2009 Nissan Rogue Review
2009 Nissan Rogue Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+91
Used Rogue for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Carlike driving manners, smooth ride, well-crafted interior, comfortable front seating, first-rate braking, excellent optional Bose audio.
Cons
- Lacks the cargo room and versatility of competing crossovers, ill-suited transmission, poor rearward visibility.
What’s new
The 2009 Nissan Rogue is largely unchanged from last year.
Edmunds says
The 2009 Nissan Rogue is a comfortable, convenient and fun-to-drive compact crossover, but it lacks cargo space and rear-seat versatility.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2009 Nissan Rogue S 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$180/mo for Rogue S
Rogue S
vs
$201/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Vehicle overview
Inevitably, the march of technology and necessity shrinks the size of everything. Imagine trying to carry around seven days' worth of music before the iPod. In keeping with this theme comes the 2009 Nissan Rogue -- a kind of mini Murano. Though based on the economy-minded Sentra, the Rogue manages to better its parent in terms of drivability, appearance and practicality.
Compared to other compact crossovers, the Rogue stands out thanks to its carlike manners and well-crafted interior. The competent four-cylinder engine produces enough oomph to keep up with the pack, but unfortunately, power is run through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Nissan has utilized a CVT with great success in the V6-powered Altima and Maxima, and presumably the thinking here must have been to smooth out an already decent ride with a gearbox that eliminates shifting. The end result, however, is an odd elastic feeling in the driveline. Even stranger, transitioning to and from the gas pedal while on the highway creates a seesaw effect, with rising and falling engine revs.
Even with the transmission annoyances and limited rearward visibility, the 2009 Nissan Rogue is still a stylish, viable alternative to the top small crossovers. While the family-friendly Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 have more cargo room and creature comforts, the Rogue is a good choice for those who need less utility and are more prone to city commuting. Taking this into account, the Rogue is more in direct competition with the Ford Escape, Mazda CX-7, Saturn Vue and Volkswagen Tiguan. We suggest comparing all of these models to the Rogue before deciding.
Performance & mpg
All 2009 Nissan Rogues are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission is a CVT that, depending on the model, drives either all four wheels or just the fronts. In our testing, the AWD Rogue SL took 9.2 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is comparable to other four-cylinder compact crossovers.
Likewise, fuel economy is similar to that of the competition. The front-wheel-drive Rogue has an EPA estimate of 22 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 24 mpg in combined driving. The AWD variant drops slightly to 21/26/23 mpg.
Safety
For the entire Rogue lineup, standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. All of this protection earned the Rogue an almost perfect crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In front-impact tests, protection for the driver earned a top five-star rating and front passenger protection earned four stars. Front and rear side-impact tests resulted in a five-star rating. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, the Rogue received a "Good" rating (the best rating possible) in both frontal-offset and side-impact tests.
Driving
Much of the appeal of small crossovers stems from their carlike driving manners, and the 2009 Nissan Rogue delivers. Road bumps and imperfections are gobbled up with ease thanks to the suspension's long travel. The Rogue is stable at highway speeds, and short stopping distances add to the confidence one feels when driving. Steering is likewise direct and well-tuned, despite being slightly vague in terms of feedback to the driver.
The main detraction from an otherwise successful execution is the aforementioned CVT. The consequent lazy throttle response, yo-yo-like engine revving and moaning engine note gives drivers the impression that they're in a much slower vehicle. The SL trim's manual shift mode with paddle shifters rectifies this situation somewhat by allowing the driver to select among six simulated "gear" ratios.
Interior
Inside, the Nissan Rogue is comfortable, intuitive and well-built with top-notch materials. The cabin is thoughtfully laid out with controls that are properly placed and effortlessly operated. Though lacking numerous storage compartments, the Rogue makes up for it with a substantial center console bin, a massive glovebox and a clever under-floor organizer.
Seating comfort, both front and rear, is as good as it gets -- even when stacked up against the venerable Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. But unlike those of competing crossovers, the Rogue's rear seats don't recline or slide forward or backward. There is also no center armrest. However, they do fold flat when more cargo space is needed. With the rear seats upright, storage is limited to 28.9 cubic feet. With the seats stowed, the space jumps to 57.9 cubes, but is still significantly smaller than the competition.
2009 Nissan Rogue models
The 2009 Nissan Rogue is a five-passenger compact crossover SUV available in two trim levels, both available with either front- or all-wheel drive. The S trim level is the base model, and it comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, cruise control, a tilting steering wheel, air-conditioning, full power accessories, keyless entry and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player and an auxiliary jack. No options are available for the S trim level.
The more luxuriously appointed SL trim level includes everything from the S model and gains a few more options and conveniences, including 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, tinted windows, a fold-down front passenger seat, a dual-level tray for the center console and a trip computer.
