De QUEEN, Ark.--Exploring backroads in the desolate mountains around De Queen Lake this week in the almost great 2025 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek reminded me that the technological development of the internal combustion engine is past its apogee.
On the one hand is a flurry of development related to EVs. Smaller, cheaper, and more powerful batteries; lighter and more powerful motors; advances in recharging systems to make them faster and safer; electronic advances in traction and control; methods to make the power grid less expensive and more reliable – according to the trade journals all are somewhere between proof of concept and production.
Considering buying an EV? Good now. Better in a few years.
On the other hand, engineers have gone as far as they can go in wringing more efficiency out of petroleum-powered machines. How much more efficient? Not much. Over the past decade, the needle has moved a percentage point or two, but 70-75% of the energy that goes into an ICE is lost to heat and pollution. Electric motors, which have 1/10th the number of moving parts, convert more than 90% of their energy into power.
Where is this headed? Moving beyond the Sturm und Drang of political discourse, often drenched in hyperbole, we see history makes the salient point. In commerce, as in war, victory goes to the efficient. With great confidence, one might assume your house has neither a buggy out back nor a hitching post in front.
So, it was not ironic that the same week I tested the Rogue Rock Creek, Nissan and Honda said they were moving toward a merger. Both automakers operate in international markets. Such a move makes sense for the North American market--no longer the largest but still the richest on the planet.
With a government bent on imposing tariffs to protect American manufacturers from foreign competitors who have figured out how to build EVs for the masses, combining Honda's 12 U.S. factories with Nissan's four creates the opportunity for high-volume production behind any tariff wall or even if a tariff never occurs. It would also give Nissan access to the thing it needs more than anything else – a hybrid gas-electric powertrain.
One could go on at great length about the advantages of hybrids, from better fuel economy and environmental friendliness to more power and greater durability, but American consumers are figuring this out. Two years ago, one in 10 new vehicles was a hybrid. In the last quarter, it was one in five. Meteoric rises like that are typical of curves graphing diffusion of innovation. Things start slow, then take off.
Still the ICE engineers are giving the technology all they have.
To meet increased fuel efficiency standards, manufacturers moved from large V6 and V8 engines to smaller, turbocharged ones with four or even three cylinders. Higher compression squeezes more energy out of the fuel but forces gas and diesel through seals and valves to places it does not belong, meaning they are more susceptible to fires.
The interwebs go agog when an EV catches on fire, and they are spectacular because lithium-ion mix is so hard to extinguish, but these represent only 0.4% of all vehicle fires. ICE engines account for 98.1% of fires, a chief reason for millions of recalls in the past decade.
Small displacement engines have another problem: They run harder and faster, leading to significant breakdowns much earlier than larger ones.
In 1998, when Toyota showed the world that hybrids could work, Nissan put its eggs into dynamically changing compression ratios, the maximum air/fuel mixture to the minimum in an engine's cylinder.
High compression improves fuel economy. Low compression improves power. However, it cannot be optimized because it is fixed by a substantial rod between the crank and the cylinder head.
Nissan engineers changed that by adding extra moving parts, an actuator arm, and a multi-link system, which change the position of the pistons. This adjustment changes the compression ratio. They also added a complex control system.
One might think that adding parts and systems to a complex machine might affect durability, and there are indications that it did. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into multiple reports of knocking sounds, loss of power, metal bits in oil pans, and even total engine failures in Nissan VC engines used in several models, including the Altima, Rogue, and Pathfinder.
I am no engineer and will not guess where NHTSA's inquiry might lead; I only know that every time I drove the Rogue Rock Creek, which comes with a 201-hp turbocharged 1.5L, three-cylinder engine. Nissan is three iterations into this technology, and the powertrain delivered as promised: smooth power delivery, best-in-class fuel economy (this lead foot got 30.5 mpg), and cleaner emissions.
