New kid on the block

NISSAN The 2008 Nissan Rogue comes in four trim levels, the S 2WD, S 4WD, SL2 WD or SL 4WD. All models have a 2.5-liter 16-valve engine. The all new Nissan Rogue was one of the most talked about new models to come out in 2008.

I'm a big fan of the small SUV/crossover/ wagon vehicles and was pleased to get to test drive the Rogue recently. The Rogue and other similar vehicles, like the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4 and the Ford Edge, offer the roomy convenience of a wagon with a more rugged look, like an SUV.

Very similar to its big brother, the Nissan Murano, the Rogue is a sturdy little guy that offers good looks, competitive cargo space, fun driving experience and an affordable price tag.

Powering the Rogue is a 2.5-liter 16-valve engine with 170 horsepower. It's definitely adequate for commuting, but I wish it was available with a V6. I wouldn't be surprised if upcoming models didn't have a V6 option, like buyers can find in the RAV4, the Ford Edge and the Saturn Vue.

In most Nissans, I love the continuous variable transmission, but on this Rogue, sometimes the gear shifting didn't seem to be smooth. A couple of times, while accelerating, I found myself looking down to make sure I was in Drive and not in a lower gear. It sounded like gears weren't changing.

They did eventually change, but the revving can make you a little nervous.

For those who aren't looking for a V6 engine, the Rogue offers the most horsepower among competitors with a 2.5-liter engine.

Of all the small crossovers I've recently driven, the Rogue (so far) has the most car-like qualities when driving. The suspension seemed to smooth out road imperfections and the ride was much more refined than in the last RAV4 I drove. Though to the RAV4's defense, it's meant to have more SUV qualities.

My test vehicle had two-wheel drive and I got about 24 mpg with a good mix of city and highway miles. You can opt for 4WD on the Rogue and gas mileage will go down a tad.

Seat comfort was great in both the front and back seats. I found the front seats to be superlative compared to competitors and adjustments were easy to do.

There wasn't a lot of storage space in the Rogue. I like the back seat to have a storage area/arm rest and that's not available on the Rogue. There was a really deep cubby underneath the driver's armrest/center console, but I was forever trying to find a place to stuff my stuff during the week I had this car.

Cargo space is a little scarce, too. Not that these cars are meant for those who need a lot of hauling room, but the Rogue doesn't have room for much more than a shopping trip or a golf-club bag.

With the second row of seats up, you can get 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which is significantly less than what you'd find in the CR-V, the RAV4 or the Edge.

One thing I did love about the Rogue was the interior design. It wasn't fancy or even really innovative, but it made sense. Everything was where it was supposed to be and I appreciate that. Gauges and dials were easy to read and manipulate and I didn't have to get out the manual to figure anything out. All materials were substantial and textures seemed to be of higher quality than found in some competitors' interiors.

Nissan Rogue comes well equipped with safety gear including anti-lock disc brakes with brake assist, stability and traction control, front seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.

The Rogue comes in four trim levels and the vehicle I drove was the base model, the S model with 2WD.

Technically, there are two trim levels, and each level is available with 2WD or 4WD.

My test car was very reasonably priced at $19,250, which I think is a great price tag for this vehicle.

It comes with everything you need and no options are available on this trim.

For those who want to make their drive time a little more comfortable, opt for an SL or S 4WD with extras and you'll still pay a little less than for a comparable competitor.