Nissan just redesigned the popular Rogue compact SUV for 2021, but the crossover is getting a new engine for 2022. The previous 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gets the heave-ho, and in its place, a new variable-compression 1.5-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder bolts into place. Dubbed the VC-Turbo, the engine is standard in all 2022 Nissan Rogue configurations.
Nissan’s VC-Turbo engines (a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder is available in the Altima sedan) employ variable-compression technology, and the automaker claims it spent 20 years perfecting it. Without getting too deep into the engineering weeds, the engine continually adjusts its compression ratio to maximize fuel efficiency when a vehicle is cruising on the highway and to maximize power delivery when accelerating or passing other vehicles.
The 2022 Rogue’s 1.5-liter VC-Turbo is essentially the same as the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo used in the Altima and the Infiniti QX50, but with a cylinder lopped off. According to the company’s 2022 Nissan Rogue specs chart, the VC-Turbo makes more power than the departing 2.5-liter, and at lower engine rpm where it is more accessible:
Nissan pairs the Rogue’s new VC-Turbo engine with a tried-and-true continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available as an option.
Furthermore, according to official 2022 Nissan Rogue gas mileage ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the new VC-Turbo 3-cylinder gets 32 to 33 mpg in combined driving. The old 2.5-liter rated between 28 and 30 mpg. Of course, if you dip into the turbo on a regular basis, you risk falling short of those estimates.
With its new engine, the 2022 Rogue fares better against its primary rivals, including the turbocharged Honda CR-V and the 203-hp Toyota RAV4. However, what’s missing from the Rogue lineup is an electrified powertrain option. Both the Honda and Toyota offer them, as well as the Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, and Kia Sportage. Since the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is based on the Rogue and is getting a new plug-in hybrid option in 2023, its PHEV tech will perhaps trickle down to the Rogue.
Nissan reports no other changes to the 2022 Rogue.
Nissan is the source of information for this article. It was accurate on November 17, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.
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