2026.5 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Review

This week, I’m driving the 2026.5 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek, the more rugged-looking version of one of America’s best-selling compact SUVs. The Rogue has long been popular for its comfort, technology, and value, and the Rock Creek edition gives it a tougher personality aimed at buyers who want an outdoorsy vibe without stepping into a true off-road vehicle. For 2026.5, Nissan hasn’t reinvented the formula, but it has given the Rock Creek a light mid-year refresh that adds a little polish while keeping everything that made it appealing in the first place.

Exterior    

From the outside, the Rock Creek still stands apart from other Rogue trims. The aggressive grille treatment, blacked-out trim, tubular roof rack, and chunky all-terrain tires give it a much tougher look than the standard Rogue.

For the 2026.5 model, Nissan has made subtle exterior refinements, including updated trim finishes and a few new color choices, like this Obsidian Green that I am reviewing that add freshness without changing the overall design.

It still looks trail-ready, even if most of its adventures are more likely to involve gravel roads, campsites, and bad weather than serious off-road terrain.

Performance

Under the hood, nothing changes for 2026.5, and that’s not a bad thing. The turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine returns, paired with Nissan’s continuously variable transmission.  Together they put out 201-horses and 225 pound-feet of torque. Power delivery is smooth and more than adequate for daily driving, highway merging, and road trips. All-wheel drive remains standard on the Rock Creek, providing extra confidence in rain, snow, or loose surfaces. For those worried about the Nissan CVT, don’t. This has evolved into a very reliable transmission and is actually less annoying than most CVTs.

Interior   

Inside, the Rogue Rock Creek continues to focus on comfort and usability. The heated front seats are supportive and comfortable for longer drives, and the Rock Creek embroidery adds a subtle reminder that this isn’t just another grocery-getter. For the 2026.5 update, Nissan has made minor interior trim improvements and refined cabin lighting, giving the interior a slightly more upscale feel without changing the overall layout. Everything is logically placed, easy to use, and refreshingly straightforward.

The gauge cluster combines a clear digital display with traditional-style readouts, presenting speed, driver-assistance status, navigation prompts, and vehicle information in a clean, easy-to-read layout that avoids looking busy or overcomplicated.  You can configure and operate or turn off some of the many safety features on the Rogue.  You have a tachometer on the left, speedometer on the right, or there is a digital speedometer right in the middle, which I prefer.

Technology remains one of the Rogue’s strengths. The infotainment system is intuitive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto working as expected. There is Wi-Fi and SiriusXM all built into the 8” center screen.  That is a small screen by today’s standards, but it is proportional to the Rogue.  Thankfully, there are buttons and knobs for the functions you use most, like volume and all the air conditioning controls.  On the center console you’ll find a stubby gear shifter, the auto hold button, USB-C ports, wireless phone charging, and a round dial to change the drive modes between Standard, Sport, Eco, Snow, and Off-Road, allowing the driver to tailor throttle response and all-wheel-drive behavior for everything from daily commuting to slick roads and light trail use.

Passenger room is generous for a compact SUV, with plenty of space for adults in both rows. The rear seat is comfortable, and the wide-opening doors make getting in and out easy.  Rear occupants have a pull down armrest, very generous legroom, air conditioning vents, and a pair of USB-C ports.

The cargo area is spacious for a compact SUV, offering about 36.5 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats and expanding to roughly 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded flat, making it easy to haul everything from groceries to weekend gear.  The Rock Creek comes standard with a power liftgate, a very nice feature often omitted on compact SUVs.

Standard Equipment

Standard features on the Rogue Rock Creek include 17-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, LED headlights and fog lights, unique Rock Creek exterior trim with tubular roof rack, Prima-Tex leatherette heated front seats with Rock Creek embroidery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-inch touchscreen with NissanConnect services, a digital gauge display, and the 360-degree Around View Monitor.

Safety    

Standard safety features include ProPILOT Assist with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning with intervention, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, a rearview monitor, and Nissan’s 360-degree Around View Monitor.

Options

Options on my tester include the $800 Premium package which includes a hands-free power liftgate, memory driver’s seat and power passenger seat, a wireless charging pad, and a heated steering wheel.  $450 gets you all-weather floor mats and cargo mat, and a first aid kit.  There is a $450 charge for the paint, $260 for splash guards, $205 for a retractable cargo cover, and $445 for the Frameless Rearview Mirror with Universal Remote opener.

Ride and Drive 

On the road, the Rock Creek drives much like the standard Rogue, which is to say it’s comfortable, quiet, and easy to live with. The suspension does a good job soaking up rough pavement, and the steering is light and predictable. Road noise is well controlled, though you’ll notice a bit more tire noise from the all-terrain tires compared to other Rogue trims. Still, it’s a small trade-off for the added confidence and rugged look they provide.

Verdict 

The 2026.5 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek doesn’t try to be something it’s not. Nissan didn’t add more ground clearance or serious off-road hardware, and that’s fine. Instead, the mid-year updates focus on keeping the Rock Creek feeling fresh with subtle styling and interior refinements, while preserving its strengths in comfort, technology, and everyday usability. If you liked the Rock Creek before, the 2026.5 model gives you the same capable, confident compact SUV with just a bit more polish, making it an easy recommendation for buyers who want rugged style without sacrificing daily comfort.

Fuel economy is rated at 27 city, 32 highway, and 29 overall.  Where the Rogue Rock Creek really shines is pricing.  Total MSRP as equipped is $38,190 before any discounts and Nissan stays very aggressive with it’s incentive on Rogue.  Often compact SUVs are not well-thought out, but it is clear Nissan has made the Rogue Rock Creek something unique and very special.