Nissan Rogue: Four Generations of Nissan's Compact Crossover

The Nissan Rogue is a compact crossover that Nissan has built since 2007, when it debuted for the 2008 model year. It became Nissan's best-selling model in 2016 and has since moved through four generations. The latest version is the first Rogue with Nissan's e-Power hybrid system.

Where was the Rogue first built?

The first-generation Rogue made its debut at the Detroit auto show on 7 January 2007. It was built in Tennessee at the Nissan Smyrna Assembly Plant, and it replaced the Nissan X-Trail in Canada as Nissan's entry-level SUV.

In Mexico the Rogue took over from the body-on-frame Nissan Xterra, because the Smyrna plant freed up capacity for the Suzuki Equator. The Xterra carried on in the United States and Canada through the 2015 model year.

From 2014 the Rogue was merged with the X-Trail sold outside North America, and the two became identical. As of 2023 the Rogue was built at Smyrna and at the Nissan Motor Kyushu plant in Kanda, Fukuoka, Japan.

A compact crossover that began as the first-generation Rogue in 2008 and became Nissan's best seller by 2016.

How did the Busan plant fit in?

Between August 2014 and March 2020 the Rogue was also built at Renault Samsung Motors in Busan, South Korea, under contract. Production there started in September 2014 with an annual capacity of about 80,000 units.

The 2014 Rogue became the first car made in South Korea for a Japanese maker and sold under a Japanese badge. The arrangement came through the Renault-Nissan Alliance, in which Renault Samsung Motors built the car in Busan.

What trims did the first-generation Rogue come in?

Buyers in the US could pick from three first-generation trims: S, SV and SL. Each could be ordered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, which gave buyers a wide choice of configurations.

The SV could be upgraded with an optional SL package, which added leather seats, a touch screen navigation system and 18-inch alloy wheels. Premium features were the main reason to step up from the base car.

What changed in the 2011 update?

The 2011 model year brought a redesigned exterior with a new front fascia and grille, and new front and rear spoilers. The gauges changed from orange to black, the centre dash was redesigned for the addition of navigation, and new low rolling resistance tyres were fitted.

The Rogue S Krom Edition added more aggressive styling, a sport-tuned exhaust, 18-inch polished wheels and fog lamps. US models went on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide from 13 August 2010, with the S and SV as the early models.

What did the 2012 update add?

The 2012 Rogue received new aluminium-alloy wheels, sport mode for the CVT, and a new Graphite Blue exterior colour. The Around View Monitor became available on the SL package, creating a top-view image of the car's surroundings.

The Special Edition replaced the Krom edition, adding 16-inch alloy wheels, a premium audio system, satellite radio, privacy glass and a rear view monitor to the S trim.

Were there recalls on the first-generation car?

Yes. Vehicles fitted with Garmin GPS devices, including Rogues sold with them between 2008 and 2010, were recalled in 2010 because of overheating. In November 2011 Nissan recalled 7,365 2011 Rogues for electric power steering assist units that could fail over time.

In February 2012 Nissan recalled 2,983 2012 model year Murano and Rogue vehicles because the tyre pressure monitoring system had not been activated during assembly.

What was the Rogue Select?

The Rogue Select continued the first-generation car, sitting next to the all-new second generation that arrived in 2013 as a 2014 model. Because the plant could build both generations at once, the Select offered a lower entry price for customers and for fleets.

The Select was offered only in the S trim, with AWD as an option. It went on sale in January 2014 and continued through 2015, when Nissan announced that the year would be its last. It was not sold in Canada.

How did the second-generation Rogue arrive?

The second generation was based on the X-Trail and inspired by the Hi-Cross Concept, adapted for the US and Canadian markets. It was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, and US models went on sale in November 2013 as 2014 models.

Changes included optional third-row seating for seven passengers, independent suspension on all four wheels, electric power steering, and disc brakes with ABS at each corner. The third row was dropped for the 2018 model year in favour of more passenger room and cargo space.

What powered the second-generation Rogue?

Early second-generation models used a 2.5-litre QR25DE four rated at 170 hp (127 kW), with torque of 175 lb ft (237 N m). The engine was paired with a Xtronic CVT from Jatco, which had a standard Sport Mode switch.

Three trims, S, SV and SL, were offered, each in a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Buyers could compare trims on equipment and drive layout rather than on engine choice.

How did the Rogue become Nissan's best seller?

In 2016 the Rogue topped Nissan's sales charts for the first time, with 329,904 sales. That was an increase of 14.9 percent, and it made the crossover the centre of the brand's US line-up.

From 2016 the US sales figures included the smaller Rogue Sport, which means the totals reflect both models. The Rogue's rise came as crossovers grew in popularity across the market.

What did the 2017 and 2018 model years bring?

