Car buyers are into the whole outdoor lifestyle thing, even if they don’t spend that much time outdoors. And let’s be honest—for most drivers, the definition of off-road is following a seasonal road or perhaps a two-track to a neat spot for picnics, fishing, camping, or just getting out of the office for a bit. None of that is a problem for the standard Nissan Rogue.
This isn’t standard, though. The Rock Creek Edition adds Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires, a roof rack, cool black wheels, and strategically placed orange trim to give buyers the gruff persona they’re seeking. As for suspension upgrades, well, there are none. The dampers are retuned specifically for the Rock Creek, but everything underneath is exactly as you’d find on a standard Rogue. In theory, you could mount up some gnarly tires, bust out some orange paint, and make your own Rock Creek, right?
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
That’s what we’re going to suss out for the next week as we put this soft-roader through its paces. Spoiler alert: we already sampled the Rock Creek at a proper off-road park where it did pretty well. Nissan tweaks the Rogue’s electronic brain with an off-road mode that can route power to wheels that need traction, which can save your bacon if you get caught in some undulating terrain. But that outing was just a couple of hours in a slow-speed park. Living with the Rogue for a week and using it as most SUV buyers do is a different story.
To that end, we’re headed for trails and shopping malls. It’s going to be absurdly wet in Northern Michigan for the next week—that means an extra helping of mud during the spring thaw. And snow can’t be ruled out either, because you know, Michigan. As we adventure with Nissan’s newest adventure vehicle, ask us questions. Let us know what you’d like to see, or know more about. Within reason, of course. We aren’t doing any ice donuts on partially frozen lakes. Probably.
What’s Good So Far
- Noise. The Falkens are comfortably subdued on pavement, and that big roof rack doesn’t generate any undue buffeting. With a few miles already clocked, the Rogue Rock Creek seems just as serene as a standard model.
- Ergonomics. Nissan hasn’t gone overboard with tech, which might be a negative for some. You can jump in cold and intuitively head out with barely a minute of familiarization. The interior is attractive, if a bit dated, and the seats are comfortable. Thankfully, Nissan doesn’t try to make this a three-row SUV, so there’s good space in the second row with plenty of cargo capacity at the back.
- Price. This particular Rogue checks in at $38,890, destination charge included. That’s not a bad price considering the looks and features, which include power-heated front seats and Nissan’s ProPilot driver-assist tech, not to mention the Rock Creek upgrades.
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
What’s Bad So Far?
- Small Infotainment Screen. Nissan uses an 8.0-inch screen for all Rogue trims save for the range-topping Platinum, which has a 12.3-inch display. Going larger isn’t even an option for other trims, and while many people prefer small screens, the Rock Creek’s off-road cameras would be far more effective on the bigger display.
- VC Turbo Engine. It makes 201 horsepower, which is plenty for the Rogue. But it comes across a bit harsh amid the quiet interior, both in noise and feedback.
- No Skid Plates. It’s hard to have confidence venturing off the beaten path if a wayward tree branch can damage vital components. There is a soft cover over the powertrain in front, but it would be of little help if you bottom out on a tree or rock. You could certainly add some covers easily enough, but at this level, Nissan should include something from the factory.
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
The Rogue is Nissan’s best-selling vehicle by far, and one of the best-selling SUVs in the United States. Its continued popularity will be pivotal to Nissan’s survival, and the Rock Creek Edition could help attract buyers to the aging platform. If you have any questions while we’re driving it, jump into the comments and let us know.
