Vehicular naming conventions are certainly peculiar. Plenty of models are named for objects or attributes that reflect the spirit in which the vehicle was designed. The Nissan Rogue, for example, got its name as a nod to its fiercely independent nature and unique design. Therefore, the public understands that the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport is not just a free spirit but one with a little more pep in its step, so to speak.
However, there are plenty of vehicles that bear the “Sport” label without bringing that extra zip to the table. The 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport is one vehicle that actually means what it says when it advertises itself as sporty. That’s not to say that it has the same attitude as its cousin, the Nissan Z, but that it takes things up a few notches in power and performance. The Rogue Sport is a commendable compact SUV while being fun to navigate from here to there. And don’t we all need a little more fun in our daily lives? Let’s take a look at the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport and how this little SUV can make moving around a lot more enjoyable.
What Puts the Sport in the Rogue Sport?
The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a new engine for this model year, which experts proclaim to be a fantastic update to the compact SUV. It handles smoothly, responds at all the right times, and makes driving a taller, longer vehicle like an SUV easier for drivers who regularly maneuver through city streets. The 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport is powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that offers drivers 141 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque. This engine includes advanced valve timing that works with your driving style over time to provide peak performance and fuel economy at all times.
In fact, while many vehicles lose a few miles per gallon in fuel economy between the standard front-wheel drive and an all-wheel drive option, the Rogue Sport is barely impacted by the selection of Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. Touted by Nissan as the “Zip, Sip, and Grip” method, the Rogue Sport’s all-wheel drive system provides power to rear wheels when accelerating, then shifts to front-wheel drive once you’ve reached cruising speed. When the roads get slippery and the maneuvers get tight, this system automatically adjusts torque to keep the wheels turning in time.
As a result, Rogue Sport models equipped with all-wheel drive get 24 miles per gallon on the city streets and 30 miles per gallon on the highways. Choosing standard front-wheel drive provides a slight fuel advantage at 25 miles per gallon city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway.
Driving for Fun in the Rogue Sport
Most of us don’t have the ability to describe our daily commutes as “fun.” While a certain drive might be punctuated by a phenomenal playlist or a surprisingly light flow of traffic, driving is often part of the daily grind. The Rogue Sport intends to give drivers something to look forward to behind the wheel with your choice of driving modes. Eco Mode is intended to maximize your fuel efficiency by adjusting engine and transmission settings, while Sport Steering sharpens the Rogue Sport’s response time, making the ride home as thrilling as you want it to be while still exercising caution and obeying the laws of the road, of course.
In fact, the 2022 Rogue Sport includes a variety of driving features that are designed for the sole purpose of reducing stress behind the wheel. Hill Start Assist might sound familiar to those who have driven larger SUVs or trucks and done some trailering. This feature helps drivers stopped on a hill accelerate forward without that scary lurch backward. Intelligent Engine Brake helps automatically apply engine braking to help smooth out the jerkiness of stop-and-go traffic, while Intelligent Trace Control takes the fear and bracing out of cornering with technology that provides automatic braking power to each wheel when driving through tight turns. Active Ride Control rounds out the experience with the ability to adjust engine torque while automatically applying brake pressure when you hit a bump in the road.
Choosing Your Sporty Adventure
When it comes to selecting the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport to take on all of your upcoming adventures, you’ll have a few important choices to make. First, you’ll need to decide between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Then, you’ll get to choose between the S, SV, and SL trims. Nissan provides a lot of goodies as standard offerings. The S trim comes well-equipped with a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, along with compatibility with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Remote keyless entry is standard, along with cargo hooks and 60/40 split-folding rear seats to aid those who need to move lots of stuff.
Also standard on all trims is Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assistance features. This includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, which helps avoid forward-moving collisions, and Rear Automatic Braking, which provides the same service when traveling in reverse. Blindspot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and Automated High Beams are also part of the standard package. Stepping up to the SV trim unlocks even more of the “cool” stuff, such as Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control, premium upholstery with a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The top SL trim adds leather seating, Door to Door Navigation with Premium Traffic alerts, as well as an array of additional safety and driver assistance features. Nissan’s Pro Pilot Assist comes standard on the Rogue Sport SL, along with an Intelligent Around View Monitor, which provides feeds from four different external cameras to provide a bird’s-eye view of the surroundings. Traffic Sign Recognition and Intelligent Driver Awareness technology are also on board to help drivers remain more aware of the road and their own capabilities.
It’s Time for Driving to Be Fun
Regardless of what the day has in store for you, you can look forward to the time you spend in your 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport. Will it solve all of your problems or listen patiently and provide feedback? Not exactly. Will it allow you to commute from place to place with a little extra zip, potentially causing you to smile as you whip around corners in your brand new SUV that is neither too big nor too little for all of your needs? The probability is very high. A test drive at your local Nissan dealership should answer that question rather quickly.
While driving has become just another chore for many of us, the 2022 Nissan Rogue Sport at least makes this chore more delightful than it has been in previous years. With just the right balance of economy and excitement, as well as responsibility and rebellion, this is the type of vehicle that many drivers crave but believe is non-existent. It’s peppy enough to stand up to your “Bad Day” soundtrack and roomy enough to bring your friends along for the ride, the Nissan Rogue Sport lives up to its name in every possible way. It’s time to have fun driving again!
