2008 Nissan Rogue - CVT Test Drive

Just got around to making a half decent video of the Rogue. Since my last video Nissan gave it a free transmission software update to fix a bunch of annoying bugs with the way the transmission behaved, since then it's been alot more responsive and easier to drive.

My point of posting this video is to show everyone what a CVT is like when you don't have the gas pedal shoved through the firewall. personally I think it's pretty good, acceleration is very linear, and it wastes no power as the torque converter locks as low as 9 MPH. as a result the RPM's can stay very low, as compared to a traditional automatic, and you still get very satisfactory acceleration, and quicker kickdown response times.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• nissan
• rogue
• update
• transmission

[MGEloop22]

I just got a used 2010 rogue that had whistling noise. Upon test driving it i was told it was only a minor issue and they would fix it free of charge. So I just brought it to be repaired and they told me it was a tranny problem common with Rogues and they would put in a new tranny. My question is are the common problems with it noise issues or do they affect being able to drive the car as time goes on?I can deal with some noise if thats all, but not a damaged tranny every couple years.

[mywJOE]

@gusherb94 haha, i pulled up beside a juke few weeks ago, drove beside it, in front of it, and behind it for a while. i can't say it's attractive but it's not as bad as the cube. i'd still prefer the rogue over both. also the rogue is a lot more spacious then both. Oh another problem i had with the rogue is the gas tank. when i filled up to the top, the gauge always showed one bar under. im tired of seeing the insides of the nissan service center..

[gusherb94]

@mywJOE The Juke AWD SV weighs 3,110 pounds. the Rogue AWD SL weighs 3,400 pounds. I don't think the 1.6 would take a huge hit being put in the Rogue, it's still better and would be faster then the 2.5. Have you seen a Juke in person yet? they are hideous in pictures but actually pretty attractive in person. the Cube is just all around ugly.

[mywJOE]

@gusherb94 darn lifetime? in canada we got a 200,000km (i guess close to 120,000miles) with 10 years... not planning to keep the car for that long n e ways. i probably wouldnt buy CVT again unless it was a family car.

also the only reason 1.6 turbo works in a juke is because it's really light. yeah it'd be good on gas but i would never pass cars on the highway with that.. personally i think the juke (as well as cube) is ridiculously ugly.. Rogue was definitely the right choice.

[gusherb94]

@mywJOE 3.0 V6 would be nice, but I'm sure they will never do that. I'd like to see them get that 1.6 turbo from the Juke in there. the 2.5 is old and coarse/loud sounding. the 1.6 has a much better city driving dynamic with it's increased low end torque and overall slightly increased power over the 2.5, not to mention does better on gas. 1.6 is also quieter and way smoother running.

[gusherb94]

@mywJOE I couldn't be happier that they came out with that transmission reflash last year. Now you don't have to floor it to get moving, and then it would go berserk. Now it's far more tame. Also glad that they upped the powertrain warranty to 120,000 miles lifetime. Hopefully I won't have to see if they will honor that for awhile yet.

[mywJOE]

@gusherb94 also i really wished they made a v6 version like toyota does for their rav 4.. i feel like the rogue could use a bit more power. 3.0 v6 would make it perfect.

[mywJOE]

@gusherb94 yeah mines a 2009 SL AWD from japan. i made sure it was import. mines nearing 34,000km and i've already taken it in 3-4 times for various things. door lock failure (due to fire proof material), recall (last year), the whistling noise, and i've noticed a noise from the dash. at first i thought it was the window, but it isnt, it's the cheap plastic they decided to use which is making a noise due to weather (im guessing). good thing they gave us that extra long warranty.

[gusherb94]

@mywJOE In it's first model year the Rogue's with a U or made in USA were the ones with all the terrible defects and high lemon rate, the with a J made in Japan were the ones that made out fine. This one happens to be a Rogue made in Japan. It's nearing 50,000 miles and still shows no sign of failure yet.

[gusherb94]

@mywJOE Yeah it has it's flaws for sure. I know the whistle the CVT makes as you come to a stop. It's always made that noise and never has gotten louder. I've had the mirror whistle too before. the noise the CVT makes is still alot less annoying then the nasty awful whining our Fusion makes ever since it had it's transmission rebuilt the first time. Some time ago I was made aware that you can tell where a Rogue was made by it's first letter in the VIN number, J was for Japan, and U was for USA.