2010 Nissan Rogue Krom Edition
It’s just a simple fact of life that, since station wagons are really only widely available in Europe, that many American’s need an SUV. These Americans have family responsibilities and as such they need a vehicle with ample cargo volume (for baby strollers, diaper bags, Little League equipment) yet refuse to be seen behind the wheel of a minivan.
But there is a further subset of Americans who want a little something more out of the average SUV/crossover. They want something that is not only friendly to the juice box set but that is also fun to drive and makes them look cool. No, there is absolutely no way these people want to be seen in a “Mommy Mobile” nor do they want to pay through the nose for an SUV with a bit of style but horrible gas mileage.
This is where the 2010 Nissan Rogue S Krom Edition comes in. Priced at just $24,740 with fuel economy ratings of 22 city/27 highway, it becomes easy to see that this Rogue variant will be easy on your wallet. What it doesn’t tell you is that somehow Nissan turned a classically handsome “Cute-Ute” and turned it into a menacing beast with a racy looking rear spoiler, aggressive looking 17-inch chrome rims and a center mounted, dual pipe sport exhaust system integrated into the restyled rear bumper.
And I haven’t even gotten to the new chromed out grille, the angry looking fog lights and body kit add-ons yet. Seriously, this is not the SUV/crossover for a shrinking violet who doesn’t like to get noticed. And the 2010 Nissan Rogue Krom Edition only comes in three very scary sounding colors known only as Venom Red, Gotham Gray and Wicked Black. So are you scared yet?
Exterior Design
The Nissan Rogue was one of the best looking small SUVs when it was introduced and it continues as such in 2010 with the Krom Edition. Although most of the Krom Edition add-ons are visual, they all still manage to work together to keep the original cohesiveness of the Rogue’s original design intact.
For instance, the chrome rims that come with the Krom Edition may not be to everyone’s taste but that is why the wheel designs for the more conservative Rogue SL ($22,050) and Rogue S with 360 Degrees Package are much more subtle. Also, I must admit that the new grille on the front of the Rogue Krom Edition goes some way towards making this SUV appear more masculine. Almost like a mini-Murano.
To be frank, at first I wasn’t sure about a Rogue with a rear spoiler, body cladding and a generally “pimped out” appearance. But as the week went on it really started to grow on me to the point that when I saw a brand new Rogue S pass with dealership plates I thought that it looked rather plain. Perhaps all the glitz and glamour of the Rogue Krom Edition finally got to me. I may never look at a regular SUV the same way again.
Interior Design, Features and Utility
All Rogue models come standard with a 2.5 liter 170 horsepower/175 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder engine, a CVT automatic transmission, ABS (with a number of electronic driving/braking safety systems), air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, cruise control and a 4-speaker CD audio system with aux-input jack. Essentially, the basic $20,460 S model has all of the essentials.
On top of the S model’s features the Krom Edition adds all of the things mentioned above as well as body colored power side mirrors, tinted glass and handy steering wheel mounted audio controls. So what, pray tell, makes a Krom Edition feel different from a regular Rogue when you are seated inside? Not much besides the fact that you can order the interior in any color as long as it’s black.
Luckily, however, the interior of the Rogue is a nice piece of design work with just enough flourishes of style on the dash and door panels to enhance the appearance of a very utilitarian space. Although there is seating for five, four will be more comfortable.
While having a 28.9 cubic foot cargo area with the rear seats in place does not qualify the Rogue for class honors, it is wisely shaped to accommodate wide baby strollers. Also, the cargo floor is conveniently low so you don’t have to heave your groceries into the back with a catapult. Have you ever tried to lift anything heavy into the back of a truck based SUV? Then you probably have back problems.
From the driver’s seat you really do get a commanding view of the road and as the Rogue has great sightlines it is easy to judge the corners in parking maneuvers. While the speedometer and tachometer gauges are easy to read in a central pod right in front of you, did Nissan need to use such BIG numbers? It is almost as if they designed it to be driven by the visually impaired. I am sure I could easily read how fast the car was going even if I was sitting in the cargo area. Not a problem, just an observation.
Otherwise the other controls for the radio, air conditioning and assorted functions are clearly marked and the 2010 Rogue Krom Edition boasts plenty of handy cubby holes, cupholders and side pockets where you can lose your stuff. Plastics quality is about average for the class but all of it was assembled with obvious precision and care.
Also, for those of you who love getting your clothes dry cleaned do note that both front seats in the Rogue have big hooks that come out of the back of the headrests upon which you can hang all of your most stylish business wear. Since your dry cleaning will then be hanging off the back of the two front seats, the bottom of your clothes won’t get wrinkled as it often does when using the hooks above the sides of the rear passenger bench seat. It may sound dumb but little touches like that become indispensable to people.
