--- title: "Nissan Is Done With Piano Black Plastic and Chrome. Consumers Are Sick of Fingerprints" date: "2026-09-22" modified: "2026-09-22" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/nissan-is-done-with-piano-black-plastic-and-chrome-consumers-are-sick-of-fingerprints" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Nissan News" tags: - "suv/crossover" --- # Nissan Is Done With Piano Black Plastic and Chrome. Consumers Are Sick of Fingerprints ![2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid]() With the [2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid]() arriving the Japanese automaker is kicking off [its turnaround plan](). With it comes design and philosophy changes. In an exclusive interview with *The Drive*, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer for [Nissan]() North America, Ponz Pandikuthira said the automaker is done with piano black trim and chrome is out too. Addressing the lack of shiny piano-black trim in the new 2027 Rogue Hybrid Pandikuthira said, "Definitely consumer driven. It looks very premium when it's perfectly shiny and new. But then all it takes is any real world use and then the fingerprints and stuff like that, you know, just obsessively cleaning it or you just give up and it just looks terrible after some time." Pandikuthira is right. For years automakers have turned to piano black plastic trim inside vehicles to make them look more upscale than they are, but [cheap reality hits minutes into ownership]() and real life. ![2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid]() **Nissan** The new Rogue lacks a chrome grille or even chrome trim elements, which was a purposeful decision, according to Pandikuthira. "Chrome on the outside, it made a big resurgence when we started started coating plastic with chrome, and it just got a bit over the top, where it missed that sophistication element. And so there's lots of things that we can do with dark chrome, and subtle paint treatments. We're actually looking at even wrap style treatments that we do out of the production facility in the future that give much more subtle design cues than overt in your face, big chrome grill, big chrome elements on the wheel. So I think the underlying design message, there would be subtlety over in your face," Pandikuthira said. Not that anyone expected chrome to make an appearance [on the new Xterra](), but hearing that shiny piano black trim is on its way out, at least at Nissan, is a relief. It's a start. *Got a tip? Send us a line at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he sits on the Board of Directors for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()