After years of anticipation, Nissan is finally introducing a plug-in hybrid version of its popular Rogue.
If you’re feeling a sense of déjà vu, don’t worry — your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The new Rogue PHEV is essentially a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV wearing a Nissan badge. That said, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the Outlander PHEV remains one of the benchmarks in its class. And let’s not forget that the two Japanese SUVs already share numerous components, even in their non-PHEV versions.
A Proven Powertrain
Under the hood, the 2026 Nissan Rogue PHEV is powered by a combination of a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and two electric motors for a total output of 248 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. However, the most impressive figure isn’t the power — it’s the electric range. The model can travel up to 61 kilometers on fully electric power thanks to its 20 kWh battery pack. With a full tank of fuel, total range climbs to 687 kilometers, should you ever need to go that far.
Because the Rogue PHEV uses an electric motor on the front axle and another on the rear, the SUV maintains all-wheel drive even when driving without the gasoline engine. In total, the Rogue offers seven drive modes, including Snow and Mud.
As for charging, Nissan claims a 7.5-hour recharge time on a Level 2 charger and about 16 hours on a regular household outlet.
The PHEV version will be offered exclusively in the Platinum trim for the Nissan Rogue. It’s also worth noting that the Rogue PHEV will feature three rows of seating, making it a particularly appealing option for families.
The Right Decision
Sure, Nissan could have made a greater effort to distinguish the Rogue PHEV from the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV from a design standpoint. However, from a financial perspective, using the same platform and bodywork was an excellent idea—especially for introducing this new powertrain into the Nissan lineup. Chances are the two vehicles will differ much more at their next redesign, but for now, I have no issue with the fact that they’re nearly identical. Quite the opposite, actually.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
