Sunday Drive: 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Edition — Adventure-ready with style
The 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Edition is designed for those who crave adventure but don’t want to compromise on comfort, technology or style. For years, the Nissan Rogue has been a great choice among compact SUVs, offering great fuel efficiency, practical space and safety features. Now, the Rock Creek Edition gives it an extra dose of ruggedness, making it even more appealing to outdoor enthusiasts and families who enjoy getting dirty.
Exterior design: Rugged and refined
The first thing that grabbed our attention about the Rogue Rock Creek Edition was its rugged design. Nissan has taken the already sleek Rogue and given it an off-road makeover. The Rogue Rock Creek came with exclusive 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires that hinted at its adventurous intentions. The distinctive blacked-out grille and roof rails added a bold, aggressive look, while the underbody skid plates offered some protection when the road turned rocky.
The Rogue’s overall profile retained its significantly Nissan look, but the extra touches of the Rock Creek Edition — such as the unique badging and two-tone paint options — gave it a more rugged appeal. This was an SUV that wouldn’t look out of place on a mountain pass or in your neighborhood parking lot, making it versatile in both style and functionality.
Performance: Balancing power with efficiency
Under the hood, the 2025 Rogue Rock Creek features a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that delivers 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. It may not be a race engine on paper, but this engine offers a good balance between power and fuel efficiency.
It’s paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), which helped to smooth out acceleration and optimize fuel economy. In everyday driving, the Rogue felt responsive and lively, especially when navigating city streets or merging onto the freeway.
However, we found its off-road capabilities were where the Rock Creek really distinguished itself from the standard Rogue. Thanks to its Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system and hill descent control, the Rock Creek can confidently handle rough terrain. It’s not meant to tackle the most extreme off-roading adventures, but for weekend excursions into the mountains, it would get the job done. The upgraded suspension also contributed to a more composed ride when driving on unpaved roads, absorbing bumps and dips with ease.
In terms of mile per gallon, the Rogue Rock Creek still did a great job, with an EPA rating of around 29 mpg combined (city and highway). We thought that’s a commendable figure for an SUV with off-road capabilities, and we averaged just over 29.4 mpg with all our weekly driving.
Interior: Comfort meets utility
Inside the 2025 Rogue Rock Creek, the first thing we noticed was the quality of the materials. Nissan has done an excellent job of designing an interior that felt premium without the premium price tag.
The Rock Creek’s cabin featured leatherette seats with cloth inserts that were both durable and comfortable, designed to withstand the wear and tear of outdoor adventures along with everyday use. Unique Rock Creek embroidery on the seats added a nice touch, setting this edition apart from the regular Rogue models.
The cabin layout was practical and family-friendly. The front seats were spacious and supportive, offering excellent lumbar support, as we have found with all new Nissan seats. The rear seats provide plenty of legroom for adults or kids, and they can easily fold down to expand the cargo area, which offers up to 74.1 cubic feet of space with the seats down. This would make it easy to pack up for camping trips or just to haul groceries after a busy weekend.
Technology: Cutting-edge features for all adventures
The Rogue Rock Creek comes packed with the latest tech features, making it both a connected and safe vehicle. At the center of the dashboard was an 8-inch touch screen infotainment system that supported both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensuring seamless integration with our smartphones. We found the system to be very intuitive to use, with large icons and quick responses, so we could easily access navigation, music and calls without distraction.
A large digital instrument cluster also came standard, providing customizable displays for important driving information, such as speed, fuel efficiency and navigation prompts. This modern touch enhanced the driving experience. We have come to love and depend on the technology Nissan provides with their vehicles.
In terms of safety, the Rogue Rock Creek excels with Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite, which includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning and high beam assist. These features working together always gave us an extra peace of mind when on the road.
One standout feature for adventurous drivers would be the Around View Monitor with off-road mode. This system provides a 360-degree view of the surroundings, which became incredibly useful when navigating tight trails or parking in tricky spots.
Driving impressions: On and off the road
The Rogue Rock Creek proved to be surprisingly smooth on paved roads. Despite its off-road enhancements, it rode very comfortably and quietly in everyday driving situations. The steering was light but accurate, making it easy to maneuver in tight spaces. On the highway, it felt stable, and road noise was well-controlled, contributing to a smooth driving experience.
When we ventured off the pavement, the Rock Creek’s capabilities become more apparent. The all-terrain tires and intelligent all-wheel-drive system allowed it to tackle dirt roads and uneven surfaces with ease. It’s not a full-blown off-roader like a Jeep Wrangler, but for those who enjoy mild adventures or need a vehicle that can handle Utah’s changing seasons and rugged terrain, the Rock Creek Edition was more than capable.
The hill descent control was especially useful when driving down steep, slippery trails, as it automatically modulates speed to ensure a safe and controlled descent.
Value: Affordable adventure
Coming with a starting price in the mid-$30,000 range, the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Edition offers excellent value for those looking for a versatile SUV with off-road capabilities. Its combination of rugged styling, practical interior space, advanced technology and impressive fuel efficiency make it a strong competitor in the compact SUV segment.
For families, outdoor enthusiasts or anyone who wants an SUV that can handle a variety of tasks and terrains, the Rock Creek Edition provides an attractive package without breaking the bank. And with Nissan’s reputation for reliability, it’s a vehicle that should serve well for years to come.
At the end of the week: Ready for anything
We found that the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek would be an ideal choice for drivers who want a vehicle that can handle both the daily grind and weekend getaways. It’s not a hardcore off-roader, but it strikes a perfect balance between urban comfort and adventurous capability. Whether you’re navigating Utah’s snowy winter roads, heading out on a camping trip or just running errands, the Rogue Rock Creek is ready for the challenge.
Base price: Preproduction model
MSRP: $35,420
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- Deanne with the new 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek. At the end of our weekly drive, we were converted once again to our old friend the Rogue, especially with its new rugged look.
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- The new 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Edition.
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- Inside the new 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Edition.
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- The new 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Edition.
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- Inside the new 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Edition.
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- Inside the new 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Edition.
