Charming misnamed

Imagine that you're charged with naming Nissan's new compact sport-utility vehicle, one that does battle with such SUVs as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Saturn Vue, Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner.

Ask yourself if you would want your SUV to have qualities similar to that of "a dishonest or unprincipled man; a large wild animal with destructive tendencies driven away or living apart from the herd; or a person or thing that is defective or unpredictable."

That's what the word "rogue" means, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Nissan probably had in mind this part of the definition: "a mischievous but likable person."

Still, I can't think of a bigger disconnect between the name of a car and its design. With its rounded shape and handsome, if innocuous, lines, the Nissan Rogue is resoundingly normal. It's so well-adjusted, you'd think it was a Scout or an honor student in its former life.

And it performs like one.

Like many such crossover SUVs, the Rogue rides atop a car platform -- in this case the Nissan Sentra -- with a truck body. Available with front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive, the Rogue has a single drivetrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine it shares with the Altima sedan.

Of course, part of that may come from the Rogue's 3,400-pound-plus curb weight, a not-insignificant load, given the engine's 170 horsepower.

Still, the Rogue has enough oomph to keep pace with the ins and outs of typical driving. The steering is light and quick, although lacking in road feel. The brake pedal has a light feel. Stopping distances are fuss-free. Four-wheel disc brakes with antilock, electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist are standard.

Handling is similar to that of a small family car, so the Rogue feels nimble but not sporty. Cornering quickly reveals its handling limits, although in day-to-day commuting, few drivers will reach them.

The Rogue's tidy size makes it easy to maneuver. Toss in a quiet interior, room for four, a large cargo area, a quiet ride and comfortably firm seats, and you have a stylish people-hauler with laudable utility and frugality.

Fuel economy is commendable, with an overall rating in the low 20s. Longer road trips, such as the one I took to Washington, D.C., revealed the car to be a surprisingly comfortable road warrior.

There are two trim levels: S and SL. Nissan provided an all-wheel-drive SL for the test drive. Standard gear includes a six-way adjustable driver's seat; a four-way adjustable passenger's seat; remote keyless entry; power door locks, mirrors and windows; an AM/FM/CD audio system with iPod jack; two 12-volt power outlets; split folding rear seats and rear side-impact air bags. The only option was floor mats. That kept the price under $23,000.

Add a sunroof or the premium package, which includes such niceties as a Bose audio system, and the price will jump. So will the number of amenities.

Still the Rogue doesn't need an abundance of options to reveal its true personality. It shines as a commuting appliance, with good looks, fuel economy and utility.