For 2017 the Rogue was facelifted: its headlights and tail lights were restyled, and LED running lights came as standard on every trim. The SL could be fitted with full LED headlamps as part of a Premium package, and the grille changed to the wider V-Motion design.

For 2018 emergency braking, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert became standard. The SV received a bigger touch screen radio, and the optional third row was discontinued.

What was the Rogue Hybrid?

The hybrid version arrived in January 2017 in limited numbers for that model year. It combined a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 141 hp and 141 lb ft of torque, an Xtronic CVT and an electric motor rated at 40 hp, for a combined 176 hp.

The lithium-ion battery sat under the cargo floor, which replaced the Divide-N-Hide cargo system. The hybrid was offered in SV and SL trims and had no third-row seating. Nissan discontinued the hybrid from 2020, citing low interest.

How did the Rogue appear in popular culture?

The Rogue was featured on the television series Heroes in 2007. Nissan was the exclusive car partner when Apple launched iTunes Radio in 2014, and its campaign slogan was Make the Ordinary Extraordinary.

A special Star Wars edition, the Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition, was released for the 2017 model year. Only 5,400 units were built, and each one came on the SV trim with a panoramic moonroof and a BOSE audio system.

How safe was the Rogue?

The 2010 Rogue won the NHTSA's highest side-impact rating of five stars. It also received the Consumers Digest Best Buy Award that year. In the IIHS evaluation of the 2013 model year, the Rogue earned Good ratings for side and moderate overlap front, but only Marginal for small overlap front.

Modifications from the 2014 model year raised the small overlap and roof strength ratings to Good. From 2014 the Rogue also earned the Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Nissan vehicles built between 2014 and 2017 were recalled because the occupant classification sensor could mistake an adult in the passenger seat for a child. The recall covered more than 6 million vehicles, with reprogramming or replacement.

What changed with the third generation in 2021?

The third generation debuted in North America on 15 June 2020, and US assembly started on 22 September 2020, with cars reaching dealers in late October.

The new car used a more distinctive design with a boxier front end and LED lighting signatures. The QR25DE engine of the earlier generations was replaced by a direct-injected PR25DD making 181 hp, paired with a CVT.

The Platinum flagship added a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, quilted leather upholstery and heated rear seats. The interior gained an electronic shifter and an 8- or 9-inch infotainment screen.

What changed for 2022 and 2024?

For 2022 the 2.5-litre four was replaced by a 1.5-litre KR15DDT three-cylinder variable-compression turbo engine, with producing 201 hp (150 kW; 204 PS) and 305 N m (225 lb ft). The CVT received a 17 percent wider gear ratio spread.

The 2024 facelift was unveiled on 16 October 2023, with a redesigned front and rear fascia and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-In on the SL and Platinum. The 2.5-litre was dropped in Canada in favour of the 1.5-litre.

Were there engine problems with the KR15DDT?

The NHTSA opened a probe on 13 December 2023 after owners complained about engine failures in the KR15DDT and KR20DDET engines. Complaints described loss of power, engine knock and metal debris in the oil pan.

On 27 June 2025 Nissan issued recall 25V437 for certain 2021 to 2024 Rogues fitted with the 1.5-litre VC-Turbo, to address potential bearing-related engine damage.

What is the fourth-generation Rogue?

The fourth-generation Rogue was unveiled on 13 April 2026 for the 2027 model year. It is the first Rogue to offer Nissan's e-Power series hybrid drivetrain, and the first e-Power model sold in the US. It was fully announced for North America on 21 September 2026.

Its dimensions are almost unchanged, but the exterior is redesigned, with a modernised V-motion grille and a full-width rear light bar. The interior is fully redesigned, with a two-spoke steering wheel and dual 14.3-inch displays running a Google-based system.

The fourth generation keeps physical climate controls and offers trunk space from 31 cu ft (878 L) to 66 cu ft (1,870 L). Five LATCH anchors sit in the second row, and an upgraded version of ProPilot Assist adds a radar sensor to its cameras.

How did the Rogue Sport differ?

The Rogue Sport was a version of the global Qashqai sold in the US from the 2017 model year. It was imported from Kyushu, Japan, and it offered a smaller, lower-priced Rogue after the Rogue Select was discontinued.

The Rogue Sport used a 2.0-litre direct-injected four rated at 141 hp (105 kW); torque reached 199 N m (147 lb ft). It was 12 inches shorter overall than the Rogue, and it received a minor facelift for the 2020 model year.

What is the Rogue Plug-in Hybrid?

Nissan announced a plug-in hybrid Rogue on 17 November 2025. It is a rebadged fourth-generation Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which debuted at the 2025 LA Auto Show and went on sale in early 2026.

The plug-in offered SL or Platinum trims with all-wheel drive as standard. It was intended as a stop-gap before the e-Power fourth-generation car, and it will be discontinued for the 2027 model year.

What are the Nissan Rogue specifications?