Still, the driveline vibrates at idle, shudders at takeoff, and shakes when slowing enough to worry me. Maybe it is not the engine. Maybe it is Nissan's lamentable constant-variable transmission. Whichever, one thought kept flowing through my mind: what a winner this would be with a hybrid.
Nissan thinks so, too. A plug-in-hybrid licensed from Mitsubishi's quite good Outlander (wildly popular in Australia) is due in showrooms in late 2025 as a 2026 model. With an excellent track record for durability, the rig features a 2.4-liter gasoline engine paired with two electric motors, providing a combined output of 248 horsepower. The plug-in, electric-only range in the slightly larger Outlander range is around 38 miles.
Pricing will an issue. Manufacturers seem to be increasing PHEV prices by multiples of the actual cost. A Rogue is not a $50,000 car.
Full disclosure: In the year since we bought a PHEV, Blonde Beauty and I have averaged 71.4 mpg, but it all depends on how often one drives less than the electric range.
Much to offer
The Rogue Rock Creek comes with an abundance of technology and desirable features. It has some off-road chops, thanks in part to a sophisticated camera system standard intelligent all-wheel drive system is supplemented by hill descent control, helping drivers maintain a steady speed when going down steep inclines.
The Rock Creek package includes styling changes inside and out, a beefy tubular roof rack, larger wheels and all-terrain tires.
With a base price of $30,620 and topping out at $40,910 for the fully-loaded Platinum, the Rock Creek presents a value-packed offering for those seeking a practical yet off-road-ready compact SUV.
As noted by Motor Trend, "The Rogue Rock Creek Edition is not only designed to handle rugged terrain with ease but also provides a comfortable and connected driving experience for everyday life."
Competition abounds
The Nissan Rogue Rock Creek AWD competes in a segment known for versatile, practical, and efficient vehicles:
Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road:
Price: Starting at $36,945
Fuel Economy: 25 mpg city / 32 mpg highway / 28 mpg combined
Strengths: Reliability, off-road capabilities, standard safety features
Weaknesses: Less cargo space, outdated infotainment system
Subaru Forester Wilderness:
Price: Starting at $35,245
Fuel Economy: 25 mpg city / 28 mpg highway / 26 mpg combined
Strengths: Standard all-wheel drive, spacious interior, excellent visibility
Weaknesses: Underpowered engine, limited towing capacity
Honda CR-V EX-L:
Price: Starting at $32,245
Fuel Economy: 27 mpg city / 32 mpg highway / 29 mpg combined
Strengths: Excellent fuel economy, roomy interior, comfortable ride
Weaknesses: Lackluster infotainment system, no off-road capabilities
Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo:
Price: Starting at $36,775
Fuel Economy: 22 mpg city / 27 mpg highway / 24 mpg combined
Strengths: Premium interior, engaging handling, luxurious design
Weaknesses: Smaller cargo capacity, lower fuel economy compared to rivals
Ford Escape SEL AWD:
Price: Starting at $33,010
Fuel Economy: 22 mpg city / 28 mpg highway / 25 mpg combined
Strengths: Roomy cargo area, multiple powertrain options, user-friendly technology
Weaknesses: Average fuel economy, subpar interior materials
Comfortable cabin
Inside is a testament to intelligent design. Cheap but durable door inserts aside, high-quality materials and good craft abound. Car and Driver highlights, "The Rock Creek Edition is an aesthetic upgrade that adds durability and a hint of ruggedness."
With room for five, the seating is comfortable, even on a long drive. With 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded, storage capacity is generous and versatile.
Safety first
Like all Rogue models, the Rock Creek boasts top ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard driver-assist technologies include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. Optional upgrades, such as ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link, add semi-autonomous driving capabilities for improved convenience and safety on extended journeys.
Good deal
We reserve judgment on the power train, but that may not concern you. Nissan is offering attractive leases, and those owners will have an enjoyable vehicle covered under Nissan's standard three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Adventure in style with water-repellant leatherette seating, heated seats and steering wheel, Lava Red accent stitching and piano black dashboard trim. (Photo courtesy of Nissan)