Savvy shoppers know that if you want to get the best deal on a car, your best bet is to buy a model that is just a few years older than what's currently being sold as new inventory.
The 2015 Nissan Rogue gets its power from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) - a marriage that cranks out 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. While front-wheel drive is standard on the Rogue, some models are equipped with all-wheel drive, which, according to Edmunds, can get your 2015 Nissan Rogue going zero - 60 mph in just 9 seconds. Let's compare that to the 2017 Nissan Rogue - the newest model currently on the market.
The 2017 Nissan Rogue is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) - which gives the 2017 Nissan Rogue 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Seem familiar? It should - the two models have exactly the same engine, they were just released 24 months apart. So if you're considering purchasing a new model Nissan Rogue just to get peak engine performance, you may want to reconsider your plan and opt for the 2015 model. You'll lose nothing in performance and gain dollars in your wallet if you choose to buy used.
Of course, we'd be remiss to talk about performance and engines and not mention fuel economy - after all, once you own the car keeping it fueled up and ready to go is going to be an ongoing cost, so it's important to know exactly what you're getting yourself into.
If you decide to buy a new-to-you 2015 Nissan Rogue, you'll be getting yourself into an SUV that gets an EPA-estimated 28 miles to the gallon combined - 26 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. In fact, if you make the decision to buy the newest model 2017 Nissan Rogue, you'll only be improving your estimated fuel economy by one highway mile… which is not worth the price you'll be paying in depreciation. Of course, it goes without saying that the Nissan Rogue gets excellent fuel economy for being a compact SUV, so why not maximize your potential savings and buy a less expensive, just slightly used 2015 model - it's a win-win when you purchase and when you head to the gas pumps.
As mentioned, the Nissan Rogue is a part of the compact SUV class - but that doesn't mean that your passengers are going to feel like crammed in sardines - and it also doesn't mean you're limited to only five passengers. You may be surprised to learn that the 2015 Nissan Rogue actually can fit seven passengers, thanks to the third row bench seating available in some trims.
Cargo room is also generous, even if you engage the third row seats, you'll still have 9.4 cubic feet of space to fill. Collapse those seats and you'll expand your cargo hold to 32 cubic feet, which grows to a cavernous 70 cubic feet if you collapse the second row seats as well. That's plenty of room for airport runs, soccer practice equipment and even bulk-buy grocery trips.
Of course, not all 2015 Nissan Rogues are created equal, which is why it's so important to familiarize yourself with the three different available trims. Between the base model S, the mid-level SV and the SL, you are sure to find a 2015 Nissan Rogue that offers all of the creature comforts and amenities you need and want in your SUV.
If saving money is your main goal in buying a used car, it makes sense to consider the base model S first - especially because this base model still comes with some best-in-class amenities. Opt for the S and you'll be cruising around enjoying keyless entry, a five-inch color display screen, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a CD player, a USB port, and iPod hookup, an auxiliary cable and four-speaker sound system in which to blast your favorite beats. You'll also have LED running lights, cruise control, 40/20/40 split-folding backseats and a rearview camera.
Now compare that to the 2017 Nissan Rogue S, which offers drivers a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, a five-inch infotainment display screen, a USB port, a four speaker sound system… you get it - the amenities are virtually the exact same. So why not make the clever choice and bypass the new and more expensive 2017 Nissan Rogue S (and even bypass the much less expensive 2015 Nissan Rogue S) and spend your hard-earned dollars buying a nicer trim type than you could ever afford in a brand new model and instead opt for it in an older model car? Something like the SV trim perhaps?
What makes the SV trim worth the extra bucks? Amenities, such as rear privacy glass, dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio, automatic headlights and a six-speaker audio system, for a start.
Of course, you could go all out and jump straight into the top trim - the SL. Buy the 2015 Nissan Rogue SL and you're going to be riding around in true luxury and comfort thanks to the leather upholstery, heated front seats, navigation system, seven-inch touchscreen display, Bose audio system (with eight speakers), heated mirrors, a power liftgate, voice controls and a 360-degree parking camera. And that's before you even consider buying a car that the previous owner has loaded down with the additional packages - so you may end up buying a 2015 Nissan Rogue that also has advanced safety features, such as a lane-departure warning system, blind-spot monitoring system or a forward collision warning system.
If advanced safety features aren't your thing, don't worry - perhaps the previous owner splurged on the LED headlights or panoramic sunroof. There's no telling what you may find if you start shopping the 2015 Nissan Rogues - but you can rest easy knowing someone else spent much more than you did just to get the features that you're now enjoying at a fraction of the price.
In the end though, you could have all the very best features the top trim and optional packages have to offer, but if you don't feel safe driving your 2015 Nissan Rogue, you won't be able to enjoy the ride.
Luckily, you won't have to worry about that when you're cruising around in your new-to-you Rogue - this compact SUV was given the top rating of "Good" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and was even named an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2015.
The IIHS doesn't stand alone in recognizing the safety of the 2015 Nissan Rogue. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2015 Nissan Rogue a four out five stars overall safety rating for both its all-wheel and front-wheel drive models.
So no matter which model you choose, you can rest assured that you and your family and friends are well protected in the 2015 Nissan Rogue - and that's before you even factor in any additional advanced safety technology.
And just in case you were still on the fence about buying new or used - don't worry about skimping on safety if you opt for the used model… the 2017 Nissan Rogue also received a four star rating from the NHTSA.
 