So Nissan finally brought the Qashqai to the U.S., where it will be sold as the Rogue Sport and slot between the familiar Juke and Rogue models. A very popular crossover in Europe and Nissan’s best-selling nameplate in certain countries, the Rogue Sport comes to strengthen the companies presence on the highly profitable SUV market. It remains to be seen whether it will be successful or not, but a comparison with the Rogue reveals what’s wrong with the whole auto industry today.
A quick look at the numbers shows that the Rogue Sport is only 12.1 inches shorter and a tenth inch narrower than the Rogue. For a vehicle that’s more than four meters long, 12 inches isn’t that much and in this case it doesn’t make a very big difference on the inside since the Rogue Sport’s wheelbase is only 2.3 inches shorter. What’s more, the Qashqai is only 10 inches shorter and more than an inch wider than the first-generation Rogue. Why is that important you ask? Well, like most modern vehicles, Nissan made the second-generation Rogue larger than its predecessor, applying the same "buyers want more room and a more rugged appearance" strategy.
So basically it designed the Rogue with a bigger footprint back in 2012, and some years later it decided that it needs a smaller crossover that’s not as small as the Juke on the U.S. market. It’s pretty much what a lot of automakers have done in recent years.
Continue reading for the full story.
from Top Speed http://ift.tt/2isV1s0
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