THE MOM MOBILE: 2017 Nissan Rogue Sport SL FWD

Family vehicles come in all shapes and sizes today depending on individual needs. Some folks only have one child therefore making a sedan or small crossover vehicle more than adequate. Others, like myself, had a herd to cart around so much more space was needed. Either way, in branding something as a “mom mobile,” much more is considered than vehicle size.

Nissan has a great contender for folks with smaller families (as well as commuters) in the Rogue Sport which resembles the Rogue crossover, just a little shorter. Appearance is bold and aggressive with deep lines that add character to this already sporty model with 19” wheels. Color choices are exciting and fun like Monarch Orange, Glacier White, Mocha Almond, Palatial Ruby and more!

Here are four reasons I think the Nissan Rogue Sport makes a good mom mobile:

• The Nissan Rogue Sport has a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 141 horsepower and 147 lb/ft of torque with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) – a drivetrain that suits this segment well. The drive is comfy and road handling is more than adequate. The size makes maneuvering around town super easy.

• The lower anchors and tether for children (LATCH) used for car seats and booster seats makes installing or moving car seats around a breeze. And, this vehicle is loaded with other safety features as well: air bags galore, anti-lock brakes, brake assist, tire pressure monitoring and so much more.

• The back seat has a 60/40 split fold for hauling things. I like this configuration because you can still have a car seat in the second row. Sometimes you just need that little bit of extra space for groceries, a stroller and other gear that comes with having kids…and yes, I buy a lot of groceries at once.

• The Rogue Sport has plenty of technology updates so you’ll feel right at home without being overwhelmed. I do wish the display was a little larger than the standard 5” or even the upgraded 7” screen, but it does offer nice audio and navigation systems.

All-in-all moms will mostly agree with me that this is a sharp vehicle to call your own, topping out at just under $30,000 even with all the bells and whistles of the SL premium and platinum packages. Second rows have their own A/C vents, which is so wonderful and keeps the air flowing swiftly and easily throughout the entire cabin.

Are you searching for a new vehicle to service your family? Check out offerings from Nissan including the Rogue Sport. I think you’ll be surprised at how well it drives. And, of course, you can see just from looking that it’ll be the hit of the carpool line.

Becky J. Beall is an automotive and travel journalist. You can find her on Facebook at The Travel Voice by Becky. Photos are courtesy of Nissan.