touch-screen navigation system with real-time traffic information. Despite the upgrades, Nissan has held the line on pricing, maintaining the Rogue’s competitiveness with other small crossovers and providing the value shoppers expect. For those reasons and more, the Nissan Rogue is a model we once again recommend adding to your shopping list.

By Thom Blackett