2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Review: Answering the Call of Adventure

Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition It’s been around since 2019, but didn’t really find its groove until 2023. Thanks to a robust redesign, the model has been transformed into a stylish and capable crossover with an upgraded suspension and meaty off-road tires.

This has proven to be a winning combination, so Nissan Rock Creek has decided to extend its treatment to the 2025 Rogue. The results speak for themselves, as the model is more polished and adds a bit more flair.

QUICK FACTS

Off-Road Attitude

Michael Gauthier / Carscoops

While standard Bandit It is many things, durability is not one of them. This forced the design team to get creative and incorporate some cues from Pathfinder Rock Creek. The resulting design is noticeably more muscular, with the crossover featuring a unique front fascia with a gloss black grille with three silver accents. These are accompanied by a gloss black front bumper, matching mirrors and Lava Red accents. These are paired with a Boulder Grey, Baja Storm, Super Black or Everest White paint job.

The adventurous look is further enhanced by the tubular roof rack that supports up to 100 kg (220 lbs). Buyers will also find 17-inch satin black wheels wrapped in Falken Wild Peak all-terrain tires; These tires provide additional traction for off-the-beaten-path adventures.

A Stylish and Comfortable Cabin

Michael Gauthier / Carscoops

Since then Rogue Rock Creek The cabin, aimed at customers with an active lifestyle, features “moisture-repellent ballistic material” as well as stylish seats covered with leather upholstery. They are comfortable and supportive, which is exactly what you want when traveling on bumpy roads. The front seats are also heated and feature Lava Red accents that add a much-needed splash of color to the interior.

Additional changes are limited, but the Rock Creek Edition features piano black trim and a 12-volt power outlet in the cargo area. This is on top of the usual standard equipment, which includes a six-speaker audio system and an 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Our tester was equipped with the $800 Premium Package, which provides great value for money. In addition to a wireless smartphone charger and a heated steering wheel, the package also includes a four-way power front passenger seat, LED accent lighting and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. These are accompanied by a motion-activated electric tailgate, side mirrors with integrated direction indicators and a memory function for the driver’s seat.

A Crossover That’s Not Afraid of Getting Dirty

As you’ve probably noticed, Rogue Rock Creek eschews the difficult upgrades typically associated with off-road vehicles. This limits the model’s capacity, but there are a number of functional changes as well as off-road tires.

Chief among these are the off-road focused suspension and the unique Hill Descent Control system. The latter is exclusive to the Rock Creek Edition and worked well during our limited testing. When you approach a steep hill, simply press a button on the mode selector and descend while the vehicle automatically brakes to slow down at a predictable rate.

When driving uphill, Terrain View shows what’s directly in front of the vehicle and what’s to the sides. This is extremely beneficial as it eliminates major blind spots when approaching summits. The screen operates at speeds of up to 19 km/h (12 mph) and can also help you avoid obstacles hidden under the vehicle, although the image quality leaves much to be desired.

While the Rogue is undoubtedly aimed at the street, Off-Road mode tunes the transmission, traction and all-wheel drive systems to cope with the task at hand. It also appeared that the steering and throttle response had been retuned to allow for slower, more deliberate inputs.

Aside from off-road capabilities, power is provided by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine producing 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 225 lb-ft (305 Nm) of torque. It is connected to the xtronic continuously variable transmission and standard all-wheel drive system.

Thanks to all these features, the Rogue is surprisingly capable off-road. Of course, we weren’t in Moab, but this pass easily negotiated steep climbs, gentle fords, and dirt trails. These are not challenging obstacles, but they are likely more extreme than most owners will face.

A Beautiful Blend of Style and Substance

Rogue Rock Creek is capable of backing up its rugged appearance as long as you keep your expectations in check. This should be more than enough for consumers looking for an outdoor-oriented crossover with a little more capability.

In addition to handling everything thrown at it, the crossover remained quiet and comfortable. Pricing isn’t too low either, as the model starts at $35,420 before the $1,390 destination charge. This is approximately equal to: Chevrolet Equinox ActiveThis is also aimed at the off-road crowd.

Bonus Spin: Rogue Goes Hands-Free with ProPilot Assist 2.1

The Rock Creek Edition tops the changes for 2025, but Nissan also added ProPilot Assist 2.1. The hands-free semi-autonomous driving system is available on SL and Platinum trims as part of the $3,200 Technology Package, which also includes rain-sensing wipers and 3D Enhanced Intelligent Around View Monitor.

Although the system is not cheap, ProPilot Assist 2.1 promises to make long journeys much more enjoyable by performing steering, acceleration and braking operations on the highway. When hands-free driving is available, the dashboard display turns from green to blue and you can activate the system with the touch of a button.

Unfortunately, the nature of our driving loop was heavy, and hands-free mode was only available for short sections. These were less than ideal conditions, and there was noticeable side-to-side movement in the lane when hands-free driving was active.

Other than that, the system worked well and the transition between hands-free and hands-on mode was seamless. It’s also worth noting that driver monitoring technology isn’t much of a nanny, as you can briefly shift your focus without screaming. So, if your commute involves a lot of highway driving, you might want to consider getting ProPilot Assist 2.1.

Michael Gauthier / Carscoops