2010 Nissan Rogue

Experts find the 2010 Nissan Rogue more stylish and fun to drive than most other small SUVs. Although it's not recommended as often as critics' favorite sporty SUV, the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan (Base MSRP: $23,200 to $33,500), reliable sources consider the Rogue a strong runner-up. The 2010 Rogue is unchanged from 2009, except for a new Value package available for the entry-level Rogue S trim; see our report on the 2009 Nissan Rogue (*Est. $20,220 to $23,010) for a full analysis of this SUV.

Fuel economy carries forward unchanged. The 2010 Nissan Rogue delivers an estimated 22 mpg city/27 mpg highway/24 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, losing 1 mpg all around with all-wheel drive. The only powertrain choice is a 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Standard safety features include antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, front and full-length side curtain airbags, front-seat side airbags, and active front head restraints. The Rogue was a Top Safety Pick at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2009, with the highest possible ratings in front-, side- and rear-crash tests. However, IIHS has added a new rollover roof-strength test for 2010, and the Rogue's rating falls to Acceptable in that category. In government tests, the Rogue earns a perfect 5 stars for side-crash protection, with 4 stars for rollover avoidance and front-crash protection -- high marks, but not as high as some other small SUVs with 5-star frontal-crash ratings.