Lastly, A Nissan Rogue You Can Off-Highway: First Drive Assessment

Do you know the Nissan Rogue is likely one of the best-selling SUVs in America? It handily outsells every thing from the Detroit manufacturers and ranks third general behind the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Nissan hopes to realize much more floor on its Japanese rivals with the burly Rock Creek Version.

Nissan invited us to take a look at its new trim, and we had been stunned to see Holly Oaks Off-Highway Park because the vacation spot. This can be a massive transformed gravel pit in Detroit’s northern suburbs the place, per week prior, I used to be leaping the Ram RHO. There can be no leaping this time round, however Nissan believes the Rock Creek Version has sufficient mojo to discover locations the place different Rogues would battle. To show it, the automaker arrange an hour-long off-road drive stuffed with large hills, rocky terrain, and sure, even a rock face.

Spoiler alert: All Rogues survived, however not with out some scars.

Picture by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

Each 2025 Rogue has an up to date face that largely facilities round an even bigger grille, however the Rock Creek has a bit extra occurring. Its grille will get an aggressive mesh sample punctuated by three rectangular fake vents on the prime. All the entrance clip is devoid of chrome, opting as a substitute for an abundance of black punctuated with faux orange tow hooks within the decrease fascia. It has a cool roof rack designed to hold kayaks, cargo packing containers, or as much as 220 kilos (whereas driving) of no matter outdoorsy gear you want to carry. In any case, Nissan says the Rogue Rock Creek Version is an “journey automobile.” 

To additional drive that time dwelling, Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires are mounted to black 17-inch beadlock model wheels. Observe we mentioned beadlock model—you received’t be clamping something into place right here. Every wheel has a single orange strip in help of its adventurous persona, and all of the Nissan badges have an orange script too. On the within, seats are coated with hydrophobic nylon. And naturally, they’ve orange Rock Creek branding.

Now, let’s discuss concerning the upgrades that help this off-road persona. Nissan says the suspension elements are the identical as different Rogue trims, however the dampers are retuned. The experience top is similar, although, and of specific curiosity to anybody really venturing off the crushed path, there aren’t any skid plates. Frankly, you possibly can stick all-terrain tires and skid plates on a Mazda Miata and attain locations that might shock your Wrangler-owning neighbor. 

Picture by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

Execs: Surprisingly Good Off-Highway, Nonetheless Nice On Pavement

However, Nissan makes some modifications to the Rock Creek Version’s laptop mind. Once you interact Off-Highway mode, energy is routed to all 4 wheels for optimum traction. If one or two of them elevate off the bottom, the system detects the spinning tire and reroutes energy to these nonetheless on terra firma. 

It features like an digital differential lock, and whereas it’s not new expertise, it really works very effectively right here. There have been just a few situations on the paths in Holly Oaks the place a number of wheels lifted. An unusual Rogue can be trapped, however within the Rock Creek Version it was only a transient pause. Some lights blinked on the sprint, a buzzing sound akin to offended hornets reverberated via the inside, and immediately we had been shifting once more. Not unhealthy, Nissan.

Hill descent management can also be a part of the Rock Creek Version, and it’s fairly efficient on each exhausting and free surfaces. It prompts with a easy press of the button and maintains a downhill crawl till you both flip it off or contact the gasoline. Should you do goose the throttle, it would reengage routinely if you apply the brakes and sluggish again to a crawl. It’s significantly helpful for longer descents that often stage out, mainly supplying you with one-foot management.

Picture by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

Picture by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

For climbing hills, Nissan doesn’t add any particular gear—however you possibly can at the least see the place you’re going because of a devoted off-road digital camera setting. With Off-Highway mode engaged, a ahead and top-down view of every entrance wheel tasks onto the 8.0-inch touchscreen at speeds beneath 12 miles per hour. 

The highest-down view is especially helpful for guiding the Rogue via slender passages, letting the driving force navigate inside inches of obstacles on both aspect. The ahead view goals downward at roughly 45 levels, which is ideal for peeking over crests the place you’d usually be trying skyward.

All mixed, these minor modifications do give the Rogue Rock Creek Version some correct off-road cred. That was confirmed when Nissan pointed us towards the calmer aspect of a rubber-caked rock face and mentioned go for it. May most crossovers climb this part of the cliff? In all probability, although it could have required a bit extra care to nab simply the precise line. Seeing the Rogue climb wasn’t spectacular. However, seeing it climb like this was simply one other boring journey to Starbucks? That’s not unhealthy. And the tires nonetheless had full air stress for avenue use.

Picture by: Nissan

Cons: Not The Prettiest Face, Unremarkable Inside, No Skid Plates

Talking of which, what’s the rock-climbing Rogue like on precise roads? Even Nissan admits that the majority Rock Creek Version patrons will spend most of their time utilizing it like a standard Rogue, which is why it nonetheless drives like one. That’s to say, it’s quiet and comfy regardless of the all-terrain Falkens. The 201-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder buzzes alongside pleasantly. The CVT is uninspiring, however that’s precisely what it’s speculated to be on this software. Should you like the present Rogue, you’ll be simply high-quality with the Rock Creek Version.

Sadly, you’ll have to just accept the smaller heart touchscreen and analog gauges of the SV trim to get it. Nissan locations it between the SV and SL, the latter of which will get a full digital sprint with a 12.3-inch display. The excellent news? This retains pricing on the decrease finish of the size, $36,810 to be actual. The one notable possibility is the $800 Rock Creek Premium Package deal, which provides auto-dimming mirrors, a heated steering wheel, an influence entrance passenger seat, and a motion-activated liftgate. Selecting any shade apart from black additionally provides $425 to the sticker.

Picture by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

Nissan already bought almost 200,000 Rogues via September, and gross sales are literally down this yr. Including the Rock Creek Version to the lineup might entice just a few extra patrons with its rugged ambiance, and people folks can be correctly impressed with its off-road functionality. 

That mentioned, we’d like to see skid plates and an additional inch of floor clearance right here. Even on our guided, slow-speed journey via milder sections of Holly Oaks, warmth shields and plastic panels had been sacrificed to the off-road gods. Opponents just like the Subaru Forester Wilderness arguably supply extra functionality, and at a lower cost level as well.

However, as Nissan informed us after the mud had settled, most Rogue Rock Creek patrons in all probability received’t come near the off-road setting present in Holly Hills ORV Park. Not less than the orange purple Lava-colored trim will look neat within the drive-thru ready for that double espresso.