Nissan is performing a double-take with its 2022 Rogue five-seat crossover. The Rogue got a complete redesign for the 2021 model year, but its waterloo has to be its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Although 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft. of torque looks good on paper, the naturally-aspirated motor has laggard acceleration and so-so fuel economy, but the 2022 Nissan Rogue is changing all that.

2022 Nissan Rogue: What?s New"

Nissan has ditched the old 2.5-liter four-banger in favor of the brand?s proprietary variable compression and turbocharged (VC-Turbo) motor, mainly a 1.5-liter three-cylinder mill derived from the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine of the Nisan Altima. Nissan?s VC-Turbo can vary the stroke length and adjust the compression ratio from 14.0:1 to 8.0:1 depending on your right foot inputs.
?The VC-Turbo is the most advanced engine Nissan has ever produced in the U.S.,? said Steve Marsh, senior vice-president, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Nissan North America.

Even though we?re talking about a meager three-cylinder, it pumps out 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft. of torque on regular 87 octane gas, 20 more horses and 44 additional lb-ft. of torque versus the outgoing 2.5-liter engine. Also new is an updated Xtronic CVT gearbox (thankfully) with a twin oil pump system (to reduce friction) and a wider gear ratio to improve acceleration and fuel economy.

The Rogue?s new engine is built exclusively at Nissan?s powertrain assembly plant in Dech...