Nissan’s compact Rogue SUV may be named like a scalawag, but its road manners are downright sophisticated. With a profile almost indistinguishable from the larger Nissan Murano, the Rogue has a dash of design personality in a segment dominated by square bodies. Our indigo blue tester from Pye Nissan in Dalton, Ga., was a top-of-the-line SL model with all wheel drive, leather interior and a seven-speaker Bose sound system. “It’s a really good family vehicle,” said Trey Watkins, a salesman at Pye Nissan. “We get a lot of people who want the high driving position of an SUV and the handling of a sedan.”

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS: Powered by a 170-horsepower, four-cylinder engine, our Rogue was nimble if not quick. All Rogues come with a continuously variable transmission. This gearless marvel eliminates downshifts. Curiously, the AWD Rogue SL is equipped with manual paddle shifters capable of raising engine RPMs with a fl ick of a thumb for a burst of torque. Leather seat surfaces and quality dash materials make the Rogue’s cabin as comfortable as your living room.

FEATURES: Equipped with a $2,250 premium package, our AWD Rogue tester had a bushel of upscale amenities including Xenon headlamps, Bluetooth compatibility and an intelligent key system for keyless ignition. The leather package, a $1,950 option, includes heated seats and an electronic compass.

The Rogue’s cargo capacity is impressive. A pop-top cargo organizer in the rear would be perfect for Little League gear or to secure backpacks during the morning car pool.

BOTTOM LINE: The AWD Rogue gets 27 mpg highway and 22 mpg city, respectable for SUVs. (The front-wheel-drive Rogue gets a 1 mpg premium overall, averaging 24 mpg in combined driving.) Base models start at $20,220. Our tester, with virtually every option available, carried a sticker price of $29,715.

Compact SUVs have become the Swiss Army knives of the automotive world. Look for the Rogue to compete with more established nameplates like the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. And don’t ever count out a Rogue in a knife fight.

(E-mail your questions or comments to Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com.)

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