Google “rogue.” What do you find?

“A dishonest or unprincipled man” is the first definition.
Second choice: “an elephant or other large wild animal driven away or living apart from the herd and having savage or destructive tendencies.”

Neither of which describe the very civilized and ready-to-please Nissan Rogue, a compact crossover that’s more at home fetching groceries and ferrying kids than endangering the herd or picking another’s pocket.

Nissan’s long-running four-door, five-passenger runabout has been joined for the 2017 model year by the Rogue Sport, a slightly smaller version with similar passenger accommodations that’s powered by a less-powerful engine – in this case, a 2.0-liter inline-four making 141 horsepower and 147 foot-pounds of torque (big brother Rogue gets a 2.5-liter inline-four rated at 170 hp and 175 foot-pounds of twist).

Designed to tuck neatly between the regular Rogue and the smaller (and decidedly funkier) Juke, the Rogue Sport comes in three trim levels – S, SV, SL — that lay on increasing levels of standard goodies as they go.

(There’s also a gas-electric Hybrid version that’s available in either SV or SL trims.) All models are fitted with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that connects to either standard front-wheel or optional all-wheel-drive systems.

Pricing starts at a budget-minded $21,420 for FWD S models, which are fairly straightforward affairs. Included as standard equipment are a set of 16-inch steel wheels with covers, cloth upholstery, Bluetooth connectivity with a 5-inch infotainment interface, rearview camera, four-speaker sound and satellite radio prep.

Stepping up the SL (base price $22,770) adds a set of 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and ignition, automatic headlights, six-speaker audio, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and more to the standard-equipment checklist.

Top-of-the-line SL models like the front-wheel-driven sample we tested recently add 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, auto high-beam headlights, heated mirrors, leather upholstered seating and heated steering wheel, a surround-view system of cameras, 7-inch infotainment touch-screen interface, Siri phone interaction and lots of other goodies.

Our test vehicle’s $26,070 base price rose to $30,030 with the addition of the $2,280 SL Premium Package (powered moon roof, LED high- and low-beam projector headlamps with automatic high beams, forward emergency braking system, blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert system), the $570 Platinum Package (intelligent cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-departure prevention, pedestrian detection and warning), a $150 set of carpeted floor mats and $975 for delivery.

The new vehicle looks for all the world like its larger namesake, with a similar understated (for Nissan, at least) two-box design and front fascia. The sleek exterior is complemented by a well-thought-out and functional cabin crafted from quality-minded materials and set with an array of easy-to-read-and-operate controls and instrumentation.

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine provides more than enough acceleration for most daily-driving challenges and works well with the CVT – much better, in fact, than similar drivetrain matings of not long ago. The going is hardly sporting, though, and launches tend to be leisurely affairs until the CVT finds the optimal gearing.

We came close to matching the EPA’s estimated 28 mpg, which is pretty good for a compact crossover/sport-ute.

Handling is precise and predictable with little in the way of front-wheel understeer. The suspension is tuned to deliver a smooth and reasonably comfortable ride quality.

Front-row passengers should find more than enough leg- and headroom in the firm and supportive bucket seats; the 60/40 split-folding second row sports enough legroom for adults on shorter hauls.

There’s 22.9 cubic feet of cargo area behind those seats, a volume that swells to 61.1 cubic feet with the seatbacks stowed. Towing capacity is limited to 1,000 pounds.

Related Stories