GOING ROGUE KRŌM

Nissan Rogue S Krōm By Sarah Palin* I can see Russia from my Rogue window Well, maybe not Russia, but certainly the car in front of the car in front of me. That is, after all, one of the most compelling reasons for commuters to buy SUVs and crossovers—and in this regard, the Rogue delivers the goods. With a height of 65.3 inches, the Rogue is right up there with mainstream American models of this popular genre. That height is not just for looking down the road, by the way. The Rogue has a ground clearance of 8.3 inches, which means the vehicle has some off-road credentials. I’m not saying you can go moose-hunting (this is, after all, a car-based crossover vehicle), but if you happen to run into some unfriendly climate, the Rogue is ready to rumble.

The Rogue in lipstick rouge You know what they say the difference between a Nissan Rogue and a Nissan Rogue Krōm? Lipstick. Chrome lipstick, that is. The Krōm model has all the goodness of the base Rogue, including Nissan’s tried-and-true 2.5-liter DOHC four cylinder motor—an engine that has proven itself well in everything from Frontier trucks to Altima sedans. It’s smooth, torque, and will likely keep running long past the life of most network news shows. What the Krōm edition does offer is a more attractive Rogue, with the Krōm-specific front bumper fascia, front bumper grille, radiator grille, rear bumper fascia, and rear roof spoiler, a center-exit sport-tuned exhaust, integrated fog lights, Krōm finish 17-inch allow wheels, P225/60R17 all-season tires, privacy glass, body-colored power outside mirrors, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. All-in-all, not a bad deal for the price.

Sans bumper stickers That bumper sticker that maybe you'll see on the next Prius driving by—you should stop the driver and say, 'So how is that hopey-changey thing working out for ya?'” I’ve got nothing against hybrids, hydrogen, or even cars that run on hot air, but sometimes you just need a vehicle that requires no excuses, no reservations, and no reasons for leaving it in the garage. The Rogue Krōm—definitely worth palling around in.

*Apologies to Sarah For more information about Nissan products, go to nissanusa.com

SPECIFICATIONS Name of vehicle: 2010 Nissan Rogue S Krōm Price: $24,060, with the Krōm Edition Package. EPA-rated fuel economy estimates (miles per gallon): 22 city/27 highway Engine: 2.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine Horsepower & torque: 170 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque 167 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque (California) Transmission: Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) Drive configuration: Front-wheel drive Steering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinion Suspension Front: Independent strut suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar Rear: Independent multi-link suspension with stabilizer bar Brakes: Four-wheel vented disc brakes Dimensions Length: 182.9 inches Width: 70.9 inches Height: 65.3 inches Curb weight: 3,281 pounds Performance 0-60 mph: 8.6 seconds