Could be a big competitor: The 2014 Nissan Rouge

CX5 - My take

Driving Wife's CX5 GT -AWD( now at 2.5 K miles) with tech pkg off and on . Here my take in short.

Pros :

* Terrific Ride and drive with hardly any body roll. A car is primarily meant to be drive - Perfect and safe- Can't go zoom zoom.
* Just the right size - Perfect CUV.
* Great seats.
* Great storage.
* Blind spot monitoring - Love it .


Cons :

* Most horrible sound system , with Bose speakers!- Mufelled sound . Researched enough - Heads unit replacement not pratical. I sat in my friends $14k , Kia Soul - So much better. Wondering , if I have a lemon :)


* Cannot dare to pass a tractor trailer's length , even with a 2.5 engine. Not even in manual mode. Huh- Miss our totaled 240 HP accord v6 .
* Could not achieve the dream MPG which everyone in this board see's. Envy you all . With an egg under my feet ~ Local route - best 22 / Highway on cruise 29 - Life time Average - 24.5.
====

Feel ,very very safe and confident while driving and my wife love it.

==================
Hi Everyone,

So I was pretty set on my mind to get the CX-5 GT with Tech, and saw a few Youtube videos on the 2014 Rouge and thought it may worth checking out when it becomes available. It does have some appealing features which the CX-5 is currently lacking. These are my first impressions from the videos:

Pros:
- Beautiful front end with the LED DRL
- Spacious 2nd row which slides (Optional 3rd row which I won't need)
- Innovative rear view parking system (It gives you a top view as well)
- Available panoramic sunroof
- Power lift gate

Cons:
- Van-like styling (like an uglier mini Santa Fe)
- Not so pretty wheels in my opinion

In my opinion, CX-5 still has an overall better styling but think it could be a strong competitor to Mazda for Year 2014, what do you guys think?



Here is a review, it does mention the CX-5 on its superior handling too.
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/01/2014-nissan-rogue-review-first-drive/
 
^ Something might be wrong with your Bose, or at least the settings. Not experiencing the horrible sound system on my Bose (in a 2013), the only thing I miss is the subwoofer in my other 2 sport sedans.

Since we are comparing new Rogue to CX-5, the Rogue will be even slower. These are not sport sedans or sport coupes.
 
^
^
^
Huh, I have no issues passing a line of 3 vehicles (at once) on my commute to/from work on a 2 lane highway. At 55mph, I put it to the floor and around I go...

With a Liter sportbike and V8 Mustang also in my garage I'm quite impressed with the passing oomph the CX 5 has as well.
 
Buddy do you know how to drive??? Hello, my 2.5 isn't a Ferrari but for a small SUV it's 184 hp is pretty peppy. And it a light truck. So ya it has zoom zoom.
 
Buddy do you know how to drive??? Hello, my 2.5 isn't a Ferrari but for a small SUV it's 184 hp is pretty peppy. And it a light truck. So ya it has zoom zoom.
How can anyone take EPA rating classifications like this seriously?!
 
How can anyone take EPA rating classifications like this seriously?!

I think he was talking about it being lightweight, not it's classification, but I could be wrong.

As for the earlier lack of power comment, I came from a 328i and I find the CX-5 has plenty of power for what it is. If I need some pickup on the highway to pass someone I can do it without any issue.
 
Hi Everyone,

So I was pretty set on my mind to get the CX-5 GT with Tech, and saw a few Youtube videos on the 2014 Rouge and thought it may worth checking out when it becomes available. It does have some appealing features which the CX-5 is currently lacking. These are my first impressions from the videos:

Pros:
- Beautiful front end with the LED DRL
- Spacious 2nd row which slides (Optional 3rd row which I won't need)
- Innovative rear view parking system (It gives you a top view as well)
- Available panoramic sunroof
- Power lift gate

Cons:
- Van-like styling (like an uglier mini Santa Fe)
- Not so pretty wheels in my opinion

In my opinion, CX-5 still has an overall better styling but think it could be a strong competitor to Mazda for Year 2014, what do you guys think?



Here is a review, it does mention the CX-5 on its superior handling too.
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/01/2014-nissan-rogue-review-first-drive/

lkh311, I just read that article you posted above and I have to say if that information is correct than I can see why you are so interested in the new Rouge. That around view system alone looks fantastic. The MAZDA XC5 may be the dynamic driving champ but if that's not as important to you and your decision weighs more heavily on interior creature comforts and tech than I'd say the Nissan Rouge is a serious contender here.

I'm on my second CX5 now and I can say that the major weaknesses for this SUV are high road and wind noise above 65 mph and a lackluster radio. I think the road noise may have more to do with the 17" tires as most of the people here who think the road noise is good have the 19" tires and wheels. The radio can be replaced but after spending 24 grand that is kind of a bummer. Don't get me wrong; I love driving my CX5 and if there were no CX5 or an SUV with these kind of driving dynamics I'd probably be driving a sedan or something else.

The major strengths are of course a fantastic engine and drive train (really good), really good handling, really good steering feel, and really good real world gas mileage (especially with the 2.0). We also can't forget the great exterior styling and for me the simple but nice interior.

If I were you I would set up a good amount of time to do some back to back test drives and bring a sound meter (from radio shack is best) with you too. It's hard to absorb so much information during a 20 minute test drive so you are going to want to take a day or so to mull over those test drives and do some research.
 
Driving Wife's CX5 GT -AWD( now at 2.5 K miles) with tech pkg off and on . Here my take in short.

Pros :

* Terrific Ride and drive with hardly any body roll. A car is primarily meant to be drive - Perfect and safe- Can't go zoom zoom.
* Just the right size - Perfect CUV.
* Great seats.
* Great storage.
* Blind spot monitoring - Love it .


