The Nissan Rogue doesn't step all that far out of the box with its exterior. The Rogue looks just like the Murano's little sister and has the same sloped profile.

The only sparkle on the Rogue's profile is from the roof rack (of all things); the side mirrors and door handles are body-colored. The Rogue sits on 17-inch alloy wheels that somehow manage to look small. The wheel wells are taller than they are wide, and I think that tricks the eye. The overall impression from the side is one of sporty sleekness with a side of spunk thrown in.

The front view is dominated by the large headlights, which seem to wrap around the car. A small grille focuses the eye on the Nissan logo, which is chrome and surrounded by a chrome frame (just in case you missed it). There's some subtle sculpting on the hood that suggests a large engine, but it's nothing too glaring. Of course, the engine isn't large, but it's a nice suggestion anyhow.

From the rear, the Rogue looks less sporty and more bulbous. It's somewhat reminiscent of the Rogue's other sibling, the Versa. A large body panel forms most of the rear, while a slim window offers some visibility.

Opening and closing the doors is no problem, even for little ones, in the Rogue. The doors open wide enough to allow grown-ups to help kids in the backseat without having to become a contortionist to get back there. The Rogue sits a bit higher on the road than a sedan, but that only means less bending over when buckling in your babies.

Little legs don't struggle much when climbing in, and there's a flat stepping area to make it even easier for them. There's plenty of headroom, even in the back, for little ones to walk around in this compact SUV, which makes life easier in the carpool lane. The rear cargo door opens easily, even without a power option. While it's high enough to walk under, my 9-year-old was able to reach it to shut the liftgate. Yay!

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Good Times