Teens, screens, time pressure and other challenges to navigate on a family road trip
I found both when I packed up the car with my husband and two kids — one of them a teenager — for the eight-hour drive from Boston to Niagara Falls. We had taken long road trips as a family in the past, but our kids, now 8 and 14, were older. My son, firmly in his 'closed-door, don't talk to me' phase, wasn't exactly thrilled about spending over 460 miles trapped in our smallish Nissan Rogue. We also live in a part of the country where we don't spend much time in cars in our everyday life.
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Motor 1
2 days ago
- Motor 1
Mechanic Says CVTs Are Prone to Giving Out Early. Then He Reveals One Thing You Can Do to Make Your Car Last
A mechanic is offering advice to CVT transmission owners that will keep their Nissans running as long as possible. TikTok user Auto Parts City ( @autopartscity ) is an auto parts reseller based in Gurnee, Illinois. On July 5, the team behind Auto Parts City posted a video that includes a tip for owners of Nissan's continuously variable transmission, better known as CVT. Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . 'This is a 2016 Nissan Rogue transmission that we sold,' the person behind the camera says. 'And we like to make fun of these Nissan transmissions because they all blow up because of the poor CVT. But Juan over here wants to give all of you CVT owners some advice.' Juan explains that Nissan CVT transmissions include two filters. 'One in the pan itself, in the bottom,' Juan says. 'And this small one is an external filter for the transmission. Now, you're supposed to replace your transmission fluid every 35-40k, in order for this transmission to last you over 200,000 miles.' According to Juan, a lot of people overlook replacing the second external filter to the detriment of their vehicle. 'If you change your oil on your CVT every 30-40k, change this filter, and the pan filter, your transmission will last pretty much the life of the vehicle,' Juan says. The History of CVT Transmissions The CVT is notorious in the automotive community. Unlike a traditional automatic transmission, the CVT has no gears, and instead uses a two-pulley system to send energy from the engine to the vehicle's wheels. CVTs are cheaper to manufacture than traditional transmissions and are also more fuel efficient. Trending Now 'Never Seen Someone Do This:' Genesis Driver Pulls Into Love's Gas Pump. Then a Man Pulls Up Right Behind Her, Takes the Nozzle 'He Still Owes Money On It:' Man's Lexus Gets Stolen. So Why Is the Insurance Company Refusing to Pay Out? Of course, these benefits come with drawbacks, in particular, the sound of the engine and the feel of changing gears. That can be a dealbreaker for more serious automotive enthusiasts and even casual drivers alike. And that's not even mentioning the class action lawsuit Nissan settled this summer with owners of 2015-2018 Muranos and 2016-2018 Maximas. The owners claimed that the CVT transmissions in those model years were defective. Nissan agreed to extend warranties and reimburse owners for prior repairs. Some owners might qualify for a $1,500 voucher. Viewers Weigh in on CVTs In the comments, viewers debated the quality of Nissan vehicles and how to best maintain a CVT. 'Servicing of filters and replacing the oil is all well and good, but the Nissan CVT transmissions suffer from heat soak because they operate at a higher PSI pressure,' wrote one person. 'So I strongly recommend the installation of an external oil cooler to lower the oil temperatures and prolong the life of the CVT oil.' 'This is actually very valuable advice,' wrote a second. 'Thank you for sharing what some might consider a trade secret. My now junked Sentra had 140k miles, and I doubt any previous owners bothered to change CVT oil.' 'The government forcing gas mileage created this,' said another person. 'Manufacturers trying every trick.' Motor1 reached out to Auto Parts City via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We'll update this if it responds. More From Motor1 The Subaru WRX STI Is Back, But Only With a CVT 2025 Nissan Murano: This Is It Why We Hate The CVT Toyota Will Sell You A GR Yaris Lookalike In Japan With 118 HP And A CVT Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Motor Trend
31-07-2025
- Motor Trend
2026 Nissan Rogue Arms Itself Darkly, So Far Deflects Tariffs
With tariff talk making car pricing a guessing game, a lot of manufacturers are waiting as long as they can to announce new MSRPs. But the Nissan Rogue, our top-rated compact SUV, is made right here in 'Murica—most of 'em, anyway—and Nissan has announced prices as well as a new trim level for the 2026 model year. It's good news all around. The 2026 Nissan Rogue introduces a new Dark Armor package and modest price hikes, except for the top-line Platinum model, which sees a $1,000 decrease. The Rogue remains largely unchanged, with new models addressing a recall issue. It starts at $30,180 and is now available at dealerships. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article. Read Next Most Nissan Rogue trims will see an increase of just $200 for 2026, which means the entry-level Rogue S with front-wheel drive will sticker for $30,180 including the $1,390 destination fee (unchanged from 2025). The Rogue SV will start at $31,180 and the Rogue SL at $36,680, and if you want to add all-wheel drive to any of the above, that'll be another $1,400, please. The Rock Creek model, which comes with all-wheel-drive standard, lists for $35,080. One Gets... Cheaper? We've left out the top-of-the-line Platinum model, which is a curiosity. It's the one Rogue model built overseas, in Japan, and it actually sees a $1,000 price decrease , down to $40,380 with standard all-wheel-drive. (Tariffs? What tariffs?) We scoured the standard-equipment list and can't find anything in the 2025 Rogue Platinum that is missing from the 2026 model. From what Nissan tells us, the Rogue is unchanged for 2026. Darker Armor Actually, that's not entirely right. There is a new trim level called Dark Armor, which is the one you see here in the photos. It dresses up the SV trim with blacked-out badges, grille, mirrors, roof rails and door pillars, plus attractive 19-inch black wheels. Equipment builds on that of the SV with the addition of a 360-degree parking camera, panoramic sunroof, faux leather upholstery, and heated front seats and steering wheel. Like the SV, and unlike the Rock Creek model, the Dark Armor will be available with front- or all-wheel-drive. Nissan has not announced pricing, but we expect it will cost more than the SV but less than the Rock Creek and SL models. There's a reason we rank the Rogue so highly; we like its roomy cabin, built-in Google features, and the power of its three-cylinder turbocharged engine, though we wish it were quieter and had a hybrid option. You may have read that the Rogue got itself into a spot of bother recently with a recall for its variable-compression VC Turbo engine. Dealers will drop oil pan and look for debris, if they find any, the Rogue in question could be getting a new engine. Undamaged engines get a new program for the engine control unit, and Nissan tells us that fix will already be applied to new 2026 Rogues. Ready to bite? The 2026 Nissan Rogue should be arriving in dealerships as you read this—and since the 2026s are essentially unchanged, look for the opportunity to snag a good deal on a 2025.
