Nissan’s 2027 Rogue Hybrid combines a practical, family-focused interior with design details intended to make everyday use easier and more appealing. The SUV uses physical buttons and switches for most controls, includes wireless charging and storage throughout the cabin, and has rear doors that open to 90 degrees for easier access. Its seats take inspiration from puffer jackets, adding visual character without sacrificing utility.
Designed around everyday use
Most recently, Mr. Patel was responsible for Nissan’s best-selling family SUV, the new Rogue. Its interior is also distinctive. Although it is not as minimalist as the all-electric Ariya, the new Rogue Hybrid uses buttons and switches for most controls and provides a useful amount of built-in storage. The design is not boring, either: The seats, inspired by puffer jackets, are an especially noticeable detail. There is no piano-black trim.
“People want easy, intuitive controls,” Patel says. “They want wireless charging. They want surfaces that are easy to manage and clean and keep clean and mess-free. And they want lots of places to store things. And lastly, they want easy access.”
That focus on access is reflected in the Rogue’s rear doors, which were designed to open to 90 degrees. The wider opening makes it easier to place children in car seats or help elderly parents into the back. While that may not be a priority for a sedan marketed to image-conscious customers, it is important in this segment.
“The target customer for this product … has a family and has a lot of stuff. So when they open the door, they immediately realize they have a place to put things,” Patel said.
Utility does not have to be ordinary
Practicality does not necessarily mean a bland design. Designers since the Bauhaus movement have shown that everyday objects do not have to be ordinary, and Patel shares that view.
“One of the exciting things about building cars and designing everyday products is when you can make them beautiful,” he said. “Our everyday products have so much more going into them in terms of cost, engineering, ease of use, feasibility, and everything else. On top of that, we strive for every little millimeter we can get and do everything we can to make sure that the product is appealing from a visual standpoint.”
Source: arstechnica.com