Cons :

* Most horrible sound system , with Bose speakers!- Mufelled sound . Researched enough - Heads unit replacement not pratical. I sat in my friends $14k , Kia Soul - So much better. Wondering , if I have a lemon :)


* Cannot dare to pass a tractor trailer's length , even with a 2.5 engine. Not even in manual mode. Huh- Miss our totaled 240 HP accord v6 .
* Could not achieve the dream MPG which everyone in this board see's. Envy you all . With an egg under my feet ~ Local route - best 22 / Highway on cruise 29 - Life time Average - 24.5.
====

Feel ,very very safe and confident while driving and my wife love it.

==================

neelkc12, I'm now driving to and from Cambridge to Novartis and with all the traffic and stop and go I can't do much better than 31.5 driving it like a baby with my FWD 2.5. Those numbers you are getting I think are in line considering all the stop and go traffic in the Boston area and the fact you have the heaviest CX5 with the 2.5 engine. I can't wait till Im done with this project, I'd rather drive twice as far with no traffic than deal with anything inside if I-128.
 
Everybody is complaining about road nose. In my opinion is a very quite vehicle. Go, drive a CRV and then complain about noise. We own a 2009 and it's noisy as hell around 70 miles per hour. We can barely talk.
 
Everybody is complaining about road nose. In my opinion is a very quite vehicle. Go, drive a CRV and then complain about noise. We own a 2009 and it's noisy as hell around 70 miles per hour. We can barely talk.

I guess that is relative tibimakai. I came from a 2001 Toyota Tundra, which was much quieter than my CX5. I cant enjoy the FM radio traveling at 70 mph in my CX5 like I did in the Tundra, but then again the Tundra had a better radio with better speakers too. It all boils down to what someone is used to and it becomes subjective at best. I think when the time comes to change the tires and I can get quieter tires everything will change for the better.
 
I guess that is relative tibimakai. I came from a 2001 Toyota Tundra, which was much quieter than my CX5. I cant enjoy the FM radio traveling at 70 mph in my CX5 like I did in the Tundra, but then again the Tundra had a better radio with better speakers too. It all boils down to what someone is used to and it becomes subjective at best. I think when the time comes to change the tires and I can get quieter tires everything will change for the better.

This is true. I prefer to hear the road/engine (my windows are almost always down or cracked) and my radio is usually at 50 to compensate.
 
Hi V8toilet,

Appreciate for your great feedback and suggestions. I will definitely set up back to back test drives and conduct more research before I make my final decision. Coming from a 2007 Camry SE, I am used to a quiet cabin but when I consider this new vehicle, I really want something with sufficient power, a higher driving position and most importantly fun to drive with good gas mileage. Therefore, the CX-5 is my top contender, the sluggish engine of the Rogue could be a deal breaker.

On the other hand, I am 6'5" (not big built though), so when I knew the Rogue has more spacious cabin, zero-gravity seats and the around view system, it is quite appealing. Also, I am planning to have kids in the next year or so, the CX-5 could be slightly tight for car seat as mentioned on the other posts, I would like the front passenger seat to be fully functional with car seat at the back. As I will most likely be getting the fully loaded model, Nissan offers more bang for the buck and seems to be to have more luxury features such as full LED headlamps for SL model.


lkh311, I just read that article you posted above and I have to say if that information is correct than I can see why you are so interested in the new Rouge. That around view system alone looks fantastic. The MAZDA XC5 may be the dynamic driving champ but if that's not as important to you and your decision weighs more heavily on interior creature comforts and tech than I'd say the Nissan Rouge is a serious contender here.

I'm on my second CX5 now and I can say that the major weaknesses for this SUV are high road and wind noise above 65 mph and a lackluster radio. I think the road noise may have more to do with the 17" tires as most of the people here who think the road noise is good have the 19" tires and wheels. The radio can be replaced but after spending 24 grand that is kind of a bummer. Don't get me wrong; I love driving my CX5 and if there were no CX5 or an SUV with these kind of driving dynamics I'd probably be driving a sedan or something else.

The major strengths are of course a fantastic engine and drive train (really good), really good handling, really good steering feel, and really good real world gas mileage (especially with the 2.0). We also can't forget the great exterior styling and for me the simple but nice interior.

If I were you I would set up a good amount of time to do some back to back test drives and bring a sound meter (from radio shack is best) with you too. It's hard to absorb so much information during a 20 minute test drive so you are going to want to take a day or so to mull over those test drives and do some research.
 
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I test drove the 2014 crv, it is very quiet, quieter than the CX-5.
I can't comment on the older CRV.

Everybody is complaining about road nose. In my opinion is a very quite vehicle. Go, drive a CRV and then complain about noise. We own a 2009 and it's noisy as hell around 70 miles per hour. We can barely talk.
 
lkh311,

I'm 6'4" and my girl friend is 5'11", and we have an 8 month old (bought the CX5 a week after she was born). I've had no real problem with space. Even with a child seat my gf was comfortable on the passenger side, even though the seat was brought forward a few notches. I just moved to a larger 3 in 1 child seat, and it fits nicely in the certer (my seat is fully back). In any case, a rear facing seat only lasts a year to a year and a half. I'll be keeping my car way longer than that, so it was never a big decision factor for me...
 
I think the fact that OP and many to follow referring to the 2014 Rogue as Rouge (ie makup) is both telling and amusing:)
 
All new Nissan
young-woman-portrait.jpg
#1 Seller
 
I don't care how its spelt, along with I suspect 99% of the forum.
Words are used to communicate with, and I fully understood the op post.

So that's mission accomplished, I had some sad chap pull me up for posting PFD instead of PDF.


I think the fact that OP and many to follow referring to the 2014 Rogue as Rouge (ie makup) is both telling and amusing:)
 

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