Nissan's New Rogue Hybrid


The new Nissan Rogue Hybrid is a different kind of hybrid. The Rogue is all-new for 2027.

With the introduction of the new Nissan Rogue Hybrid e-POWER, the term “Series Hybrid” will be used quite a bit under the banner of e-POWER. Nissan has had this technology overseas for years. It’s a hybrid, but not in the traditional sense. Here’s how it works:

A series hybrid uses gasoline and electricity to make power, just like a traditional hybrid. However, the gasoline engine does not drive the wheels. Instead, it works like a generator that creates electricity, which is then stored in a battery. The electric motor or motors pull power from the battery to move the car. In essence, the Rogue hybrid works like an electric car. Sometimes, this setup is referred to as an “Extended Range Electric Vehicle.”


Hybrid MPG


When driving the new Rogue, it feels like an electric car. There’s the familiar instant acceleration, the same quiet driving demeanor, and the same regenerative braking. 


The advantage in all of this is that the e-POWER system delivers excellent fuel economy. The level of efficiency will vary from driver to driver because those who use the Rogue hybrid around town primarily will be using it like an electric car, with a gas engine coming on only occasionally. However, people who live in rural areas with lots of hills will be using it more like a traditional hybrid, even though it's still electricity only that powers the wheels.

Small SUVs that are hybrid, such as the Jeep Cherokee and the Honda CR-V, get approximately 37 miles per gallon. The Nissan Rogue hybrid may exceed that with EPA estimates closer to 40 miles per gallon.


Electric Feel


Because there's no handoff between gas and electric power, the Rogue e-POWER delivers a more pleasant driving experience. For those who have come to enjoy the instant response of an electric car but don't want the hassle of charging up, e-POWER is a perfect compromise. 


The big difference here is that when the battery in the Rogue hybrid starts to run low on electricity, or when it senses the driver needs more power, the gas engine will kick on and rev in a way similar to how a hybrid works. That engine is a 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine. It generates electricity for a 2-kWh lithium-ion battery and electric motors that drive the vehicle.


Like a traditional hybrid, you can hear the gasoline engine running and revving as the driver demands more or less power. It’s not intrusive; in fact, it sounds very refined, more like a distant conversation you can barely hear. You CAN hear it, but you kind of have to be paying attention to know when it turns on and off. The perfect situation for the Rogue hybrid would be a moderate freeway trip followed by a good deal of suburban driving. In that instance, the engine would build up electricity and store it in the battery. As the driver exits the highway, the battery would be nearly full, resulting in an electric driving experience around town.  


The hybrid version of the 2027 Rogue will be available first. A gasoline-only version will follow


All New Rogue


Aside from how the vehicle is powered, the interior and exterior dimensions are very attractive. Packaging is one of the places where this new Rogue hybrid excels. It has a roomy interior that's comfortable, and the Rogue feels equally at home on the highway as it does around town. These attributes will be there with the non-hybrid Rogue as well. Not only is the 2027 Nissan Rogue hybrid a new type of hybrid, but it’s also an all-new Rogue as well; it’s just that Nissan will lead the Rogue’s introduction with the hybrid version. 

 Ultimately, the advantage of the rogue hybrid is very similar to that of other small SUVs that are driven by a hybrid powertrain - good fuel economy, great acceleration, and a reasonable price when compared to a fully electric vehicle. The 2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid with e-POWER should land in the $35,000 range for a nicely equipped version. 


The biggest advantage of the Rogue Hybrid is the same as that of many other, more traditional hybrids. Because the Rogue hybrid uses gasoline to make electricity, you never have to plug it in. However, you do have to fill the tank with gas. The Rogue hybrid uses the existing infrastructure to refuel, but at the same time delivers a driving experience very similar to an electric car.


-Brian Moody 


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