Refreshed 2014 Nissan Rogue unveiled

The 2014 Nissan Rogue made its U.S debut at the Nissan Technical center in Farmington, Mich. on Tuesday, in tandem with the 2014 Nissan X-Trail.

The five-year refresher brings in a more aggressive design, aerodynamic upgrades, a tweaked engine and drivetrain components.

A 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine powers the Rogue, producing 170 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. That is mated with the next generation Nissan Xtronic continuously variable transmission. Although power remains the same, the additional mpgs suggest economical-minded tuning. Nissan estimates 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined fuel economy in the four-wheel drive configuration.

From the exterior, the Rogue has aero-minded and masculine body lines that add to the well-tailored look of the redesigned SUV. Front tire air deflectors and rear tail lamp diverters add more than just a sleek appearance -- the redesigned body drops the aerodynamic coefficient of drag down 10 percent from previous years to 0.33 percent.

The refreshed 2014 Nissan Rogue is equipped with a 2.5-liter, four cylinder engine.

New driver-aiding electronics include active trace control, similar to a lane deviation warning system, active engine braking and active ride control. Standard electronic features include a 5-inch interior display with rear back-up camera. For added features, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and forward collision warning are offered on SV and SL models.

The 2014 Nissan Rogue in the SV and SL models come with optional third-row seating.

All three trims (S, SV, SL) include front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations.

The Rogue is rather roomy for its class. Though it falls in the compact SUV category, the 2014 Rogue is available in a three-row, seven-passenger capacity. However, the room in the rear row doesn't appear to be super comfortable for long distances. Adding to the utility, the center row rides on tracks allowing for 9 inches of fore and aft travel, as well as a tilt function. The power front driver seat is the only electronically aided seat; however, the manual adjust passenger seat is more than adequate.

The 2014 Nissan Rogue comes in with a base price of $23,350 for the front-wheel drive S trim. The SUV will be available in the U.S. in November.

By Brad Wiley