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Nissan announced yesterday that the current-generation Rogue would be concurrently produced for U.S. sales in Japan, Korea and the automaker’s Smyrna, Tennessee plant, which had us wondering: What about the Rogue Select?
According to a Nissan spokesman, the Rogue Select (which is essentially the last-generation Rogue) won’t be built alongside the current-generation Rogue in Japan, which may spell the end of the Select model in the states.
It’s unclear how many Rogue Selects Nissan sells in the U.S. Nissan doesn’t differentiate in its sales data between the two Rogue models. Last year, Cars.com reported that as much as 43 percent of new Rogues on dealer lots were Rogue Selects.
Nissan sells the 2015 Rogue Select for $2,990 less than 2015 Rogue.
A Nissan spokesman didn’t specify how many Rogues on sale in the U.S. would be built in Japan, Korea or the U.S.
In my area (per TrueCar to stay topical with the plethora of articles TrueCar has generated in the last few days.)
Rogue Select S AWD – $21,357
Rogue S AWD – $23,989
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm I can’t see any reason to buy the old model.
It’s not hard to find dealers on cars.com blowing these selects out in S awd trim for $17k, at that no haggle sort of price I’d argue these are a steal. Mediocre performance and interiors and all.
Dan you’ve said yourself, everyone in your area chooses the cheapest-eva option! White with hubcaps and FWD. No tint.
They’ve done this before in Canada back in the early 90’s Sentra and the earlier Sentra Classic were sold beside each other. It lasted a couple of years and filled a gap for not bringing the Micra in.
GM loves to sell its recently replaced models along side the current one, although usually its only to fleets. Speaking of which, I dont get the “Impala Limited” name. Why not just use “Classic” as they did before with the Malibu? “Limited” sounds more upscale than it should, given the model’s mission in life.
Does anyone know if GM counts the “Limited” in with the regular Impala as far as sales (as Nissan does)?
Nissan still sells what we know as the early 1990s Sentra in Mexico as the Tsuru. It does horribly, as expected, in crash testing and has no modern safety features. I wonder why Nissan thinks Mexican (or Indian, as per the Datsun Go’s terrible safety) lives are worth less? Just because they are not legally compelled to improve safety doesnt excuse them for not doing so.
“I wonder why Nissan thinks Mexican (or Indian, as per the Datsun Go’s terrible safety) lives are worth less? Just because they are not legally compelled to improve safety doesnt excuse them for not doing so.”
To add to Kyree’s comments, it only looks the way you’re describing it when you compare the older design to newer ones, which would be priced beyond the means of many – if not most – buyers in these countries.
Rather, compare the relative safety of these vehicles to what many of their buyers would otherwise be driving: Motorized scooters, bicycles, or completely worn-out used vehicles that were previously driven in more affluent countries.
Obviously, Nissan, Volkswagen, et al aren’t doing this for altruistic reasons; after all, they’re in the business of selling vehicles at a profit. However, it is an example of how global, free-market economics can benefit both the the producer and consumer.
Or maybe they are just building what the public will buy for the absolute cheapest they can? You know, like every other corporation that is no longer run by the original founder?
In countries where safety isn’t mandated, it isn’t done! Safety costs more, and these customers are poor and want cheap cars. They know it’s their lot in life to drive a death trap. Only the wealthy can buy a CRV or a Fiat Freemont.
Volkswagen did this, too. The Mk.4 Jetta and Golf were sold in Canada well into the Mk.5 years as the Jetta City and Golf City, respectively. They had been given some cosmetic interior and exterior treatments to liken them to those newer Mk.5 vehicles. And let’s not forget that the classic Beetle was produced until 2003 in Mexico. I’m not sure if the New Beetle (1998-2011) was available in that market, but they certainly existed at the same time.
