Nissan has a new version of its best-selling Rogue SUV, and it’s launching the model here with the latest version of its e-Power hybrid system, which Ars tested back in February. Most of the hybrid cars you can buy today are parallel hybrids, which means that they have an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, both of which drive some or all of the wheels—everything works in parallel. But there’s another approach. Instead of connecting the engine to the wheels via a transmission, it can act as a generator and charge the traction battery, which in turn powers the electric motor. Since the engine and motor work in series, this is known as a series hybrid.
That’s mostly how the Chevrolet Volt worked. As does Honda’s hybrid CR-V. Well, mostly; engineers worked out it was more efficient for those cars’ gasoline engines to directly drive the wheels at highway speeds, something that to this day makes a certain subset of hybrid car enthusiast irrationally angry. If you know anyone like that in your life, send them to wherever the nearest Nissan dealership is, because the 2027 Rogue Hybrid is exactly what they’ve been asking for.
Series hybrids
Under the hood, with its crisp shut line and slim horizontal lights that give me something of a Range Rover vibe, there’s a 1.5 L, three-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection engine that generates 148 hp (110 kW). It only revs to 5,200 rpm because it’s optimized to charge the battery, not cope with the various loads of an engine connected to a gearbox and the wheels. That also allows the engine to operate at a rather impressive 42 percent thermal efficiency—we would need to look at Formula 1 engines to find higher.
This charges a 1.67 kWh lithium-ion traction battery that has been optimized for its charge and discharge ability, which in turn powers a pair of electric motors. At the front axle sits a 202 hp (150 kW), 243 lb-ft (330 Nm) permanent synchronous magnet motor, at the rear another PSM providing 134 hp (100 kW) and 144 lb-ft (195 Nm), although given the battery’s limitations, combined power output is 225 hp (168 kW). And as you would expect, the motors will regeneratively brake under deceleration to return as much energy to the battery for reuse as possible.
Although this is the first time Nissan has offered the e-Power hybrid system here in the US, it has been on sale in Japan for a decade now, with more than 1.4 million cars on the road in that time. Those versions weren’t considered quite sufficient for our roads, so Nissan retuned the system for the Rogue Hybrid to be able to cope with harder acceleration and bigger vehicles.
Enjoyable to drive
From behind the wheel, you could very easily forget this wasn’t just a new EV—a replacement for the gone-too-soon Ariya, perhaps. Throttle tip-in is immediate, like any good electric car, and there’s enough torque to get you on your way without any fuss, even if a 0–60 mph (97 km/h) time of 6.4 seconds isn’t particularly fast by 2026 standards. Nissan has had plenty of expertise in calibrating one-pedal driving setups, and when you access the Rogue Hybrid’s by pushing a button on the center console, you’ll find it’s no different here.
So keen was Nissan to demonstrate the smoothness with which the powertrain decelerates under regen braking that it put us through a mini school-run obstacle course, complete with a fishbowl full of water mounted to the cupholder. Nary a drop was spilled, versus the same test in what might be the Rogue Hybrid’s greatest rival, Toyota’s hybrid RAV4. (The RAV4, with no one-pedal driving, requires you to use the brake pedal to slow and stop.)
Acceleration is good at highway speeds, and cruising is quiet—on a wet and windy day it was the gusts we heard, rather than wind noise generated by the car. Speaking of generators, you don’t really hear the engine running much either. It never revs particularly high and shuts off whenever possible—with music playing on the infotainment system, the occupants might not even notice.
The ride absorbed bumps on the road well, but it didn’t absorb sharp transient shocks as well as it did those of longer duration. A combination of low-rolling resistance tires and Californian roads that were seeing their first rain in some time conspired to create rather a lot of understeer as I entered a roundabout with perhaps a touch more vigor than normal. That said, I rather liked the Rogue Hybrid’s steering feel, and together with the smooth power delivery from the two electric motors and the easy one-pedal driving mode, my time behind the wheel was most pleasant.
To live with?
The Rogue Hybrid SR we drove is rated at 41 mpg (5.7 L/100 km) in the city, 36 mpg (6.5 L/100 km) highway, and a combined 38 mpg (6.2 L/100 km), not quite as good as the RAV4 hybrid but still competitive with the segment.
The Rogue Hybrid provided a commendable amount of storage space, and I was glad to see so many physical controls. As our car was fitted with the Tech package, it included a larger 14.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Android Automotive OS with google automotive services. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available with both this and the standard 12.3-inch system, and I was surprised to discover that the Rogue Hybrid would show Google Maps navigation from an iPhone through CarPlay on the main instrument display in front of the driver—usually only Apple Maps (and Waze iirc) appear on this screen, with Google Maps relegated to the infotainment display.
Seat comfort has long been a Nissan obsession, and its work on its “Zero Gravity” seats has paid off, as a day of driving did not result in a fatigued driver. The stitching and design of the seats was inspired by cosy puffer jackets, although I think the charcoal interior would be a better idea for life with a family or animals than the light gray of our test car.
To begin with, Nissan will just have a single flavor of Rogue Hybrid for sale, the SR with the Tech Package, which will cost $41,490. In January, it will add the $35,490 SV and the $43,490 Platinum trims to the mix, prices that are benchmarked against the aforementioned Toyota. And for those who think you’ll only be able to find the most expensive ones at the dealership, Nissan says it expects the mix to be 30 percent SV, 50 percent SR, 20 percent Platinum.
