Nissan Rogue review

Rather than Rogue, Nissan could have named this redesigned SUV "Mr. Congeniality." True, that's not very macho, but the model stands out as an easy-to-drive, family-friendly vehicle. And it now ranks among the better small SUVs.

The new Rogue has grown larger and more accommodating; it has a spacious cabin, easy access, and plenty of room in the rear seat. Refinement has improved dramatically, with a relatively quiet and more comfortable ride than is usual in this class. Other enhancements include more responsive handling, improved fuel economy of 24 mpg overall, and a better-calibrated continuously variable transmission that's smoother and quieter than the previous version.

Power comes from a 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers adequate performance but can get somewhat vocal under hard acceleration. Our vehicle's all-wheel drive worked unobtrusively.

Handling is sound, with prompt steering response if not much feedback, and restrained body lean in corners. Overall, the Rogue feels competent and very secure when pushed to its limits, although it's not sporty or engaging to drive.

You sit up high in the cabin, with plenty of head room. Some drivers felt that the pedals were too close, but sliding the seat back made the steering wheel a reach.

The cloth seats in our car are wide but lack sufficient support, especially on long trips. Theaterlike raised rear seats improve the view, and there's ample room for three, which is helped by the almost flat floor.

Adding to the Rogue's family-friendly credibility is an optional third-row seat that brings seating capacity to seven. That's rare among small SUVs, though the tight seat is best for kids. Opting for the third row eliminates the spare tire, which means you get run-flat tires and, probably, a stiffer ride. A removable shelf in the cargo area adds versatility.

Controls are mostly simple. The optional touch screen is relatively straightforward, but the radio's preset buttons are too small. Connecting a phone is easy, and voice commands work well enough for phone, radio, iPod, and navigation functions.

A backup camera is standard on all Rogues. And we really like the optional surround-view camera, which provides a virtual 360-degree view around the vehicle when parking.

The redesigned Rogue is too new for us to have reliability data.

Best version to get. Go for the SV trim level and add the $1,420 Premium package. That will get you blind-spot and lane-­departure warnings, a power liftgate, a surround-view camera system, and navigation—a lot of features for the money. To get forward-­collision warning, which has been shown to be effective in preventing crashes, you have to get the SL with the Premium package. One note: Don't confuse this Rogue with the previous model, which is outdated and now sold as the Rogue Select.