Nissan’s New Rogue Hybrid Arrives Just as America Wants HybridsAutoweekSusan WadeMon, September 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTCAdd us on Google2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid Brings e-POWER to AmericaJim MotavalliThe market has spoken and, with epic high gas prices, it wants hybrids. Hence Nissan's haste in bringing the 2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid to market this fall with fourth-generation hexagon-shaped styling that won't reach the internal-combustion versions of the car until the 2028 model year. "The all-new Rogue Hybrid is exactly what customers have been asking for," said Ponz Pandikuthira, a senior vice president for product and planning at Nissan Americas.Nissan showed the pre-production Rogue Hybrid in Park City, Utah, August 26. The car uses an unusual-in-America setup on its way to (via Nissan's own testing) 38 miles per gallon combined (40 city/36 highway). The e-POWER drivetrain uses a 1.5-liter, 148-horsepower three-cylinder engine as a generator to keep the batteries charged, while the two AC synchronous permanent magnet electric motors (all initial Rogue Hybrids will be AWD) actually drive the wheels. The e-motors generate 225 horsepower. You cannot plug it in.Interestingly enough, the Lohner-Porsche Mixte around 1901 used a similar series hybrid setup, albeit with hub motors (an enduring concept still waiting mainstream adoption). The current Ram 1500 Ramcharger also has a series-hybrid configuration.The drivetrain produces 225 horsepower—all from the e-motors. The three-cylinder gas engine acts as a generator.Jim MotavalliThe Rogue was introduced for the 2008 model year, and has had two other generations since then. The fourth-gen, said Hiren Patel, senior design manager at Nissan Studio Six, features "edgy" styling that incorporates a lot of Japanese influence including the hexagon shape seen in the country's carpentry and woodwork, a silhouette of Mount Fuji with clouds on the rear side panels, and Horizon Blue Metallic paint inspired by Japanese paintings of the ocean at sunrise. In the interior, rugged outdoor gear (specifically, down jackets) was an influence on the seat quilting.AdvertisementAdvertisementMore than four million compact crossover Rogues have been sold in the US since 2008. "We chose to introduce e-POWER on our bestselling model in the US," said Brandon White, director in the chief marketing manager's office. "Rogue sales are up 29 percent year over year. We have built nearly two million e-POWER drivetrains globally [sold in 68 countries since 2016], but they were for smaller, urban-oriented vehicles in Europe and Asia. This third-generation e-POWER system is the first specifically built for the North American market."Jim MotavalliPricing is competitive with popular models such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. In ascending order, the three models are base SV ($35,490), tech-oriented SR ($37,490) and Platinum ($43,490). There's actually a $37,590 premium package for SV that will price it slightly ahead of SR. White explained that customers might prefer the SV's styling package.White told Autoweek that the new hybrid Rogue is aimed at "the heart of the market," in this case families of four with an average parental age of 45 and a $120,000 salary range. The strongest markets for Rogue, he said, are the Northeast generally, California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Georgia. They love the Rogue in the suburbs and in commuter-heavy enclaves.Tony Baehner, director of product planning, said that the Rogue is the only hybrid vehicle in its class with a 100 percent electric motor drivetrain. He said the e-POWER system, with 42 percent thermal efficiency, sends current to the battery or the electric motor, depending on demand.AdvertisementAdvertisementBaehner made a point to emphasize the Rogue's quiet operation, something that was tested later in the day during the on-road comparison test. The Nissan system, he said, offers "living room quietness" and prioritizes running the engine when ambient noise is present. Other features include "e-Pedal" regenerative braking that can slow the car to a full stop if the driver lifts off the accelerator. The engineers also claim to have added a feature that adjusts braking force based on speed and pedal input to ensure that final stops are smooth, without a jolt.The Rogue hybrid won the quietness contest.Jim MotavalliAnd then it was time to drive. At a $16 million mansion above Park City, Nissan set up a 10-minute comparison drive between a Toyota RAV4 Limited Hybrid (around $45,000 as equipped) and a Rogue Hybrid prototype.The point was definitely proven: The Rogue was much quieter accelerating up steep hills. The RAV4's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine becomes somewhat harsh, with a not-particularly-pleasant exhaust note. The Rogue maintained its composure, and is indeed very quiet.Both cars have similar rear storage and power liftgates, and rear occupant accommodation—not overly generous, but acceptable. Nissan claims more front headroom than any hybrid in its class, and class-leading front legroom among hybrids. With the second row in place there is 31.1 cubic feet of cargo space, and with it out of the way there's 65.9. The spare is a temporary.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Rogue has returned to physical climate controls, and the roller-type volume control was also a benefit. The driver looks at a digital cluster, 12.3 inches in standard form and 14.3 in the in upper trims. Wireless charging is standard, as is head-up display in the Platinum edition. There are four USB-C ports.Many manufacturers, expecting Americans would flock to battery EVs, were caught off guard when hybrids proved more popular. Small wonder, then, that with gas hovering at an average of $4.50 a gallon, automakers are adding more of these fuel-sippers to their lineups.