Driving Impressions
I am going to be quite honest here—I hate CVT automatic transmissions (continuously variable transmissions). Usually they make a moaning noise when you are accelerating hard up-hill and they lack the visceral sensation of a traditional or multi-clutch automatic. But somehow I don’t mind the ones I have tested in Nissan’s products, including the 2010 Nissan Rogue Krom edition.
The reason I enjoyed the CVT in the 2010 Rogue so much is that it felt very much so like a traditional, seamless automatic that always chose the right engine speed for each occasion. Also, in a very hilly section near my home I put the gear selector into “Low” at the revs kept me going exactly 40 miles per hour without ever having to touch the brakes.
The 2.5 liter 170 horsepower 4-cylinder engine found in the 2010 Rogue (and Altima) is always a fun companion as it somehow manages to make this SUV feel agile, nimble and ready for fast lane traffic. Never once during this test did I feel that the Rogue was in any way underpowered, which is not something that I can say about all of the Rogue’s competition.
I don’t know if it was thanks to the Krom Edition sport exhaust but the engine note turned into a pleasing growl at high revs yet never elicited any undue NVH (noise, vibration, harshness). Steering feel is good for the class but perhaps not as direct as in the sports car like Mitsubishi Outlander. Body roll is very low when cornering and most of the time you will feel like you are driving a tall five door hatchback. That’s a good thing.
There is a bit of road noise from the tires (perhaps from the larger rims/tire size on the Krom Edition) but is nothing that can’t be drowned out by the stereo. I have never understood why people are so obsessed with silence in their new cars. Music and driving are so intertwined to me that I have to remind myself during road tests to turn down the Lady Gaga on the freeway so I can check for wind, engine and road noise.
Nissan really is undervalued by consumers as the manufacturer of fun to drive, affordably priced and attractively styled vehicles for everyone. Honestly, driving the 2010 Nissan Rogue Krom Edition is actually a whole lot of fun. And I don’t say that about many SUVs.
Economy
With gas prices going up and down faster than Larry King’s blood pressure at his divorce lawyer’s office, it is good to know that the 2010 Nissan Rogue runs on regular unleaded. Also, all-wheel drive Rogue Krom Edition models only lose 1 mile per gallon of fuel economy when compared to the 2 wheel drive models which have a 22 city/27 highway EPA rating.
So, even if you live in a snowy climate you can take heart knowing that your all-wheel drive Rogue is still really fuel efficient. A 15.9 gallon gas tank also ensures that on road trips you should be able to travel long distances without stopping.
How Family and Dog Friendly Is It?
Although the plastics look durable and there are plenty of storage cubbies essential for any family road trip, the Rogue Krom Edition does have one drawback. This particular model comes with a black seat fabric that, while decidedly durable in feel, attracts pet hair and might be difficult to clean if junior ever gets carsick in the back seat.
I know it is bad for cows but leather seats are much better for use in a family vehicle but they are available only on Rogue SL models. If Nissan offered black leather seats as an interior option for the Krom Edition, this variant would become a much more appealing family choice.
Do keep in mind, however, that the 2010 Rogue has done very well in Government NHTSA crash tests (see below). And nothing is more important than keeping your family safe.
Final Thoughts
No doubt about it, the 2010 Nissan Rogue is an excellent Honda CR-V alternative that offers lots of features, driving enjoyment and space for a very reasonable price. While I might personally prefer a Rogue SL with leather seats, the Krom Edition still holds tremendous visual appeal.
I am just one of those people who would rather spend money on features that I use inside of the car (where I spend most of my time) and not on exterior add-ons. Honestly, however, that is probably also why I don’t get TV shows like “Pimp My Ride” either.
But as the Rogue Krom Edition is mostly about looking cool on the outside, perhaps Nissan should stop calling it a Sport Utility Vehicle and start calling it a Stylish Utility Vehicle. Lord knows that other car companies have come up with sillier acronyms for their SUVs. You know who you are BMW.
Vehicle Tested: 2010 Nissan Rogue S Krom Edition
Price as Tested: $24,740
Options: None (all-wheel drive is a no-cost option but tester was front wheel drive)
Transmission: CVT Automatic (Continuously Variable Transmission)
Engine: 2.5 liter 4 cylinder
Output: 170 horsepower/175 lb. feet of torque
Economy: 22 city/27 highway
Cargo Space (Second Row Up): 28.9 cubic feet
(With Second Row Folded Flat): 57.9 cubic feet
Fuel Tank: 15.9 Gallons
0-60: 8.6 Seconds (Estimated)
Warranty: 3 year/36,000 mile bumper to bumper
5 year/60,000 powertrain coverage
CVT Transmission Coverage Extension for 2003-2010 Nissans: 10 years/120,000 miles
Crash Ratings (Government): Front Impact—Four Stars
Side Impact—Five Stars
Rollover Protection—Four Stars
Also Test Drive: 2010 Honda CR-V, 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2010 Hyundai Tucson
