2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid Is A Slow-Charging But Solid Placeholder For Next Year’s Rogue E-Power Hybrid – Jalopnik

When Nissan introduced that it was introducing an “all new” 2026 Rogue Plug-In Hybrid, however confirmed images of a Mitsubishi Outlander with a barely completely different grille, we stated the Japanese automaker was bringing again the old fashioned rebadge. The remainder of the web was equally underwhelmed by the so-called new Rogue PHEV, but it surely’s clear that Nissan believes it should persuade extra consumers to signal on the dotted line under the phrase ‘Rogue’ when it reaches seller heaps early subsequent yr.

Still unconvinced by the thinly veiled reskin, I headed to Tennessee to get behind the Mitsubishi-designed wheel of the 2026 Rogue PHEV in addition to a couple of different new Nissans, and I truly fairly loved it. I additionally bought to drive a European-market Nissan Qashqai e-Power to get a style of what to anticipate from the next-generation 2027 Nissan Rogue e-Power, which can truly be a brand new car to the U.S. when it comes out subsequent yr. This provides consumers searching for a compact hybrid Nissan crossover a tricky choice to make: purchase one among these 2026 Rogue PHEVs which are only a rebadged Mitsubishi, or watch for the 2027 Rogue e-Power, a extra well-thought-out hybrid that does not have to be plugged in? The selection is yours, however listed below are my ideas.

Nissan

Full disclosure: Nissan flew me out to Nashville, Tennessee to drive a few of its new vehicles, together with the lately introduced Rogue PHEV. The people at Nissan put me up in a phenomenal resort for an evening and fed me scrumptious meals and drinks, none of which influenced this evaluation.

Yes, the brand new Nissan Rogue PHEV is nearly the identical because the nice Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV that is been out since 2022. I solely bought to drive the Rogue for about half an hour, so my driving impressions are very restricted, however because it’s simply an Outlander, you may also learn my colleague Andy’s very complete evaluation of the Mitsubishi PHEV that ought to reply any questions that my restricted expertise does not permit me to.

Under the hood of the Rogue is identical 2.4-liter inline-4 engine that mixes with an electrical motor and a 20-kWh battery pack to ship 248 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque to all 4 wheels by means of a CVT. The electric-only driving vary is a good EPA-estimated 38 miles, and when mixed, it is rated for 64 MPGe. But the Nissan forgoes the DC quick cost functionality of its Outlander PHEV sibling, so it is solely able to Level 2 cost speeds. That means it should take a glacial 7.5 hours for a full cost, or 16 hours on a 120V family outlet. In distinction, the Outlander PHEV’s admittedly outdated CHAdeMO port permits it to quick cost at speeds of fifty kW, which takes its battery from 0-to-80% cost in about 38 minutes. That is the most important demerit in opposition to the Rogue PHEV — its achingly sluggish cost time, not that it is a easy rebadge.

One of my favourite issues in regards to the Rogue PHEV is the button-focused management structure. If you have heard it as soon as you have heard it a thousand instances: we wish extra buttons! Thankfully Nissan retained Mitsubishi’s inside with out making any modifications apart from the badges and an infotainment reskin, so there’s utterly bodily local weather controls and even bodily buttons for some capabilities on the touchscreen, book-ended by large quantity and tuning knob. Hallelujah.

The commonplace 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system shouldn’t be on the precipice of modernity, and actually that endeared me to it. (My god am I outdated now?) I’m not a fan of the graphics per se, however I’m a fan of the system’s easy-to-navigate menus, and the selection of normal wired and wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. My check automotive was a top-of-the-line Platinum trim – Nissan is barely providing the Rogue PHEV in SL and Platinum trims – and got here with a crisp and uncomplicated head-up show, a good nine-speaker Bose stereo, an influence panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, leather-based seats, rear sunglasses, and a heated steering wheel, It felt fairly luxurious for what it’s, which is likely one of the Outlander’s commonest compliments. 

