Sunday Drive: 2025 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD – A stylish and smart daily companion
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- On our last day with the new 2025 Nissan Rogue, we had the opportunity to be real soccer parents as we picked up one of our neighborhood girls, Preston Kuhnz, shown here with Deanne after practice on our way home from Orem.
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- Inside the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek edition.
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- The 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek edition.
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- Inside the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek edition.
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- The 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek edition.
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- Inside the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek edition.
We always love spending a week with a vehicle that feels tailor-made for both the daily grind and, of course, the occasional adventure. Such was our experience behind the wheel of the all-new 2025 Nissan Rogue Platinum AWD.
Once again, it quickly proved itself not only as a practical family hauler and work commuter but also as a refined, tech-savvy travel companion — especially on a Friday night jaunt to Salt Lake City for dinner.
With fresh updates to the design, technology and driver-assist features, the 2025 Rogue felt like Nissan has made a confident step forward in the crowded compact SUV segment.
A premium first impression
From the moment the Rogue rolled into the driveway, it got noticed with its elegant new grille, updated LED lighting signature and sleek profile. The Platinum trim brought 19-inch alloy wheels, satin chrome accents and tasteful badging that gave the Rogue a premium edge.
Getting inside revealed a welcoming interior trimmed in semi-aniline leather seats with quilted stitching, a panoramic moonroof overhead and ambient lighting throughout. The rich tan and black two-tone color scheme in our test model put forth warmth and sophistication. The Rogue was not just about appearances either — the comfort was immediately recognizable.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, we were greeted by a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a crisp 12.3-inch center touch screen with Google built in (including Maps, Assistant and Play Store) and a heads-up display that projected vital driving info onto the windshield. It didn’t take us long to feel right at home.
A week in the life
We immediately began using the Rogue as a daily driver, commuting to work from Springville to Provo and running errands all across Utah Valley. The 1.5-liter variable-compression turbocharged three-cylinder engine may sound modest on paper, but with 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, it proved more than capable.
Paired with a smooth continuously variable transmission and Nissan’s intelligent all-wheel drive system, the Rogue delivered confident acceleration and secure handling in all conditions we encountered. Fuel economy was another high point. We averaged about 32 miles per gallon for the week — impressive for an all-wheel drive SUV and a testament to Nissan’s engineering.
Deanne’s trip to Costco was made easier by the motion-activated power liftgate, and the cavernous 36.5 cubic feet of rear cargo space swallowed up everything she tossed in. The Divide-N-Hide cargo system in the back was especially helpful for organizing items that needed to stay separate or upright.
One evening we loaded up with grandkids for a quick run to the ice cream shop. They were thrilled with the rear-seat space and the large panoramic roof overhead. Even better, the rear seats are both heated and could slide or recline. This, of course, would make longer trips more comfortable for passengers of any age.
Dinner in the city: Salt Lake road trip
To put the Rogue’s highway manners to the test, we planned a Friday evening trip to downtown Salt Lake City for dinner with friends. Leaving Springville during the late afternoon meant facing the notorious Interstate 15 rush hour — and what better environment to test Nissan’s updated ProPILOT Assist 2.1?
This semiautonomous driver-assist system combined adaptive cruise control with lane centering and now includes a hands-free driving mode on premapped highways like I-15. After merging onto the freeway, we activated ProPILOT Assist and marveled as the Rogue effortlessly maintained its speed, followed the curves of the road and adjusted for traffic — without constant steering input from us.
The most impressive moment came as we approached a stretch of stop-and-go traffic near the Point of the Mountain. The Rogue handled the crawl beautifully, coming to a complete stop when necessary and resuming seamlessly, all while keeping us centered in our lane.
Even more impressive was the new automatic lane changing feature. After activating the turn signal, the Rogue scanned the surrounding lanes, waited for a safe opening and then executed a smooth lane change on its own. It was the kind of futuristic touch we didn’t expect from Nissan in the Rogue!
Cabin comforts and tech galore
Throughout the week, the Rogue’s interior amenities continued to keep us happy. The heated and ventilated front seats, tri-zone climate control and exceptional cabin insulation made every trip peaceful and enjoyable.
Nissan’s latest infotainment interface was intuitive and highly responsive. With Google Maps directly integrated, navigating to new restaurants or stores was as easy as talking to the built-in Google Assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were also standard, so everyone could stay connected without fuss.
One feature that surprised us was the Bose premium audio system. It delivered crisp highs and deep bass, making everything from podcasts to playlists sound fantastic. Combined with the quiet ride, it created a little luxury bubble on seemingly every drive.
Safety that goes the extra mile
In addition to ProPILOT Assist, the 2025 Rogue was equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of advanced safety features including blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and more. We appreciated the confidence these systems provided — especially when maneuvering in busy parking lots or reversing near kids and pets in our neighborhood.
The rear-seat occupant alert also came in handy as a reminder to check the back seats before walking away, which was especially helpful when carrying items (or grandkids) that don’t make noise — if only our grandkids didn’t make noise at times!
At the end of the week
By the end of the week, we had grown genuinely attached to the 2025 Nissan Rogue Platinum. It had handled every task we threw at it with style, grace and intelligence. From weekday errands and commutes to freeway traffic and weekend outings, the Rogue proved itself to be a well-rounded, refined SUV that punches well above its weight.
With standout tech, premium finishes and innovative features like ProPILOT Assist and automatic lane changes, the Rogue feels like a glimpse into the future — but one that’s here today and ready to go.
Base price: $40,920
Destination charge: $1,390
Price as driven: $48,330
