By:  Cathy Droz

A rogue is considered one who is separate or outside the rules of society, as a scoundrel or rascal.  It may be used in a romantic context (“a dashing rogue”) to mean a man found attractive because of his adventurous or daring nature. Based on that, I guess I’ve dated a few rogues in my time, and now I’ve driven one, the 2012 Nissan Rogue SL FWD that is.

The Nissan Rogue is a small crossover; and with plenty of competition in its category.  We’re comparing it to the likes of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, KIA Shortage and a few others. It’s hard to stand out in a crowd when you’re considered just another crossover.  This is where Nissan needed to make the 2012 just a bit different.  So I believe the designers and engineers got together for happy hour one evening and said let’s get the interior looking more European and the outside sharper looking; and Oh, by the way, let’s have it handle like some of the more “high end” models.

With the magic wand of Nissan, the 2012 Rogue SL has stepped it up a bit including a new Special Edition trip package which includes a 360-degree camera view and new wheel designs.  It is still a utility-style passenger and cargo vehicle (cargo area a bit small) but the interior has a higher quality finish on the dash, doors and seat, and the exterior looks a bit classier than others in its category.

The Rogue, with its four-cylinder engine, doesn’t give decent power if you are living in a hilly area or hauling lots of passengers and gear.  The other downside for some would be that the rear seats don’t slide or recline and the curved, yet attractive rear, limits some storage.  A perfect example of that was when I took my 2-yr old grandchild to the mall and packed her large stroller in the cargo area.  Due to the curves, it wasn’t an easy clear shot to get that carriage in.  With that said, the Rogue is more comfortable to be the driver and a passenger.  The driving experience and the ergonomics were very appealing.  I had the navigation system in my tester car and I must say, it was easy to operate and one of the best systems for GPS I’ve operated.

I did test the SV, so in addition to the goodies on the S edition, I experienced l7-inch alloy wheels, keyless ignition/entry, upgraded upholstery, six-way power driver seat, a fold-down front passenger seat and Bluetooth connectivity.  If you wish to add the premium package to this, you can bundle a sunroof, automatic headlights, auto climate control and nav system with 5-inch touchscreen display and the real-time traffic updates.  (I just love that traffic update element). There is even another package with heated seats and a bunch of other cool options.

Now for the parts that make the crossover move so smoothly. I tested the FWD (front-wheel drive) although an all-wheel drive is also an option.  It’s powered by a 2.5 –liter, four –cylinder engine that produces l70 horsepower and l75 pound-feet of torque, put to the ground through a CVT. In an independent test, a front-drive Rogue took just 8.6 seconds to reach 60 mph.  I am told that is quick for a four-cylinder compact crossover.  All I know is I could get where I needed to go and had the ability to cut in front of a few slower drivers. The Rogue comes standard with antilock brakes, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.

I just loved the large center console bin, the gigantic glovebox and the under-floor organizer.  I had so many meetings during my test drive week, I was so happy to be able to hide some of my papers and my purse as I went from office to office.

I know the sound of the CVT at full throttle can be a bit annoying, even with the stereo on, or hands free chit chat on Bluetooth… but remember, a Rogue, they say is different and that is true for the 2012 SL.  It is different from the other small crossovers; give it a test yourself at your local Nissan dealer and see why.

Base Price: $21,530 – 22 mph City – 28 mph Highway

For more on the Nissan Rogue go to www.nissanusa.com