How Nissan took a shortcut to a good plug-in hybrid SUV

The Nissan Leaf was one of many first trendy electrical autos to go on sale, however Nissan has been slower to undertake plug-in hybrids. It is solely now getting one in its lineup, and solely by borrowing from one other automaker.

At first look, the 2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid appears to be like like a simple addition to the Rogue’s resume. Many opponents have already checked that field, giving clients who aren’t able to make the leap to an EV most of the advantages of electrical energy—so long as they plug in these plug-in hybrids recurrently, that’s.

Nevertheless, there’s a twist right here. As an alternative of including a plug-in hybrid powertrain to the usual Rogue, Nissan repurposed the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, swapping Mitsubishi’s badges for its personal. It’s, as they are saying, a daring technique. Let’s have a look at if it pays off.

Borrowing from one of the best

Earlier than touchscreens and piano black plastic trim, low-effort improvements had been the bane of automotive journalists. Promoting the identical automotive below totally different model names—generally known as “badge engineering”—produced fashions just like the Cadillac Cimarron (a Chevrolet Cavalier with further chrome) and excesses just like the Mercury Tracer (a Ford Escort with a unique title). It is a lot much less widespread now, which makes the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid a good stranger transfer at first look.

Nevertheless, Nissan knew what it was doing. Since 2016, it has been Mitsubishi’s largest shareholder, shopping for a 34% stake within the smaller automaker after Mitsubishi was dogged by an emissions-cheating scandal within the two corporations’ joint market in Japan. In consequence, the present technology Rogue and Outlander had been designed round a standard structure. Underneath the pores and skin, the plug-in hybrid mannequin primarily based on the Outlander is thus technically a Rogue.

Mitsubishi can be more adept with plug-in hybrids. Debuting in 2012 (although US gross sales got here a lot later), the unique Outlander PHEV was the primary plug-in hybrid SUV. So Mitsubishi has had loads of time to revive its plug-in hybrid system, giving Nissan the well-developed expertise to briefly plug a gap in its lineup till a brand new in-house hybrid system is prepared for the U.S.

Design dissonance

The Outlander is a handsome crossover. It will not be mistaken for a station wagon, but it surely additionally has trendy styling that avoids SUV clichés. It is simply odd to see a Nissan badge positioned on this design, contemplating it was meant to be simply Mitsubishi. Consumers are additionally more likely to be confused by seeing two fully different-looking autos bearing the Rogue badge at their native Nissan dealership.

The inside is much less obtrusive, largely as a result of the Outlander’s components are less complicated, if nonetheless lovely. Nevertheless, the expertise is a step behind the non-hybrid Rogue. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are normal, however with a 9-inch touchscreen, relatively than the 12.3-inch display screen out there on top-of-the-line Rogue variations. The graphics on each the touchscreen and the usual 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster seem like they got here from a Nineteen Nineties arcade recreation, however vital features are nonetheless managed by analog buttons and knobs.

Infotainment is not the one space the place the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid lags behind the original-flavored Rogue. This mannequin will be geared up with Nissan’s most superior ProPilot Help 2.1 driver help system, however the plug-in hybrid (together with its Mitsubishi twin) is simply out there with model 1.1 of the system. This implies you may’t drive on the freeway with out arms. The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid will get the Outlander’s third-row bench seat, making this mannequin a seven-seater. Nevertheless, the rear seats are too small to be of actual use, and as in different three-row autos, they take an enormous chunk out of cargo house. Fold it up and also you get house akin to different small crossovers. Headroom and legroom within the first two rows are additionally ample for the section.

It maintains an EV-like driving expertise

Specs are an identical to the Outlander PHEV. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is used primarily as a generator to maintain the load on the 20-kilowatt-hour battery pack, however may also help energy the entrance wheels when wanted. As an alternative, the system is designed to depend on a pair of electrical motors, one offering energy to every axle. Complete system output is 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque—lower than the plug-in hybrid variations of the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, and Toyota RAV4.

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid additionally has the identical driving modes because the Outlander PHEV. What Mitsubishi calls the Tremendous All-Wheel Management (S-AWC) system contains three modes (Regular, Energy, Eco) for managing the petrol-electric energy combine and 4 (Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, Mud) to make one of the best use of that energy on totally different surfaces. As within the Outlander, Tarmac mode felt respectable sufficient on regular pavement (we did not get an opportunity to take the Rogue on gravel, snow or mud), however not enjoyable. That is compounded by the floppy suspension that, just like the Outlander, doesn’t encourage confidence and turns, whereas degrading trip consolation.

Nissan might not have addressed the Outlander’s vices, but it surely has preserved the virtues of this plug-in hybrid. The Mitsubishi’s powertrain is EV-like, delivering loads of torque off the road and seamlessly choosing up acceleration it doesn’t matter what the interior combustion engine is doing. Drivers may profit from robust regenerative braking, though, as within the Outlander PHEV, regeneration tends to chop off abruptly when approaching a cease. Regardless, it offers drivers an ideal glimpse of what they will expertise in an all-electric car.

Adequate electrical vary for brief journeys

The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid can be simply as environment friendly because the Outlander PHEV. It is EPA-rated on the similar 38 miles of electrical vary and 26 mpg mixed as soon as the battery cost is depleted. Electrical vary must be sufficient to cowl quick journeys, but it surely’s value noting that Toyota is promising as much as 52 miles of electrical vary for the next-generation 2026 RAV4 plug-in hybrid. At this time’s Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage plug-in hybrids are rated at 32 miles and 34 miles, respectively, however with gasoline economic system of 35 mpg mixed in hybrid mode.

Nevertheless, the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t have the Outlander PHEV’s DC quick charging facility. However since Mitsubishi makes use of the orphaned CHAdeMO connector and may solely quick cost at 50 kilowatts, requiring 38 minutes for a ten%-80% cost, house owners will not be lacking a lot.

Even with the usual 3.5kW AC charger on board, the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid will be absolutely recharged in a single day (Nissan specifies 7.5 hours), which must be adequate for day by day use. Nissan additionally stored the Outlander PHEV’s twin 12-volt, 1,500-watt retailers, so you need to use the battery pack to energy your espresso maker on a tenting journey.

The nice and cozy-up act for Nissan’s next-generation hybrid system

Nissan had not revealed pricing for the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid at press time, which is a disgrace, as a result of that can decide the significance of this mannequin. The Rogue appears to be like and drives similar to its Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV twin, and is simply as environment friendly. Until it is cheaper, there isn’t any motive to purchase one.

Even Nissan would not appear fascinated by promoting many Rogue Plug-In Hybrids. This rebadging train primarily serves as a placeholder till the following technology Rogue arrives with a brand new hybrid system known as e-Energy. This technique, now out there exterior the US, is exclusive as a result of the gasoline engine is totally separate from the drivetrain. All driving energy comes from electrical motors. Nissan guarantees as much as 41mpg with EV-like driving dynamics, albeit with out a plug.

Nissan equipped a European-market Qashqai e-Energy for this take a look at, and it definitely did not carry out like different hybrids. The shortage of engine vibration was spectacular, as was the quantity of regenerative braking, which introduced the Qashqai very near single-pedal driving. If Nissan can ship gasoline effectivity, this will probably be an ideal possibility for consumers who haven’t got room to plug in. Nevertheless it’s attention-grabbing to notice that, between the e-Energy and plug-in hybrid fashions, Nissan must have variations of the Rogue that promise an EV-like driving expertise — with out including one other EV to its lineup.