Nissan seems to excel at making popular cars. The Nissan Frontier, despite its age, managed to outsell newer rivals long into its lifetime. The Altima sedan has also proven to be a favorite for millennial drivers. To date, the best-selling Nissan is the compact Rogue SUV.

The Nissan Rogue has good fuel economy, a roomy interior, and plenty of advanced technology inside. It’s also very reliable, making it an excellent choice for a used car. Is there anything about the Nissan Rogue that can be improved? Thanks to MotorTrend, we can see 3D renderings of the next-gen Nissan Rogue, which is on its way for release.

Inside Nissan’s most popular vehicle

Even though the Nissan Rogue is one of the most affordable SUV options, it doesn’t skimp on the interior. Up to five passengers can ride on comfortable fabric or leather seats. The seats are spacious enough for riders of all sizes, and there’s generous cargo space too. 

70 cubic feet of space is available with the second row folded down. Even better, it comes with a Divide-and-Go cargo management system. This allows drivers to make the most of the Rogue’s ample storage space with these neat dividers and shelves.

The infotainment screen is a little small and has some outdated graphics. Still, it comes loaded with standard smartphone integration, satellite radio, and Bluetooth. An abundance of safety features like lane assistance, blind-spot monitors, pedestrian detection, and forward-collision warning are also standard. 

The engine inside the Nissan Rogue is definitely not the most powerful. It’s a four-cylinder capable of 170 hp and paired with a CVT. It’s available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Acceleration is a hard feat to accomplish, resulting in a lot of engine noise.

Some critics noted that it doesn’t feel stable while driving at highway speeds. Still, the car’s soft suspension gives it a smooth ride along most city roads. It’s also great on gas, scoring 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg once you merge onto the highway.

The Nissan Rogue has the best sales numbers

Despite its lackluster driving performance, the Nissan Rogue’s sales have remained consistently high. In 2017, it managed to sell over 30,000 units in most months, with 40,000 units sold in December. It did even better in 2018, selling a grand total of 412,110 units in the United States. The Canadian variant, the Nissan X-Trail also sold an additional 41,167 units that year.

What’s new in the 2021 Nissan Rogue?

Nobody has any concrete information about any new features on the Nissan Rogue just yet. However, MotorTrend was able to create an illustration based on a document filed by Nissan. There are a few exterior differences, such as a bulkier D-pillar and a wider grille.

While this isn’t confirmed, MotorTrend also speculates that the Rogue will receive an updated drivetrain for 2021. If this is true, it will have the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder as the one in the Nissan Altima. It may also get a turbo four-cylinder engine option, which can make up to 248 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque inside the Altima. Judging from other new Nissans, the 2021 Rogue will probably also have an updated instrument panel and a larger touchscreen.

When will it be released?

Pricing for the 2021 Nissan Rogue will remain about the same as the current model. Given the current global health crisis, it’s uncertain when the 2021 Nissan Rogue will make it to dealership lots. It will either be sometime in late 2020 or early the following year. With all these promising upgrades, the highly-anticipated Rogue remodel should be well worth the wait.