2020 Nissan Rogue Sport Interior Review

Rogue Sport: the very name suggests an impishness layered on top of a bad boy persona. Nissan introduced the Rogue Sport to the U.S. for the 2017 model year. It is sandwiched between the larger Nissan Rogue and the entry-level Nissan Kicks. The spunky Kicks has only been available in North America since 2018, and the much-improved third-generation 2021 Rogue is coming this fall.

That makes the Rogue Sport, available in the U.S. since the 2017 model year, the oldest of the trio and a bit of a wallflower by comparison. We spent some time in a 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport SL AWD to see if sitting behind the wheel gives us the kind of vibe that the impish bad boy name implies.

Our loaner had a base price of $30,895 and was optioned up to $33,860 with the addition of premium paint—in this case Scarlet Ember Tint. That included for floor mats with cargo area protector and first aid kit ($290) and the Premium Package ($2,280) that adds the small power sliding moonroof, LED headlights, fog lamps, power front passenger seat, memory driver seat and mirrors, and Bose audio system.

The Rogue Sport—or Qashqai as it is called in Europe and Canada—is not a powerful beast. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 141 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque, and power is distributed to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. It’s perfect for nervous parents selecting a new car for a first-time buyer.

The Rogue Sport has the hallmarks of a small crossover. It has black plastic on the dash, but at least it is textured, and the expanse is broken up with trim designed to look like carbon fiber and give it a bit of an industrial look.

The younger demographic that buys a subcompact crossover will immediately check out the infotainment system. The 7-inch touchscreen is smallish by today’s standards, but it is fully integrated into the dash for a clean look, as opposed to the ones stuck in place that look like an afterthought. Buyers of all ages will appreciate hard knobs for volume and tuning.

The Rogue Sport is equipped with NissanConnect (Nissan’s infotainment and smartphone integration system) with navigation, HD radio, and it is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. USB and auxiliary port—as well as a power outlet—are nicely placed up front and easy to access. Another USB outlet is in the leather-covered center armrest. All are surrounded by a glossy black trim that also encircles the side-by-side cupholders; the layout that avoids confusion as to whose beverage is whose.

In front of the driver is a conventional display with two large instrument clusters flanking a small information screen. It is all very familiar. It has a traditional gearshift knob wrapped in leather.

The steering wheel is from the Nissan parts bin, with the usual plethora of buttons to command functions from infotainment to engaging ProPilot Assist, Nissan’s partially automated cruise control. Buyers in colder climates will appreciate that the leather-wrapped steering wheel is heated. It also tilts and is telescoping, features not always available in mainstream subcompacts.

The layout of the cabin makes it easy to navigate the controls used the most. The button for the heated steering wheel is on the dash to the left of the steering wheel—easy to find and use. It is in a bank of controls that includes the button to turn on steering assist, engage sport drive mode, and the AWD lock.

The camera provides a view of the area in front of the car for inching into a garage and a birds-eye view to gauge how well you have parked within the lines. Unfortunately, the image is not as crisp as the competition—or even newer Nissans.

Seats can make or break a long drive. The Rogue Sport has black leather-appointed seats with contrast stitching. The driver has an eight-way power seat with lumbar support, and the front seats are heated. There is hard black plastic on top of the door, but it morphs into softer leather on the armrest. To brighten the look, there is more of the carbon-fiber-inspired trim, and some polished metal bits to break up the black expanse.

Technically, it is a five-passenger vehicle but the middle seat in the second row is best used as the fold-down armrest and cupholder. And legroom is tight in the second row if tall adults are involved. Nissan could have left the seatbacks as hard plastic, but instead they are done in leather-ish materials and sport a storage pouch.

The 60-40 split second-row seats fold flat, which is more than some of its competitors can say, and it improves the available space in back. Folding down the seats is a manual operation, conducted from the second row; there are no buttons or latches to do so from the cargo area. There are air vents for second-row passengers to direct the air flow in a vehicle with dual-zone automatic temperature controls up front. There are no USB outlets for the rear passengers.

The doors do have a solid sound and feel when they are opened and closed—no disconcerting tinny sounds.

Open the manual liftgate to admire the ample cargo room. Nissan’s Divide-N-Hide cargo system and cover is a clever use of two main pieces that can serve as a flat cargo floor or shelves of differing heights. You can also use one to create a divider and the other as a cover to block any view of the contents inside. There are small plastic storage wells on each side, and the carpeted cargo floor has some textured slats that are for appearance, not traction.

The Rogue Sport does not feel cheap or chintzy, but it also does not offer much that stands out as overly impressive or distinctive. In a segment that is stretching its legs design-wise, the Rogue Sport is neither cute nor brute, quirky nor elegant. It is familiar, what you would expect from a small crossover, like a pair of worn slippers. Not as sexy as stilettos, or practical as Wellies, but slipping into them feels comfortable and familiar.