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Caraganza Review 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek: Still a Money Maker, Now With Dirt Under Its Nails

Four years ago, I climbed into a then-brand-new 2021 Nissan Rogue and declared it “the best Rogue yet.” I also made peace with the fact that while it wouldn’t exactly stir the soul, it would definitely stir the bank account, because the Rogue has been Nissan’s moneymaker in the U.S. for years.

Now, here we are in 2025. The world’s gone slightly mad, your streaming apps probably cost more than your first car payment, and yet… somehow… the Rogue’s sticker price has barely budged. And that, my friends, is perhaps the most remarkable thing about this refreshed, rugged-ish Rogue Rock Creek Edition.

The Same, But Different (In a Good Way)

Nissan gave the Rogue a facelift for 2024—a shinier grille, fancier wheels, and, importantly, a much bigger 12.3-inch touchscreen on upper trims. It also now runs Google’s built-in infotainment, meaning your Rogue can now boss you around with Google Maps and Google Assistant without having to tether your phone like it’s the early 2010s. Oh, and one other change since we last visited the Rogue garage; the engine shrank from a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder to a 1.5 liter 3-cylinder. But that engine with one less cylinder delivers 20 more horsepower, somehow. Black magic maybe.

For 2025 they added the Rock Creek treatment with a model they labeled the Rock Creek Edition. And I got to spend a week with one recently.

Step inside the 2025 Rock Creek and, well, it feels familiar—but with a little outdoorsy aftershave splashed on. This special edition adds all-terrain tires, a tubular roof rack, and a few knobby bits designed to make you think you’re ready to tackle the Rubicon Trail. In reality, it’s more “family trip to the cabin” than “expedition-grade,” but honestly, that’s fine.

Looks the Part, Mostly Plays the Part

Full disclosure: I didn’t get a chance to truly test the Rock Creek’s ruggedness. No scaling cliffs, no conquering deserts. But that’s not really what this is about. The Rock Creek is Nissan’s way of saying, “Hey, we see your Bronco Sports and your Subaru Outbacks, and we’ll raise you a Rogue that looks ready for adventure—without terrifying your accountant.”

The all-terrain tires and hill descent control give you more confidence on sketchy gravel roads, and the upgraded camera system with off-road views means you can creep around campsites or trailheads without clobbering a boulder. It’s practical, approachable, and—dare I say—kind of cool, in a suburban warrior sort of way.

The CVT—Still Doing CVT Things

Of course, not everything has changed. The Rogue still relies on a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and while Nissan has refined it over the years, it still has that elastic, droning personality that makes driving enthusiasts twitch. Mash the throttle and you get more noise than excitement, though around town it behaves politely enough.

But here’s the thing: buyers of compact crossovers like this aren’t exactly lining up to drag race Mustangs at stoplights. They want comfort, space, tech, and reasonable fuel economy. The Rogue delivers all that, with EPA numbers still sitting comfortably in the high 20s to low 30s MPG depending on how you spec it.

Tech, Safety, and Free Oil

On the tech front, Nissan’s ProPilot Assist 2.1 system trickles down trims, adding hands-on driver aids that gently nudge you through traffic with speed, lane, and braking controls. It’s not quite self-driving, but it does make long highway slogs less tedious. The 360-degree camera system is brilliant for parking lots and tight trailheads alike.

Oh, and Nissan’s new Maintenance Care program tosses in the first three oil changes for free—good for up to two years or 24,000 miles. It’s a small perk, but in today’s world where coffee costs $7 and service departments charge like it’s NASA mission prep, I’ll take it.

Bottom Line: Still a Moneymaker—Now With a Plaid Shirt

The 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek isn’t about conquering the wilderness. It’s about looking ready for it while enjoying comfortable seats, solid tech, and peace of mind that your car payment didn’t just go full SpaceX launch trajectory.

It’s still a Rogue, still Nissan’s moneymaker, still annoyingly CVT-ish at times. But with a touch of grit and a healthy dose of common sense, it remains a smart buy for people who need to haul kids, dogs, groceries—and maybe the occasional kayak—without selling a kidney.

In other words? It’s still the best Rogue yet. Just slightly more… outdoorsy.

The 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek AWD

MSRP (as tested): $38,890
Engine: 1.5 turbocharged 3-cylinder, 201 horsepower @ 5600 rpm, 225 ft-lb. torque @ 2800 rpm
Transmission: CVT w/OD
Base Curb Weight (lbs.): 3715
Fuel Mileage (EPA): 27 city, 32 highway, 29 combined
Fuel Mileage (as tested mixed conditions): 29 mpg

Exterior Dimensions (inches)
Wheelbase: 106.5
Length, overall: 183
Width, Max w/o mirrors: 72.4
Height, overall: 66.5

Interior Dimensions
Passenger Capacity: 5
Passenger Volume (cu. ft.): 100.4
Front Head Room (in.): 41.1
Front Leg Room (in.): 41.5
Front Shoulder Room (in.): 57.1
Front Hip Room (in.): 54.1
Second Head Room (in.): 39.2
Second Leg Room (in.): 38.5
Second Shoulder Room (in.): 55.9
Second Hip Room (in.): 53.4
Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (cu. ft.): 72.9
Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (cu. ft.): 36.3
Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (cu. ft.): 36.3

Warranty
Basic: 3 Yr./ 36,000 Mi.
Drivetrain: 5 Yr./ 60,000 Mi.
Roadside: 3 Yr./ 36,000 Mi.

Greg Engle
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