Options for the SL trim level are consolidated into larger bundles. The Premium Package includes foglights, a foldable cargo organizer, a cargo cover, keyless ignition/entry, Bluetooth and a seven-speaker Bose audio system with a six-CD/MP3 changer, satellite radio and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. All-wheel-drive SL models equipped with this package also receive xenon headlights and manual shift control for the transmission. The SL's Leather Package, as you'd expect, includes leather upholstery plus heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated side mirrors, a six-way power driver seat, a one-touch up/down driver window and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. A sunroof is available as a stand-alone option.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent
#9 out of 29 among Compact SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Nissan Rogue from 2008-2022.$456/yr
vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).0.88x/yr
vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).10.2%
vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV
for Average Compact SUV
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2009 Nissan Rogue.
5 star(48%)
4 star(26%)
3 star(15%)
2 star(5%)
1 star(6%)
110 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
So far, So good!
xstreamclean, 02/27/2011
2009 Nissan Rogue SL 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
I read these reviews and don't understand.
Some positive some negative.
We have had our Rogue for 2 yrs. currently have about 25,000 miles and it has been a very good reliable car.
Never had any problems, just scheduled maintenance.
We live in Utah, we have snow, mountains etc. and the AWD is awesome!
So far... I highly recommend this car.
If you asked me one issue i MIGHT have is the … blind spots in the car.
The way the back end is formed may make it difficult for a amateur driver.
I personally don't mind it, just use your mirrors.
Hope this helps.
4.13 out of 5 stars
My Fixes
Ken, 10/10/2010
2009 Nissan Rogue SL 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
As far as smart key and rear window problems, this helped very much for me. I could not duplicate the key problem for the dealer, but it was getting frustrating. I removed the battery in the controller and bent the 3 contacts up slightly at the folds, using a small pocket knife. It has improved 95% and contribute some to junk in my pocket. I improved my blind spots by installing small … rectangular stick on mirrors to my side mirrors. I still look back when I pull out, but it does give you more visibility. I'm 6'2 and I have more leg room than most vehicles. It has rapid response in emergency conditions. For the money, a nice little ride.
1 out of 5 stars
2 Bad Transmissions on the car
Nissan Rogue Owner, 12/27/2016
2009 Nissan Rogue S 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
The Rogue was great when I first bought it, until the transmission failed on the highway in 2013. The transmission was replaced under the extended CVT warranty. The transmission then failed a second time this year. Nissan was not helpful in resolving the issue, and asked me to pay $6,000 in repairs for the vehicle. It is not normal for a transmission to go bad after 2 or 3 years and a 7 … year old vehicle to require 3 transmissions.
4 out of 5 stars
GREAT VALUE SUV
Australopithecus, 02/12/2016
2009 Nissan Rogue S 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
Visibility toward the rear for backing and traffic monitoring is very poor.
2009 Rogue Highlights
S
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $20,220 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 24 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $180/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 28.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Rogue include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestAcceptable
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
People who viewed this also viewed
4.3 average Rating out of 110 reviews. |
Starting at $29,500 |
4.3 average Rating out of 11 reviews. |
Starting at $30,300 |
4.2 average Rating out of 20 reviews. |
Starting at $28,675 |
Related Used 2009 Nissan Rogue info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Acura Vigor 2014
- Used Honda HR-V 2021
- Used BMW 7 Series 2017
- Used Cadillac XT5 2011
- Used Volkswagen Passat 2018
Shop similar models
- Used Mitsubishi Eclipse-cross
- Used Chevrolet Trailblazer
- Used Ford Escape
- Used Subaru Forester
- Used Subaru Crosstrek
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Nissan Rogue 2016
- Used Nissan Rogue 2017
- Used Nissan Rogue 2011
- Used Nissan Rogue 2010
- Used Nissan Rogue 2014
- Used Nissan Rogue 2013 For Sale
- Used Nissan Rogue 2012
- Used Nissan Rogue 2015
- Used Nissan Rogue 2019 For Sale
- Used Nissan Rogue 2018
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2023 Model 3
- 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer News
- 2023 Volkswagen Taos
- 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer
- 2024 Mustang
- Chevy Malibu Car
- BMW I7
- Mini Cooper Car 4 Door
- F Ford 350
- Jeep Compass 2023
Research other models of Nissan
- Nissan Nissan Pathfinder
- Nissan Versa
- GTR
- 2023 Nissan Rogue
- Nissan Kicks
- Nissan Maxima V6 For Sale
- Nissan Nissan Murano
- Nissan Armada 2023
- Nissan Sentra
- Nissan Altima
Research similar vehicles
- Passport SUV
- Toyota Corolla Cross 2023
- Audi Audi Q7
- 2023 Defender
- BMW X3
- 2023 Chevrolet Blazer
- Ford Expedition
- GM Equinox
- Toyota RAV4 2023
- Volvo E XC90
Other models
- Used BMW X5-M in Merrimack, NH
- New Jaguar F-Pace for Sale in Glendale, AZ
- New Mercedes-Benz Esprinter for Sale in Anderson, SC
- Used Audi S5 in Chester, VA
- Used Ferrari Gtc4Lusso in Cheshire, CT
- Used Ford Econoline-Cargo in Casper, WY
- Used Lexus Ux-250H in Fort Collins, CO
- Used Aston-Martin DBS in The Colony, TX
- Used Lincoln Navigator in Seaford, DE
- Used Chevrolet Avalanche in Hempstead, NY