2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid Is A Gradual-Charging However Stable Placeholder For Subsequent Yr’s Rogue E-Energy Hybrid

When Nissan introduced that it was introducing an “all new” 2026 Rogue Plug-In Hybrid, however confirmed photographs of a Mitsubishi Outlander with a barely totally 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, however it’s clear that Nissan believes it would persuade extra patrons to signal on the dotted line beneath the phrase ‘Rogue’ when it reaches vendor heaps early subsequent 12 months.

Nonetheless 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 number of different new Nissans, and I really fairly loved it. I additionally bought to drive a European-market Nissan Qashqai e-Energy to get a style of what to anticipate from the next-generation 2027 Nissan Rogue e-Energy, which is able to really be a brand new automobile to the U.S. when it comes out subsequent 12 months. This provides patrons in search of a compact hybrid Nissan crossover a troublesome determination to make: purchase one in every of these 2026 Rogue PHEVs which might be only a rebadged Mitsubishi, or watch for the 2027 Rogue e-Energy, a extra well-thought-out hybrid that does not must 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 automobiles, together with the just lately introduced Rogue PHEV. The oldsters at Nissan put me up in a wonderful resort for an evening and fed me scrumptious meals and drinks, none of which influenced this evaluate.

Sure, the brand new Nissan Rogue PHEV is just about 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 too can learn my colleague Andy’s very complete evaluate of the Mitsubishi PHEV that ought to reply any questions that my restricted expertise does not enable me to.

Beneath the hood of the Rogue is similar 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 via a CVT. The electrical-only driving vary is a good EPA-estimated 38 miles, and when mixed, it is rated for 64 MPGe. However the Nissan forgoes the DC quick cost functionality of its Outlander PHEV sibling, so it is solely able to Stage 2 cost speeds. Which means it would 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 largest demerit towards the Rogue PHEV — its achingly sluggish cost time, not that it is a easy rebadge.

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

The usual 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system shouldn’t be on the precipice of modernity, and truthfully that endeared me to it. (My god am I outdated now?) I am 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 take a look at automotive was a top-of-the-line Platinum trim – Nissan is just 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 without doubt one of the Outlander’s most typical compliments.

Logan Okay. Carter/Jalopnik

Although Nissan hasn’t launched costs for the Rogue PHEV, representatives stated to count on it to start out on the high of the gas-powered Rogue’s worth vary, so seemingly above the $40,000 mark — the Outlander PHEV begins at $42,190 and tops out over $50k. That seems like rather a lot, however the Rogue PHEV joins the Outlander PHEV as a uncommon three-row plug-in-hybrid compact SUV with numerous 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 like an EV when it is absolutely charged, so that you get spunky acceleration from a cease and minimal drivetrain noise intrusion. There’s a weirdly audible and annoying high-pitched whine from the electrical motor that is particularly noticeable at low speeds, and which I have never seen in different electrified automobiles. The perforated four-spoke leather-based steering wheel feels nice in your arms, and the steering is fast and responsive. In my very temporary time behind the wheel, I discovered the Rogue PHEV to be fairly satisfying to drive.

Extra essential than sportiness, the Rogue PHEV could be very comfy on the street, with a taut suspension that does a great job of absorbing bumps and cracks within the street with out feeling floaty or sloppy when taking corners rapidly. It feels stable, secure, succesful, competent, comfy, 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 may 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-Energy, a setup that is been supplied in Europe and Asia for years. The corporate says that it does not wish to alienate clients who desire a hybrid within the interim, so the 2026 Rogue PHEV is more likely to be a one model-year automotive.

Nissan let me pattern the e-Energy hybrid powertrain in a European-market automotive, the Qashqai subcompact crossover that is massively widespread within the UK regardless of solely being supplied 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-Energy hybrid — and it is a good one.

Logan Okay. Carter/Jalopnik

Nissan’s e-Energy system is not like most different hybrids on sale proper now as a result of its wheels are completely pushed by electrical energy, by no means the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine. The gasoline engine acts solely as a generator to maintain the small 2.1-kWh battery juiced up, no matter automobile pace. Within the Qashqai, the gasoline generator engine makes 154 horsepower, and the electrical motor that strikes the automobile 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-Energy, I discovered it to be a really refined powertrain that undoubtedly drives extra like an EV than a gas-powered automotive, and for the reason that gasoline motor by no means drives the wheels, there is no want for a dreaded CVT to convey down the vibe.

The e-Energy drivetrain’s energy supply is speedy, however typically the deeper you dig into the throttle, the upper the gasoline engine revs regardless of not powering the wheels, which is a bit unusual. The gasoline engine sounds considerably grumbly whereas it is working, however at the very least its operation causes just about no vibrations. Aside from the peppy drivetrain, the Qashqai’s steering is egregiously numb and lightweight, and the brake pedal could be very squishy but delicate to inputs, so the driving expertise wasn’t particularly satisfying. Fortunately the 2027 Rogue e-Energy shall be “tailored 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-Energy 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 clients who merely desire a hybrid possibility, and that it is unclear but whether or not the Mitsubishi-based Rogue PHEV shall be bought alongside the next-gen 2027 Rogue e-Energy. If you happen to’re in search of 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-Energy is coming scorching on its heels, in order that’s one thing to think about. In order for you a hybrid that you simply need not plug in to cost, you may have to attend, however in case you are okay with charging (and doing so very slowly), the 2026 Rogue PHEV is an effective possibility. If you wish to cost quick, although, you may must go for the Outlander.