Auto Blog
30-07-2025
- Auto Blog
2026 Nissan Rogue Revealed As All-New RAV4 Looms
The Chevrolet Cruze returns for 2026, but unlikely to make a US comeback with its current source. View post: Remember the Chevrolet Cruze? It's Back, And You Probably Know Where It's Sourced This won't be nearly as wild as the Ioniq 6 N. The 2026 GMC Acadia Denali Ultimate will be one of the most expensive three-row SUVs in its class. 'They are by far the best containers I've ever used.' View post: Walmart Is Selling 'Heavy Duty' $65 Industrial Storage Bins for $37, and Shoppers Say They're 'Worth the Money' 2026 Rogue Gains Stylish New Trim The Nissan Rogue has been a mainstay of the compact crossover segment for many years now, with the current generation having first arrived for the 2021 model year. For 2026, Nissan has just released updated pricing and a new Dark Armor trim, which aims to satisfy consumers' apparent obsession with blacked-out cars. Considering that an all-new Toyota RAV4 is about to arrive, Nissan's changes aren't all that adventurous. Stylish Dark Armor Trim As ever, vehicle design is subjective, but the current Rogue generation is definitely one of the more stylish options in its class. It has a more upscale look than most rivals, much like the new Mazda CX-5, and the Dark Armor model builds upon this. Based on the SV, the Dark Armor adds gloss black exterior accents around the exterior, with the finish applied to the badging, mirrors, grille bars, and pillar trim. It also receives attractive 19-inch gloss black wheels, while the roof rails get a satin black finish. Inside, the Dark Armor gets some more equipment over the SV, too. The list includes heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a surround-view monitor with moving object detection, and a panoramic moonroof. If you prefer a more rugged look, the Rogue Rock Creek is still available for 2026. It rides on more practical 17-inch wheels wrapped in Falken Wild Peak all-terrain tires, and also gets a bespoke front fascia. Small Price Increase For 2026 For the new model year, the Nissan Rogue starts at $28,790, which is $200 more than before. We don't know pricing for the 2026 RAV4 yet, but the Rogue is cheaper than the 2026 Honda CR-V, which begins at $30,920. Here's the full pricing for the 2026 Nissan Rogue: Rogue S FWD: $28,790 Rogue SV FWD: $29,790 Rogue Dark Armor FWD: TBC Rogue SL FWD: $35,290 Rogue S AWD: $30,190 Rogue SV AWD: $31,190 Rogue Dark Armor AWD: TBC Rogue Rock Creek AWD: $33,690 Rogue SL AWD: $36,690 Rogue Platinum AWD: $38,990 As you can see, pricing for the new Dark Armor isn't available yet, but its positioning in the lineup suggests it will start at around the $32,000 mark. We also noticed that the top Platinum variant is no longer available with front-wheel drive; like the Rock Creek, it now comes with only all-wheel drive. Questionable Variable Compression Ratio Engine Remains Source: Nissan A few years ago, Nissan dropped the larger naturally-aspirated engine from the Rogue in favor of the current 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which has a variable compression ratio. Producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, the engine delivers a reasonable combination of performance and efficiency, although it can't compete with more powerful powertrains from several rivals. More concerningly, the VC-Turbo engine was recently recalled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a manufacturing defect that could lead to total engine failure. The recall was for 2021 to 2024 Rogues, as well as other Nissan and Infiniti models. Nissan dealers will inspect these engines and perform repairs or a complete engine replacement if necessary. Besides this engine's troubles, Nissan has had trouble in the past with the Rogue's CVT, indicating a level of powertrain fragility simply not seen in the RAV4. Assuming these engine issues are sorted, the Rogue is a competent crossover, and we expect the 2026 version to go on sale imminently. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
