2021 Nissan Rogue Spied Testing in America, Should Preview European X-Trail

These are our first spyshots of the 3rd-generation Rogue, which is likely to debut next year as a 2021 model. The prototype was spied on the streets of Farmington Hills, Michigan, wearing a lot of camouflage.

Some might say that the design is being obscured by this thick wrap layer. But we think it's easy to make out, especially as the design is less fussy than the current model. The overall shape is boxy, rarely interrupted by creases. The headlights sit high up and could be split between an LED brow wedged up against the hood and the main beams below.

The main grille is an inverted trapeze, something that's already been previewed by the 2018 Xmotion Concept (see video below). The resemblance is even stronger at the back, where we see the same taillights sitting next to the shoulder line and a big Land Rover-like trunk lid. It's a bit like a Japanese box car if you think about; a bit Scion.

The powertrains are going to be market-dependent, which is where we mention that the Rogue is built all over the place, not just in Smyrna, Tennessee. There's China, Indonesia, and the European X-Trail model that came from either Japan or Korea, depending on the year and configuration.

For America, a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter continues to be the most likely base engine. However, with this generation looking a bit larger, the variable-compression-ratio turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four may be dropped under the hood of the 2021 Rogue. This prototype is AWD, in case you're wondering.

The European or Korean models will have either a 1.7 or a 2-liter diesel, plus a compressed gas-enabled 2.5-liter. And even though Nissan loves CVTs, the 1.7-liter should be matched to a DCT.