Would Built-In Google Get You to Buy a 2024 Nissan Rogue?

• Nissan has been in a compact crossover sales volume battle with Honda and Toyota for some time now.

• As it revamps the Rogue for 2024, Nissan is banking on technological advancements and luxury-esque styling to stand out.

• With Google software built in, the 2024 Nissan Rogue is making company-wide history and setting a wireless standard.

With so much emphasis on the compact crossover segment, it's easy to remember the stand-out names we've seen since the late 1990s. Toyota's RAV4 and the Honda CR-V likely come to mind, but Nissan's Rogue has been a quiet but fierce competitor since 2007. In fact, Nissan's own crossover has outsold the Honda at least once.

In 2018, Nissan moved over 412,000 Rogue units, beating Honda's CR-V sales. Industry-wide challenges from Covid-19 and supply constraints brought that number down to around 186,000 units last year, but Nissan plans to bring the Rogue back to its former bottom-line-padding glory. And the company is banking on technology to power this comeback.

For 2024, Nissan is revamping the Rogue but the chassis and powertrain largely remain the same. The crossover gets new front and rear fascias as well as new inner tail lights, but the Renault-shared Common Module Family C-Platform is still found underneath.

The 201-horsepower, 225 lb-ft of torque turbocharged, variable compression 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, which was introduced in 202, is also sticking around. With a claimed 34 mpg highway out of a 3700-pound vehicle, why fix what isn't broken? Especially when the engine characteristics are so smooth.

It's not a previously available engine or some new lights, however, that Nissan is leaning on to boost sales. Rather, it's got a whole new suite of technology, courtesy of Google. And, yes, this is the first-ever Nissan to have Google built-in—but it won't be available on the whole model lineup.

Only 2024 Nissan Rogue SL and Platinum trims will feature the Google software, but customers who opt for these higher trim levels won't be disappointed, Nissan says. A new 12.3-inch HD color touchscreen allows for seamless integration of certain Google apps, like Google Assistant, Google Maps, and even Google Play.

Unlike Apple CarPlay, Rogues equipped with Google won't need to connect their phones to use their own Google Maps account. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remain available on all Rogue trims. S and SV trim Rogues will have a slightly smaller 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

A new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is standard on SL and Platinum models. But it's not entirely about technology, as Nissan says it hopes to show a new side of the Rogue through its design.

To do so, Nissan adds new 19-inch wheels, a gloss-black fender, and available Chestnut brown leather upholstery. Premium looks mean premium feels, Nissan says. Other moves towards modernity include two new USB-C charging ports up front and trim-dependent USB-C charging ports in the rear. So long, USB-A.

Nissan's suite of ADAS technology is standard on all trims. It features Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, and Rear Automatic Braking. Rogue SV and above trim levels also benefit from ProPilot Assist, Nissan's SAE Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system.

However, SL and Platinum-level Rogues integrate Navi-Link navigation with ProPilot Assist, allowing the Rogue to slow automatically for curves and freeway exits. Previous tests of ProPilot Assist proved promising, so we look forward to testing the linked system out.

Storage is ultimately a big part of why consumers purchase crossovers and SUVs, so Nissan has naturally boasted its 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. Unfortunately, that's less space than both the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Even so, Nissan says it tried to make loading easier for 2024, with an available power tailgate.

Pricing has yet to be released for the 2024 Nissan Rogue, but the trim levels remain identical to the previous year (S, SV, SL, and Platinum). Similarly, front-wheel drive is standard across the lineup, though all-wheel-drive will be available for every trim level.

As a result, we expect pricing to range from $30,000 up to $40,000, thanks to the nearly guaranteed year-over-year price jumps we've seen lately. Prospective 2024 Rogue customers can expect the models to be available by early 2024.

Is app integration an important feature to you? Or is it easy enough to just connect your phone? Please share your thoughts below.