GM has heavy fleet sales, so the company predominantly keeps these models alive to satiate the fleet market’s needs while avoiding the scenario of having a bunch of ex-fleet vehicles flood the market each year and lower the resale values of those cars, at least initially. I think it’s pretty smart. The Impala Limited, for example, is not something I’d want to own, but it’s a perfectly fine rental car. GM also has plans to continue the current Cruze and Malibu for fleet use once the new versions of those vehicles hit the market later this year.
I also think this tactic works well for third-world or more price-sensitive countries. Rather than engineering some cheap rattlecan from the ground up, just use an older model that was sold in major markets, that meets all regulations, and for which the tooling is paid and the costs have been fully amortized.
Heck, Chrysler did this in the ’80’s. They sold the Omni and Horizon America for a couple years after the Shadow/Sundance came out, and the Aries/Reliant America for a year after the Spirit/Acclaim came out. With the Omni, it let them advertise the “lowest price car in America”.
My favorite example of this is the Nissan Tsuru in Mexico. A mix of decontenting and decontenting of the B13 chassis sentra to create a durable little 3 box sedan that serves taxi fleets and private buyers faithfully.
We all know you want a Tsuru!
Were the Nissan planners unaware when they chose “Rogue Select” that it implies third-rate (below Prime and Choice)?
Oh, well, at least they didn’t call it the “Rogue Utility” (or even worse, the “Rogue Cutter” or “Rogue Canner”!)
Why would a manufacturer volunteer info as to where their production will occur? The topic can be so emotionally loaded and the US, unlike in the ’80s, will now usually be the loser in relocations.
Nice that the long established Japanese plants on US soil can still temporarily feed us some jobs, but why mention it at all?
Probably because it’s going to come out anyway. The process for creating tooling and doing a changeover isn’t instantaneous and needs to be scheduled in advance. And if they were closing a plant, in the US the WARN act would require they announce it at least two months in advance anyway.
Makes sense. Thanks.
Every time I see one I think “broke trend follower.” They’re usually driven with the requisite frustration. Not sad to see it go.
I hate this car. Not the car itself, but I’ve never seen, even once, a well driven Rogue. Kind of like the Prius, but when a Prius guy blocks you, he’s hypermiling and feeling superior….the Rogue driver is clueless.
Oh, and yes, a 17 k car in this class could have milk crates for seats and they would still fly out the door. The non geek buyer sees it seats the whole family AND has nominal AWD ? sold. Bring on the F and I guy and the four square.
It’s even better when you’re driving your own Prius and you new someone else in a Prius.
If the other Prius driver is going faster than you, he’s an idiot for wasting gas. If the other Prius driver is going slower than you, he’s an idiot for holding up traffic. It’s great!
The outgoing/Select model was not particularly competitive when new. The new one is a real contender. Good looking, smooth, pleasant interior. Not sure they really need the Select version if the price difference is so small.
Anyone know if Toyota or Nissan are conidering HRV beaters?
As I mentioned above in a reply, the real prices these things go for justify their existence. An awd crossover with decent reliability and mileage for $17k holds more sway to real world buyers than the proverbial brown diesel wagon car guys are willing to admit. The other entrants in this budget cuv segment are the outlander sport and jeep patriot/compass. Compared to them the rogue select is plenty competitive.
Amen and well said. This thread powerfully triggers my BIAS response:
Barometric Inversion of Asshat Snobs.
Love this RideHeight. So many ready to throw $3000 of OPM around. I wonder if they all pay MSRP as well.
I’m not sure you can say the original Rogue was noncompetitive. It was at the front of the trend for cheaper-SUV below RAV and CRV. It’s been around since 2008, is reliable, has always been cheap, and has excellent crash test ratings.
We don’t get the deep discounts here in Canada. There are huge differences in real world transaction prices versus MSRP here. The Japanese companies don’t give the big discounts. You can do well on GM, Chrysler and H/K but Honda and Toyota forget it. Nissan is doing well here as they are more realistically priced. The old Rogue sold OK here but the new one is doing really well. Canadians tend to buy smaller more fuel efficient vehicles.