2011 Nissan Rogue Offers a Lot of Crossover SUV for Very Little Money!

The Nissan Rogue is typically considered by most in the auto industry to be a mid-sized Crossover SUV. This designation is based on its overall size, the single unit construction, some off road capability, seating capacity and cargo space.

The 2011 Nissan Rogue has been refined overall since its introduction in 2007. This vehicle has grown steadily in popularity each year. Nissan must be doing something right according to recent sales figures which were released on November 4th, 2010, because sales of the Rogue have gone up almost 50% over the same month last year.

With the Rogue posting October sales of 5,958 Nissan delivered 8,862 Rogues in October 2010. Year to date sales of the Rogue model are at 80,627 and last year the same period saw 65,570 units sold. So chances are with these high sales figures you have seen one or two of these Nissan Rogues rolling through your town.

There are only two Nissan models that have outsold the Rogue this year, and the Versa is number two with about 2,000 more units sold year to date, and the Altima which is in a class of it's own in terms of total sales, with 187,875 units sold so far this year!

There has been a lot of confusion from readers as exactly what a crossover vehicle is, and I am here to say it is a really simple definition, basically it is an SUV based on or built from a car chassis that most resembles a wagon. One important thing to note is that they typically have a transverse mounted engine driving either just the front wheels, or all four wheels. In my book there are no crossovers that have just rear wheel drive since that is contradictory to the chassis design that the Crossover SUV is typically based on.

The list of crossovers has been steadily growing and it will not be long until everyone offers some sort of crossover vehicle in their lineup. A few of the most notable classic crossovers have been the AMC Eagle, which was a four wheel drive wagon built on a car chassis, 1978 Subaru Wagon was a four wheel drive, Toyota RAV4, and the Ford Flex also offer four wheel drive. Arguably most of the crossovers we see on the market resemble a wagon with a fifth door which is either a gate or hatchback.

The evolution of this genre has naturally brought out some of the best and the worst designs, and in my opinion one of the best crossovers on the market today has to be the Nissan Rogue. One of the main reasons I like this particular vehicle is that it has a very reasonable price tag, and plenty of features and options to fit almost everyones automotive needs and desires. Standard models come with 16 inch wheels, key less entry, CD with jack, four speaker audio system with iPod port, cruise control air conditioning. the Krom and SV editions add 17 and 18 inch wheels respectively, plus various audio upgrades including six speakers and Blue tooth.

There are basically six styles to choose from, each offering an array of other upgrades and add ons. Items offered on various models include heated mirrors, leather upholstery, Bose audio, steering wheel stereo controls, sport exhaust, and six way power drivers seat.

Their front wheel drive base model can be purchased for around $21,000 and the top of the line S Krom Edition with all wheel drive goes for about $26,000.

What you get for your money is a very reliable SUV that delivers fuel economy numbers that rival many smaller sedans. The cargo space is large while the seating is comfortable enough for five adults. Safety ratings are top notch, and creature comforts rival those of vehicles that cost $5,000 or even $10,000 more.

The specifications from Nissan show the cargo capacity at 28.9 cubic feet for luggage only, with the rear seats up, and 58 cubic feet with them folded down, thus limiting seating to two persons when you maximize cargo space. Mileage is stout for this size and style vehicle at 22 mpg city, and 28 mpg highway. Nissan relies on their solid 16 valve DOHC 2.5 Liter four cylinder power plant to deliver 170 horsepower to the "continuously variable transmission" which is becoming more popular in more and more models.

Overall the Rogue looks like a beefed up wagon with smooth lines and a very sleek looking front perspective. The interior is very comfortable, and the ride is solid and very quiet, which we have generally come to expect from Nissan. Performance is reasonable with a zero to sixty time of just 8.6 seconds and a braking distance of 121 feet. Not too shabby for a car with maximum payload of just around 1000 pounds. I surely would not expect the zero to sixty time to remain this good with a full load though.

If I were shopping for one right now it would have to be the All Wheel Drive model in Cayenne red with Grey Leather interior, 18" wheels, heated and cooled seats, and Bose audio system.

Thank you for reading my articles here on Associated Content - Yahoo!

sources:
Local Nissan dealer, Classic Nissan, site visit last Sunday.
Local Newspaper ads for prices.

www.nissanusa.com

You can view their press released spreadsheet here:
www.nissannews.com/newsrelease.do

www.edmunds.com