Like primary competitors such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Ford Escape, the Nissan Rogue has something of a misleading name. It’s not a rebellious adventure vehicle; it’s a convenient, useful compact crossover. The Rogue is comfortable, spacious and fairly stylish; it’s reasonably efficient, and generally well-suited for almost any on-road family travel requirement, including massacring a band of rampaging sentient snowmen.
That said, it’s not perfect. Few would declare the Rogue engaging to drive. The Nissan won’t impress anyone with its speed. And the cabin has its fair share of hard surfaces and materials.
No, the Rogue is one of the best-selling passenger vehicles in the U.S. not because it’s beloved, but because it’s solid — and affordable. A base model Rogue begins at just $25,300, while the top-tier SL trim starts at $33,040.
That said, maybe you bought a Rogue and liked what it had to offer, but affordability is no longer your primary concern. If you can afford to drop an extra $10,000–$15,000 on your next vehicle, here are three upgrade options to consider.
If You Like How Comfortable the Rogue Is, Try the Volvo XC40
The Volvo XC40 may be the best luxury compact crossover. The car’s smart Swedish design means it has a roomy, premium-feeling cabin filled with high-quality materials. It has nifty storage compartments and helpful features, such as a built-in garbage receptacle and a takeout bag hook. And few things are more comforting than protecting your family with Volvo’s safety technology.
The XC40 entry point for the Momentum trim is $34,345. Luxury-trim XC40s start a hair above $40,000.
If You Like How the Rogue Looks, Try the Lincoln Corsair
Lincoln has thrown down the gauntlet at European competitors in the past couple of years, by offering a fleet of great-looking cars. The Corsair is Lincoln’s compact crossover effort, which cribs some styling cues from the full-sized Navigator and the mid-size Aviator, two Gear Patrol favorites. You get a sleek exterior, a yacht-like interior and door chimes performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. You even get a Rogue-ish name; “corsair” is a synonym for pirate.
The Standard-trim Corsair begins at $35,945, while the Reserve model starts at $42,630. The Corsair does not yet offer the exclusive Black Label experience offered on the bigger SUVs, but you probably weren’t looking for that exclusive of an upgrade.
If You Like How Spacious the Rogue Is, Try the Toyota Highlander
Perhaps your family is growing in number or size; if so, it’s time to move up to the midsize segment. Consider the Toyota Highlander, which is new for 2020. Lower trims can seat up to eight passengers, while upper trims seat seven, thanks to second-row captain’s chairs. It offers up to 73.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats folded, and 40.6 cubes with just the third row down. The second-row seats slide to offer third-row passengers some breathing room. Larger, moreover, does not have to mean less efficient; the hybrid model even gets 34 mpg.
Toyota has not released the updated pricing for the 2020 model yet, but the 2019 version started at $31,830 for the base LE trim, while the most expensive Hybrid Limited trim began at $46,060. Expect the 2020 model to be broadly similar.
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