With the continued popularity of crossovers and SUVs, most automakers have at least one in their lineup. The Nissan Rogue is a favorite in the segment and the best-selling vehicle in the automaker’s lineup. It’s an expensive choice, but for that money, you get an eye-catching vehicle with lots of interior space and upscale features that aren’t common in its class.

Which of Nissan Rogue‘s many great features do owners love best? Recently, J.D. Power evaluated the new 2023 model, including consumer opinions on what makes the new Rogue a class favorite.

Consumer feedback on Nissan Rogue

In the J.D. Power 2022 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APPEAL) Study, the agency gathered data from verified new-vehicle consumers who owned a Nissan Rogue. They considered that 49% of new buyers in the compact SUV segment were female, and the median age of a new buyer in the segment is 57. Elsewhere in the market, women make up 38% of new compact SUV buyers, and the median age is 54.

Participants in the study rated the Nissan Rogue in 10 basic categories, and the results of the study were ordered from favorite to least favorite. Consumers in the study said their top three categories out of the 10 in the survey for the Nissan Rogue were exterior styling, driving feel, and feeling of safety. However, they weren’t as satisfied with the powertrain, infotainment system, and gas mileage.

A ruggedly handsome exterior

Exterior styling is important to consumers, especially when putting up substantial money. J.D. Power last reviewed the Nissan Rogue in 2021 when it was redesigned. For 2023, they reviewed a top-shelf platinum model that offers two-tone paint, exterior ground lighting, and illuminated kick plates among its styling cues.

New in 2023 is a new Midnight Edition of the Rogue SV. The upgrade adds $4,195 to the $30,345 you’ll pay for this mid-trim level. Still, if you’re a fan of the blacked-out trend in styling, it might be worth it, and it costs less than the Platinum model.

The Midnight edition has 18-inch gloss-black aluminum wheels, black badges, black exterior accents, and artificial leather seating. It also offers a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and a dual-panel sunroof. There’s a power rear liftgate too.

Robust engine power

When consumers weren’t happy with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in Rogue’s 2021 redesign, Nissan fixed this by switching it out for a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine. Paired with Nissan’s unique variable-compression technology, Rogue has more power when you need it and improved fuel efficiency otherwise, according to the automaker. 

The reviewer found the VC-Turbo engine felt notably more powerful. At 5,600 rpm, it produces 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. The new three-cylinder configuration, the reviewer found, sounded a lot better than the previous four-cylinder.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue provides a good driving experience with plenty of acceleration when you need it.

Feeling of safety

Owners in the survey understandably placed “feeling of safety” in their top three features. The 2023 Nissan Rogue can hold its own in its class regarding standard driver-assist features.

According to Car and Driver, the 2023 Nissan Rogue has automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert standard. The upper trims include the Nissan ProPilot Assist system, which includes adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. The reviewer noted that it worked well on the highway, acting quickly to get you back up to speed when slower vehicles in front of you move, or you change lanes to pass them.

It also has Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, two brake-based features that give Rogue a smooth ride and lend the handling a trustworthy feeling. The reviewer found that the suspension didn’t do as well as absorbing blows from the road on uneven pavement.

While the majority of Nissan Rogue owners indicated in the survey that they felt safe driving the compact SUV, it didn’t earn the top rating in the newest small-overlap and side-impact collisions crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Given the popularity of the SUV, hopefully, Nissan will devise a way to improve this in future models.