2019 Nissan Rogue Sport Review

Passing maneuvers require a lot of planning. Acceleration is a long, arduous process even when the accelerator is pressed to the floor. Other compact crossovers are slow, but this Nissan is one of the most lethargic we've tested. It takes 10.2 seconds to cover 0-60 mph.

The braking is sound and predictable. The pedal effort is just right, and the brakes respond intuitively around town. Braking performance at our test track was decent, with the Rogue Sport stopping from 60 mph in 115 feet.

There's little joy in this vague and lifeless steering even if it is a bit tighter than the standard Rogue. The steering weight is on the heavy side with a slow return to center and an artificial feel. Plus, the flat-bottom steering wheel is a strange choice in a subcompact crossover.

Handling is tidy and acceptable, but don't be fooled by its Sport badge. It's relatively flat through corners and has modest limits. The all-season tires squeal readily on curvy roads. It has good maneuverability in traffic and tight quarters due to its smaller-than-Rogue size.

The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) makes for smooth progress (no shift shock). There's still some elastic-like lag and rpm variability, as with all CVT automatics, but it's better than past efforts. The modest power means that getting onto the highway takes a lot of throttle input and planning.

Despite adjustable lumbar support, the front seats' flat and overly soft bottom cushions aren't cut out for long trips. The side bolsters do a good job of holding you in place through corners, but we suggest the higher trim level SL's well-padded seats if given the choice.

The standard 17-inch wheels allow for a lot of tire sidewall, which absorbs some small road imperfections. But the Rogue Sport's stiff suspension translates into a rough ride over most city streets. Highway ride comfort is acceptable for the class but stiff compared to the standard Rogue.

Road and wind noise is reasonably well-suppressed, but engine noise is prominent when merging onto the highway. The six-speaker audio system rattled significantly at 70 percent of max volume.

Air conditioning is very cold in the Rogue Sport. When the system is set to 74 degrees, the temperature feels more like 68 degrees. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard on the midlevel SV trim as are rear center-console vents.

The easy-to-see controls on the dashboard mean you can execute infotainment commands with relative simplicity if you rely on the dashboard. The steering wheel buttons, however, are small and hard to see, so they'll take some additional getting used to.

Thanks to relatively tall doors and a low step-over height, you can slide in and out of the front or the back seat with minimal ducking. This ease of entry and exit is a strength of the subcompact crossover class and an area where the Rogue Sport does well.

The tilt-and-telescoping wheel might be positioned a bit low for some drivers, but it's not a deal-breaker. The power-adjustable driver's seat has good range for the driver. Whatever your position, the dashboard controls seem far away.

On par with the Honda HR-V, the Rogue Sport has generous headroom in both the front and rear seat. As per class averages, legroom is limited but still roomy enough for adults in all four main seating positions.

The large windshield, low dashboard and relatively small dashboard pillars afford good forward visibility. The tall windows allow for wide visibility and the blind-spot monitoring system (optional) works well.

Most of the interior plastics are hard but aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, when you get a bit closer, the glossy piano-black trim looks slightly cheap and collects dust and smudges easily. But the cabin felt well-assembled, and there were no noticeable rattles or squeaks.

Two cupholders in front are complemented by skinny, long door pockets and a medium-size center console. Rear-seat door storage is a little smaller than we'd like and barely able to accommodate a small water bottle.

There's more cargo space in the Rogue Sport than what you'll find in other pint-size crossovers. With the rear seats down, it offers 61.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Behind the rear seats, our Rogue Sport has 20.0 cubic feet. S models without the cargo floor covers can hold up to 22.9 cubes.

Two sets of lower LATCH points and three upper tether points on the back of the seats are standard for the class, as is the relatively limited space for child seats. Two relatively compact seats will fit well, but putting in three or installing larger infant seats will be tough.

Audio controls are relatively simple and include two tactile knobs that control volume and track scrolling. The optional six-speaker stereo distorts sound at an unreasonably low volume. Nav gives good audio directions, but the screen is small, low-res and distant. Reading the map is tough.

In subcompact SUV territory, you won't find many vehicles that offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but these features come standard on every Rogue Sport. Only one USB port limits the number of devices that can charge or connect at one time.

The Rogue Sport's surround-view camera, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems are rare in the subcompact SUV class, and all worked well in our testing. No rival offers a suite of advanced driving aids such as ProPilot Assist.

NissanConnect voice controls (optional) allow for commands that change radio stations, select songs via iPhone, or find a navigation destination. In our tests, the controls were relatively simple in structure and understood our voice commands without many repeated attempts.

Standard feature highlights for the S include 16-inch steel wheels, LED daytime running lights, a rear spoiler, cruise control, air conditioning, rear air vents, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a driver information display, a height-adjustable driver seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats that slide and recline, a cargo cover, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, and a four-speaker audio system with satellite radio and smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also included are a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and forward collision warning with automatic braking.

The Rogue Sport's SV trim adds upgrades such as 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, automatic headlights and high-beam control, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and a six-speaker audio system. Additional safety features include lane departure warning and mitigation, a pedestrian detection function for the forward collision warning system, and rear parking sensors with automatic braking.

The top-of-the-line SL trim includes 19-inch wheels, foglights, heated mirrors, remote engine start, leather upholstery, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, a surround-view camera system, NissanConnect emergency communications, a navigation system, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system with HD radio. Nissan's ProPilot Assist suite is also added, which pairs adaptive cruise control and steering assist.

Seventeen-inch wheels are available for base models via the S Appearance package. And many of the SL's standard features, such as heated seats and the navigation system, are optional for SV trims in the SV Technology package. For the SL only, you can opt for a Premium package that adds a sunroof, LED headlights and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.