The 2017 Nissan Qashqai finally made its way to the United States as the Nissan Rogue Sport. It slots right between the Nissan Rogue and the Nissan Juke and everyone seems to love it.
According to a report by Motor Authority, the popular Nissan Rogue compact SUV gets a little bolder. First unveiled at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, it will officially be on sale this spring! The Rogue Sport is America's very own second-generation Qashqai, which was available elsewhere since 2014.
The United States is a mixing pool of over 300 million people. Americans are typically boorish, and the Japanese automaker felt that Americans would have some difficulty pronouncing "Qashqai" (pronounced KASH-kay). They opted to renaming it the Rogue Sport instead.
Why Didn't They Give it A New Name? Most people are probably wondering why the Qashqai wasn't just renamed altogether? After all, it would probably have been less confusing if it had a different name. To answer this, Christian Meunier, Nissan North America's senior vice president of sales and marketing, told Car and Driver that the decision was due to the Rogue's success.
The Nissan Rogue has been growing successfully in the United States. The car's name is now very popular, and with the recent release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the new Nissan Rogue One, the SUV has really been getting a lot of attention.
Etymology. The Nissan Qashqai got its name from a group of nomadic people that settled in Southern Persia (present day Iran) in the 15th century. While there is no official definition, the Japanese automaker has settled with one suggestion that says "a horse with a white spot on its forehead." The name made its way to Canada but it was not for the United States market.
Nissan Rogue Sport. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine powers the Nissan Rogue Sport. It comes with a choice of all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. It is capable of 141 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It rides with an independent suspension for both front and rear which helps maintain better ground contact.
The Japanese automaker finally decided to bring it to North America because it believes it will be a popular choice due to its pocket-size versatility and edgy styling. This SUV was specifically designed for those who think the Juke's interior is too tiny or is put off by its outlandish design, but also don't want to settle for the larger Rogue. While the Rogue Sport and the original Rogue are based on fundamentally the same chassis, the Rogue Sport is a full foot shorter in length and 5.6 inches shorter in height.
The difference in size is the only thing that sets the Rogue Sport and the Rogue apart pretty much. Inside, the Rogue Sport has leather upholstery, remote engine start, and push-button ignition. It also has a 7-inch touchscreen navigation, dual-zone climate control, and a host of active safety features.
The 2017 Nissan Qashqai will be available as the Rogue Sport this spring. While pricing has yet to be announced, it will likely be between $20,000 to $24,000.
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