2026 Nissan Rogue Arms Itself Darkly, So Far Deflects Tariffs
New Dark Armor package and a top-line pricing surprise add interest to this useful SUV.
Aaron GoldWriterManufacturerPhotographerJul 31, 2025
26 Nissan Rogue DA 1
With tariff talk making car pricing a guessing game, a lot of manufacturers are waiting as long as they can to announce new MSRPs. But the Nissan Rogue, our top-rated compact SUV, is made right here in ‘Murica—most of ‘em, anyway—and Nissan has announced prices as well as a new trim level for the 2026 model year. It’s good news all around.
AI Quick Summary
The 2026 Nissan Rogue introduces a new Dark Armor package and modest price hikes, except for the top-line Platinum model, which sees a $1,000 decrease. The Rogue remains largely unchanged, with new models addressing a recall issue. It starts at $30,180 and is now available at dealerships.
Most Nissan Rogue trims will see an increase of just $200 for 2026, which means the entry-level Rogue S with front-wheel drive will sticker for $30,180 including the $1,390 destination fee (unchanged from 2025). The Rogue SV will start at $31,180 and the Rogue SL at $36,680, and if you want to add all-wheel drive to any of the above, that’ll be another $1,400, please. The Rock Creek model, which comes with all-wheel-drive standard, lists for $35,080.
One Gets… Cheaper?
We’ve left out the top-of-the-line Platinum model, which is a curiosity. It’s the one Rogue model built overseas, in Japan, and it actually sees a $1,000 price decrease, down to $40,380 with standard all-wheel-drive. (Tariffs? What tariffs?) We scoured the standard-equipment list and can’t find anything in the 2025 Rogue Platinum that is missing from the 2026 model. From what Nissan tells us, the Rogue is unchanged for 2026.
26 Nissan Rogue DA 3
Darker Armor
Actually, that’s not entirely right. There is a new trim level called Dark Armor, which is the one you see here in the photos. It dresses up the SV trim with blacked-out badges, grille, mirrors, roof rails and door pillars, plus attractive 19-inch black wheels. Equipment builds on that of the SV with the addition of a 360-degree parking camera, panoramic sunroof, faux leather upholstery, and heated front seats and steering wheel. Like the SV, and unlike the Rock Creek model, the Dark Armor will be available with front- or all-wheel-drive. Nissan has not announced pricing, but we expect it will cost more than the SV but less than the Rock Creek and SL models.
There’s a reason we rank the Rogue so highly; we like its roomy cabin, built-in Google features, and the power of its three-cylinder turbocharged engine, though we wish it were quieter and had a hybrid option. You may have read that the Rogue got itself into a spot of bother recently with a recall for its variable-compression VC Turbo engine. Dealers will drop oil pan and look for debris, if they find any, the Rogue in question could be getting a new engine. Undamaged engines get a new program for the engine control unit, and Nissan tells us that fix will already be applied to new 2026 Rogues.
Ready to bite? The 2026 Nissan Rogue should be arriving in dealerships as you read this—and since the 2026s are essentially unchanged, look for the opportunity to snag a good deal on a 2025.
Aaron Gold
After a two-decade career as a freelance writer, Aaron Gold joined MotorTrend’s sister publication Automobile in 2018 before moving to the MT staff in 2021. Aaron is a native New Yorker who now lives in Los Angeles with his spouse, too many pets, and a cantankerous 1983 GMC Suburban.