Logan Ok. Carter/ Jalopnik

Though Nissan hasn’t launched costs for the Rogue PHEV, representatives stated to count on it to start out on the prime of the gas-powered Rogue’s value vary, so probably above the $40,000 mark — the Outlander PHEV begins at $42,190 and tops out over $50k. That feels like quite a bit, however the Rogue PHEV joins the Outlander PHEV as a uncommon three-row plug-in-hybrid compact SUV with plenty of fascinating options, so it is not a nasty worth proposition.

As a plug-in hybrid with a large 20-kWh battery pack, the Rogue PHEV drives very similar to an EV when it is totally charged, so that you get spunky acceleration from a cease and minimal drivetrain noise intrusion. There is a weirdly audible and annoying high-pitched whine from the electrical motor that is particularly noticeable at low speeds, and which I have not observed in different electrified autos. The perforated four-spoke leather-based steering wheel feels nice in your fingers, and the steering is fast and responsive. In my very temporary time behind the wheel, I discovered the Rogue PHEV to be fairly pleasing to drive.

More necessary than sportiness, the Rogue PHEV could be very snug on the street, with a taut suspension that does a very good job of absorbing bumps and cracks within the street with out feeling floaty or sloppy when taking corners shortly. It feels strong, protected, succesful, competent, snug, and well-built.

If, for some unusual motive, you are itching to purchase a plug-in hybrid with a Nissan badge on the entrance, you would possibly wish to act quick. Nissan has large plans for the Rogue for 2027, together with including a new-to-the-U.S. hybrid powertrain it calls e-Power, a setup that is been provided in Europe and Asia for years. The firm says that it does not wish to alienate prospects who need a hybrid within the interim, so the 2026 Rogue PHEV is prone to be a one model-year automotive.

Nissan let me pattern the e-Power hybrid powertrain in a European-market automotive, the Qashqai subcompact crossover that is massively fashionable within the UK regardless of solely being provided with front-wheel drive. The automaker says the Qashqai’s powertrain is similar to the one which’s coming within the next-gen 2027 Rogue, however that the Rogue can have all-wheel drive, so I successfully bought a style of what to anticipate from the Rogue e-Power hybrid — and it is a good one.

Logan Ok. Carter/ Jalopnik

Nissan’s e-Power system is not like most different hybrids on sale proper now as a result of its wheels are solely pushed by electrical energy, by no means the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine. The fuel engine acts solely as a generator to maintain the small 2.1-kWh battery juiced up, no matter car velocity. In the Qashqai, the fuel generator engine makes 154 horsepower, and the electrical motor that strikes the car produces 188 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque with out ever needing to be plugged in. In my half-hour driving the Qashqai e-Power, I discovered it to be a really refined powertrain that undoubtedly drives extra like an EV than a gas-powered automotive, and because the fuel motor by no means drives the wheels, there isn’t any want for a dreaded CVT to deliver down the vibe.

The e-Power drivetrain’s energy supply is quick, however typically the deeper you dig into the throttle, the upper the fuel engine revs regardless of not powering the wheels, which is a bit unusual. The fuel engine sounds considerably grumbly whereas it is working, however at the very least its operation causes nearly no vibrations. Other than the peppy drivetrain, the Qashqai’s steering is egregiously numb and light-weight, and the brake pedal could be very squishy but delicate to inputs, so the driving expertise wasn’t particularly pleasing. Thankfully the 2027 Rogue e-Power will likely be “adapted for the U.S. market” in line with Nissan, so hopefully these undesirable traits get addressed within the Rogue. Nissan stated to count on the 2027 Rogue e-Power AWD to return “between 39 and 41 mpg,” however no official numbers can be found but.

Nissan representatives stated that the corporate determined to promote the Rogue PHEV to satiate prospects who merely need a hybrid possibility, and that it is unclear but whether or not the Mitsubishi-based Rogue PHEV will likely be bought alongside the next-gen 2027 Rogue e-Power. If you are searching for a hybrid crossover with a Nissan badge on the entrance, this 2026 Rogue Plug-In Hybrid is your solely possibility for now, however the 2027 Rogue e-Power is coming scorching on its heels, in order that’s one thing to think about. If you need a hybrid that you simply need not plug in to cost, you will have to attend, however if you’re okay with charging (and doing so very slowly), the 2026 Rogue PHEV is an effective possibility. If you wish to cost quick, although, you will need to go for the Outlander.