A good navigation system is a welcomed companion, particularly on long solo trips like the journey I’m taking through the heart of Colorado in a 2013 Nissan Rogue during the third USA Pro Challenge.
After flying from Sacramento to Denver, I drove to Snowmass in the Rogue following the navigation system instructions, which ideally detailed the 215-mile route. The 5-inch screen in the Rogue is small and it’s not positioned in the best location. It sits low on the center dash.
But for its small size, the system has some keen features. Many of its functions, for example, are available on via the touch screen and via a dial.
Unlike some navigation systems, which seemingly bark orders and sometimes within seconds of a pending turn, the Nissan system is friendly and efficient.
The voice offers instructions like: “prepare to turn right.” And the instructions arrive well within time. When a turn is pending, there’s another command: “Turn right after 600 feet.” Most systems offer instructions like “half-mile.”
While driving from Snowmasss to Aspen round-trip twice, the mountain roads often featured roundabouts. The Nissan system was intuitive and often offered double instructions like: “take the right at the third exit and then immediately take the next left.”
Article Last Updated: July 28, 2023.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
