Nissan will cease building its small Rogue Sport crossover in just a few months, according to a new report. Trade publication Automotive News reports that the Japanese automaker has notified dealers that Rogue Sport production will end in December.
Americans buy a lot of SUVs — more SUVs than cars and trucks combined. But even in that climate, the Rogue Sport never found its niche.
It’s not Nissan’s smallest SUV. The subcompact Kicks gets that role, with a spacious interior for its small footprint and assertive styling.
It’s not Nissan’s successful compact SUV. The similarly named Rogue gets that job. It gets a lot of power from a tiny engine — 201 horsepower from three turbocharged cylinders — and great fuel economy for a non-hybrid car. Despite the name, the Rogue Sport is not a sporty Rogue.
The Rogue Sport sits between the two, an unsuccessful bid for Goldilocks’s love. It’s a dated design (it first appeared as a European model nearly a decade ago), and buyers seem to cross the showroom floor for the larger Rogue instead of considering it.
So the Rogue Sport will reportedly retire in just three months. Instead of replacing it, Automotive News reports, Nissan will put its energy into an updated Kicks for the 2024 model year.
We expect that model to grow a bit and add all-wheel-drive to its options list, but official details have not been announced.
The remaining 2022 Rogue Sports start at $24,960, plus $1,295 shipping and handling. In a more ordinary market, news that a model has been canceled would drive prices down. But with prices near all-time highs, it may be hard to find even a Rogue Sport that isn’t priced over the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
