2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek

It always struck us as a strange choice using a great name like “Rogue” on an innocent compact family SUV, but then Nissan has been known to have a bit of a wild streak at times. This is, after all, the automaker that wedged a 480-hp GT-R drivetrain into a Juke and actually sold it to people (now that should have been named "Rogue"). The new off-road-focused 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek, then, might just be a sign that Nissan is starting to let its hair down again, even if it's hardly an overnight Jeep Wrangler competitor. A follow-on model to last year's light Rogue lineup refresh, this version is just the second Nissan to get the company's off-road-focused Rock Creek treatment after the larger Pathfinder. It uses the Rogue SV trim level as the jumping-off point, augmenting standard equipment like Nissan's Drive Pilot advanced driver aids with 17-inch wheels, 360-degree cameras, a beefy-looking roof rack, and some unique exterior and interior trim treatments , including orange-stitched seats with a leatherette and water-repellent cloth mix. Power comes courtesy of the Rogue's plucky 1.5-liter turbocharged I-3, which makes 201 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque, and drives the standard all-wheel-drive system via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Those cross-shopping a Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness, or Ford Bronco Sport will likely be quick to point out the off-road gear the Rogue Rock Creek lacks, such as specialized drive modes, underbody skidplates, and a suspension lift, instead rolling off dealer lots with the same generic “Off-Road” setting, felt-lined belly, and 8.2 inches of ground clearance as regular Rogues. The Rogue Rock Creek's sole concession to off-road capability is beefy-looking Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires (though to be fair, the Nissan points to the 360-degree cameras, which can now be used at speeds up to 12 mph, as an off-road upgrades, too). Having learned the hard, expensive way with similarly spec'd “off-roaders” from the likes of Toyota and Volkswagen, our official recommendation for Rogue Rock Creek owners is not to stray too far from marked dirt forest roads, National Park trails, or your favorite hiking path's trailhead. Given how nicely this Rogue drives on pavement, however, that might not be so tough of an ask.

Ever since Nissan replaced the Rogue's old gutless naturally aspirated inline-four with the turbocharged three-cylinder, the Rogue has been our top pick in the compact family SUV segment, in part due to its punchy powertrain, agreeable handling, and comfortable ride. Just like both of those qualities can be screwed up by fitting a vehicle with larger, more fashionable wheels, they can be equally ruined by fitting an SUV with smaller wheels wrapped in larger, heavier tires. Thankfully, in giving into the off-road fashion of today's market, Nissan hasn't ruined the Rogue with the Rock Creek addition. The new all-terrain tires are immediately noticeable, but they don't detract from the Rogue experience. Nissan's I-3 remains powerful enough for the segment and smooth for the street, even if it doesn't feel quite as punchy as it does in non–Rock Creek models. Steering stays agreeable, requiring light effort and offering only a hint of the expected vagueness on-center, although the Rock Creek tracks straight without wandering on the freeway. The all-terrain tires have noticeably less grip when cornering on our favorite back roads, but if their howling doesn't slow you down, benign understeer will do the job. The brake pedal feels long and spongy but reliable and otherwise easy to modulate. Ride quality, long a Rogue strength, actually improves somewhat, with the Rogue Rock Creek taking advantage of the extra cushioning from its bigger tires to cut down on gut jiggle and head toss on truly rough pavement while also minimizing secondary body movements and roll. Those impressions bear out in our test results, where the new Rogue Rock Creek needs 8.8 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph and 16.6 seconds to cross the quarter mile at 85.0 mph; that's 0.4 second slower to 60 mph than the last regular Rogue we tested, and it's 0.2 second and 1.2 mph slower through the quarter mile. Despite mixed marks on the road, the Rogue Rock Creek does an admirable job of keeping up with street-tired Rogues in our braking and handling tests. It stops from 60 mph in 129 feet and laps our figure-eight course in 27.8 seconds at 0.62 g average. That's just 4 feet more in the 60–0-mph test than other Rogues and a tenth of a second slower in handling tests. You also notably drop a few mpgs on the EPA cycle with the Rogue Rock Creek; it's rated at 27/32/29 mpg city/highway/combined where other AWD Rogues net 28/35/31 mpg. There are some compromises to be made by opting for the Rock Creek package. If you're not interested in exploring anything beyond a dirt road, they could be useful in this case. The Rogue Rock Creek is great-looking for the segment, handles itself acceptably on the road, and keeps the roomy, comfortable cabin of other Rogue models. It's also a decent value. Prices started at $36,810, and our loaded test vehicle stickered for $38,224 thanks to the addition of a $425 premium paint and $800 premium package, which included a hands-free power liftgate, memory driver's seat, and a handful of other creature comforts.

Although the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek may ultimately not be the shot of adrenaline some of its predecessors were, it's a welcome sign of life from a beloved brand that's trying to return to its roots.

2025 Nissan Rogue AWD Rock Creek Specifications PRICE BASE $36,810 PRICE AS TESTED $38,224 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV ENGINE 1.5L Turbo direct-injected DOHC 12-valve I-3 POWER (SAE NET) 201 hp @ 5,600 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 225 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm TRANSMISSION Cont variable auto CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3,669 lb (59/41%) WHEELBASE 106.5 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 183.0 x 72.4 x 66.5 in 0-60 MPH 8.8 sec QUARTER MILE 16.6 sec @ 85.0 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 129 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.78 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 27.8 sec @ 0.62 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 27/32/29 mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 420 miles ON SALE Now

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