I drove Nissan's popular $40,000 Rogue SUV. These were my 14 favorite features

The Rogue's only powerplant option is Nissan's KR15DDT variable compression engine. This gutsy three-cylinder engine produces 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, which are substantially better than the previous iterations.

It's equipped with Nissan's unique variable compression technology, which can vary the compression ratio within the engine from 8:1 under hard acceleration up to 14:1 for more efficient operation while cruising along.

The turbocharged engine sends strong power throughout the rev range. The three-cylinders remained remarkably quiet and smooth even under the strain of hard acceleration.

The Rogue's EPA fuel economy figures are solid at 28 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined. I got just over 30 mpg in my 120-mile test loop, which consisted of city and highway driving in the searing Georgia summer heat.

Nissan revamped the Rogue's front end for 2024, replacing the previous design's black mesh grill with prominent chrome bars running across the width of the front facia. Designers also updated the look of the air dam and the bumper below the grille.

The Rogue's cabin is a really pleasant place to be. Interior ergonomics are excellent and everything feels well put together. My test car had over 8,000 miles on the clock, yet it felt as solid as new. There were no squeaks or rattles to report.

There's also a plethora of storage for items ranging from mobile devices to purses inside and under the center console

The Rogue comes standard with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, intelligent forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and intelligent driver awareness.

All Rogues except the base S-trim are equipped with Nissan's ProPILOT Assist intelligent cruise control and steering assist technology.

The biggest change in the Rogues' cabin is the addition of this new optional 12.3-inch touch-sensitive infotainment screen that replaces the old 9-inch unit.

Screen quality was excellent, and Nissan's updated infotainment system proved to be intuitive and with quick response times.

Lower trim levels still get the standard 8-inch unit.

The Rogue comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto along with Google Assist integration.

The Rogue offers drivers five different drive modes, two of which are available only on all-wheel-drive models. All Rogues get an Auto mode for day-to-day driving, a Sport mode for enhanced throttle response, and an Eco mode for fuel efficiency.

Since my SL-grade test car was equipped with an optional all-wheel-drive system, I also had access to a Snow mode for slippery conditions and an Off-road mode for driving in dirt, sand, and hilly terrain.

The Rogue's high trim levels come equipped with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The digital display is highly configurable and can be tailored to the driver's taste.

Lower spec S and SV trims still have a traditional analog gauge cluster.

My Rogue SL test car came equipped with Nissan's motion-activated power liftgate which will open or close when you kick your leg about a foot behind the back bumper while in possession of the key.

The feature is only available on the SL and Platinum trims as an option.

Open up the Rogue's power liftgate, and you'll find a solid 31.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. With the 60/40 rear bench seats folded down, cargo space increases to 74.1 cubic feet.

The Rogue's cargo floor can be removed to expand the cargo capacity behind the rear seats from 31.6 to 36.5 cubic feet. More importantly, it's home to Nissan's divide-n-hide cargo system, which uses the cargo floor panels as configurable cargo dividers.

My test car was equipped with a surround-view monitor system that stitched together images from the Rogue's various cameras to create a 360-degree overhead view of the vehicle.

The Rogue SL's power panoramic moonroof brightens up the cabin.

It's optional on the SV and SL trims but standard on the top-spec Platinum trim.

Rogue's rear cabin proved to be exceptionally comfortable, with plush leather-upholstered seats, an impressive 41.5 inches of legroom, sunshades, USB-C chargers, and dedicated climate controls.

The Rogue's engine can be started remotely by holding down a button on the keyfob, a handy feature on hot summer days or cold winter mornings.

The feature is standard on all Rogues except the base S trim.

Under the rear cargo floor is a spare tire and the subwoofer for the Rogue's stereo. I appreciated the fact that the Rogue maintains a spare tire in an era where the OEMs opt for the cheaper and lighter tire inflation kit.