I live in Asheville, North Carolina, which was recently decimated by Hurricane Helene. I drove a 2024 Nissan Rogue in the woods because before the trails were destroyed and wished it was a bit more rugged. Then in the aftermath in sections with chewed-up trails, I got to test the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Edition. But it fell slightly short. 

The 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek adds impressive rugged upgrades

If you look at this 2024 Nissan Rogue review, you’ll see that I really enjoyed this SUV. It’s comfortable, smart, and athletic. However, it was a bit slippery in my favorite place, the woods. 

At the time, I was like, darn I wish the Rogue had an off-roading edition like the Toyota RAV4 TRD Pro or Honda Passport TrailSport. 

Then my wish came true with the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek. Only, before Hurricane Helene, you would see Miatas and other pavement princess cars at trailheads. 

Now that Helene put the forest in a blender, taking a Mazda or really any sedan out there would make me nervous. You need something with a lift and AWD. 

While the Rock Creek did perform well in sections of slippery dirt trails, I’m a bit disappointed because a few things are missing: 

• There are no tow hooks (Which are super convenient if you need them) 
• My model didn’t have a full-size spare tire (So what happens when you pop a tire in the woods?)
• It doesn’t have Wireless Apple CarPlay
• There’s no underbody protection

But it has a lot of great additions to give the Rogue more rugged abilities that are noticeably impressive. For example, the 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires provide excellent grip and control. They really resisted sliding and slipping for confident climbs. 

Plus, the 8.2-inch ground clearance provides plenty of height for avoiding scrapes and random debris left by Helene. However, every Rogue sits at that height.

The Intelligent Around View Monitor provides a crisp, clear 360-degree view of the 8.0-inch infotainment system. It’s extremely helpful in tight areas with crowded trailheads. In any Rogue model, the 17.7-foot turning radius is excellent. It’s so easy to park and maneuver. 

When you use the Off-Road mode, you can feel the suspension stiffen up. Power is noticeably distributed evenly to each wheel. While off-roading, the Rock Creek Edition feels stable and in control. Plus, Hill Descent control will automatically control your speed during steep descents. 

The black tubular roof rack is attractive and helpful if you need extra space to carry your gear. It gives the Rogue a beefier style. Plus, the painted front fascia and Lave Red accents draw the eye. 

I always love good all-weather rubber mats to handle the mud and pet fur I track around. The interior also features attractive Lave Red accents and leatherette-trimmed seats. They’re very comfortable. 

The turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine cranks out 201 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque. It has plenty of torque for powering over slippery obstacles and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.8 seconds. 

Compared to the 2024 Rogue SL trim, the Rock Creek Edition is a little bit louder at highway speeds and a bit bumpier. But that’s a fair tradeoff for the rugged tires and other off-roading upgrades. 

Overall, the 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek completes its mission. It builds upon the comfortable and athletic nature of the Rogue by adding rugged upgrades to better tackle the wild. I just wanted it to have a little more grit for larger adventures, but it’s off to a great start.