One of the most financially savvy investments you can make is to ignore the allure of that new car smell and head straight for the used lot. Why? New vehicles start depreciating as soon as you drive off the lot, which means you lose money before you arrive home. Fortunately, you can avoid this loss when you look for a pre-owned model, such as a used Nissan Rogue for sale.
As one of the best-selling SUVs in the Nissan lineup, the Rogue is an incredible find on the used lot because it embodies Nissan’s belief that drivers shouldn’t have to compromise. The Rogue’s affordable price tag as a new model is even more appealing on the used lot, stretching your money further and making it possible to get in a top-tier trim at a fraction of the price. Moreover, the Rogue’s high-value packaging ensures you never have to choose between affordability and luxury, comfort, or technology.
One of the most enticing aspects of shopping for a Rogue is knowing you won’t have to compromise on safety. Nissan prioritizes your safety, constructing the Rogue with high-strength steel and equipping it with the latest available safety features. This combination of design and functional tools makes the Rogue one of the safest SUVs on the road, with the model often earning top ratings from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). But what do these ratings mean, and what safety and driver-assist technology make a used Rogue a worthwhile investment?
Checking Safety Ratings: Why It’s Important
When shopping for a used vehicle, most people immediately consider amenities, luxuries, and technology. For example, they’re looking to see whether it has leather upholstery and heated seats or if Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are part of the technology package. While these features deserve consideration, something else deserves more of your attention, and that’s answering two critical questions: How safe is the vehicle, and what tools does it have to enhance my safety?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety helps answer these questions by objectively evaluating a vehicle’s crashworthiness with a series of tests. The IIHS is a third-party organization that independently tests most of the vehicles for sale in North America. The testing reports are freely available to consumers, with “Top Safety Pick” and “Top Safety Pick+” ratings given to the top performers. But how do these ratings apply when shopping for a used Nissan Rogue?
Let’s say you’re torn between a 2020 and a 2021 Rogue. The models are only slightly different in style and packaging, making your decision more difficult. However, once you look at the IIHS safety ratings and learn more about how each model year performed through frontal crash tests, side crash tests, roof strength tests, head restraint and seat tests, and headlight evaluations, your decision becomes easier. While the 2020 Rogue earned a Top Safety Pick rating, the 2021 Rogue performed significantly better and earned the coveted Top Safety Pick+ rating.
The Rogue’s Safety Shield: How Nissan Prioritizes Your Safety
Prior to 2021, the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of driver-assist features was only standard on the Sentra, Qashqai, Titan, LEAF, and Maxima. Fortunately, Nissan expanded the suite’s availability and made it standard on the Rogue and five other models for 2021. The result was phenomenal, helping to earn the Rogue a higher Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.
Today, this update to the 2021 Rogue is a critical consideration as you shop for a used model. While the Rogue has consistently earned high ratings and praise for its reliability, it’s hard to ignore the impact of the Safety Shield 360 suite. But what exactly is included in the suite that makes it so remarkable?
Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
According to the IIHS, most fatalities occur in frontal crashes, so the organization puts every model through three different frontal crash tests. Nissan does an exceptional job of mitigating frontal collisions with tools like Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection. This technology uses a forward-facing camera and radar to monitor traffic and pedestrians ahead, delivering audible warnings and visual alerts when you need to take corrective action. If you fail to respond, the system will automatically apply the brakes to help reduce the severity of a frontal collision.
Rear Automatic Braking and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Nissan Safety Shield 360 also keeps an eye on the rear of the Rogue with Rear Automatic Braking and Rear Cross Traffic Alert technologies. Rear Automatic Braking acts like Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection. It actively looks for stationary objects when the Rogue is in reverse. If you don’t respond to the alerts, it can apply the brakes to help you avoid collisions with things like garage doors, parked cars, telephone poles, trash cans, and other obstacles.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert is another integral tool that watches behind the Rogue. This technology makes backing out of congested areas or navigating the Rogue in reverse easier and less stressful. It uses rear-mounted radar to detect vehicles approaching from the side, alerting the driver to crossing traffic to minimize the likelihood of an accident.
Blind Spot Warning and Lane Departure Warning
Side crashes are some of the most frequent accidents on the road because blind spots limit our visibility and make it extremely difficult to see other vehicles when changing lanes or navigating traffic. The Rogue helps mitigate the potential for these types of crashes with tools like Blind Spot Warning and Lane Departure Warning. The Blind Spot Warning system keeps an eye on the sides of the vehicle and alerts you to cars beside you. Lane Departure Warning works by helping you keep the Rogue centred in its lane, minimizing the risk of veering into the adjoining lane, oncoming traffic, or off the road completely.
High Beam Assist
Visibility is a critical aspect of our safety that we often take for granted. We expect to be able to see clearly in all conditions. However, the Rogue does more to improve visibility with features like High Beam Assist. This technology constantly monitors the conditions and oncoming traffic, switching between the SUV’s low and high-beam headlights to optimize visibility without compromising safety. High Beam Assist synergizes with Intelligent Auto Headlights, which turn your lights on automatically when the sun goes down.
Shopping for a Used Nissan Rogue
You’re already off to a great start by shopping for a used Nissan Rogue for sale. The Rogue is one of the best-selling SUVs in Canada and has plenty to offer, from an engaging and dynamic driving experience to premium comforts, seamless connectivity features, and a host of conveniences. However, as you shop, know the importance of looking further into the model by considering its safety features and how organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grade its crashworthiness.
IIHS safety ratings hold incredible weight in the industry. They’re not only tools for consumers but provide critical feedback to automakers on how their models withstand various impacts. In a time when knowledge is power, you can use these ratings to your advantage to find the perfect used Nissan Rogue that will give you confidence in the driver’s seat and peace of mind on the road.
