This is the all-new 2026 Nissan Rogue PHEV. Except that it isn’t. Nissan, who needed to have a PHEV, didn’t want to spend the money on developing their own PHEV powertrain. So, they walked across the corporate office to their partners, Mitsubishi. But while this may have started as an Outlander, in certain aspects it feels more Nissan than it does Mitsubishi. Let me explain.
Performance
Engine – The 2.4L naturally aspirated engine in the Nissan Rogue PHEV comes from Mitsubishi. It produces 131 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque (98 kW & 195 Nm) on its own. But it has help from two electric motors; one helping the engine in the front and one powering the rear wheels. The front motor produces 114 hp & 188 lb-ft of torque (85 kW & 255 Nm) while the rear motor produces 134 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque (100 kW & 195 Nm). The total output of the 2026 Nissan Rogue PHEV is 248 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque (185 kW & 450 Nm).
Step on the throttle and the Outland… Rogue, is a properly brisk crossover. It doesn’t give you EV-style neck-snapping acceleration but it hustles. Especially when you find out that it weighs 2.1 tonnes. That’s about as heavy as an EV.
As in other plug-in hybrid vehicles, the Rogue PHEV has different drive modes. By default, the car will start in the Auto Hybrid mode. This mode uses the battery power in conjunction with the gasoline motor more frequently, particularly when accelerating quickly. There’s a Max Power mode that provides better response and drive. EV mode allows the SUV to drive just using electricity. There’s also Save mode which will keep the battery’s charge at whatever state it is at. In this mode, the car drives primarily on the engine but at parking lot speeds, it will use the battery. And finally there’s battery charge which will charge the battery as you drive along. However, this mode will have a big impact on the car’s fuel economy.
Battery, Range, & Charging – In EV mode, it’s rated to return up to 61 km (38 Miles) of range. But of course, that all depends on your driving style, ambient temperature, climate control usage and so on. So, you may get more or perhaps less than what it’s rated for.
Charging up the 20 kWh battery, however, is not as easy as it is in the Outlander PHEV. That car can be charged at a DC charging station. This Rogue PHEV cannot. Worse yet, it can only accept up to 3.5 kW of power from a level 2 charger. That means a flat battery to 100% will take almost 8 hours.
Fuel Economy – It’s rated for 9.4 L/100km (25 MPG) in a city and 8.7 L/100km (27 MPG) on a highway. Those are more gasoline-only fuel consumption numbers rather than hybrid numbers. But if you continuously plug it in and use it as it was designed to, then you can go for weeks without ever visiting a gas station for a refill. I averaged just 2.3 L/100km (102 MPG) during my time with the SUV and drove it for over 450 km (280 Miles). Plugging it in every evening will save you loads of money at the pumps.
Braking – Some energy can be recuperated through regenerative braking. You can adjust the strength of it by the steering wheel mounted paddles. Additionally, the Rogue PHEV has a semi-one-pedal mode called e-step. This mode slows down the car gradually and quickly when lifting your foot off the throttle pedal. But for the last 10 km/h (6 mph), the brake pedal is still required. So it’s not a true one-pedal-drive mode that you’d find on an EV. However, in this mode, the brake pedal will move on its own so it will not be where you expect it to be if you need to apply more braking force.
Handling – On the move, the Nissan Rogue PHEV is a sensible crossover. It feels heavy and wide from behind the steering wheel but not cumbersome to maneuver. The steering is a tad lighter than the Outlander version and quite vague in feel. But at least it makes it easy to park and it has surround view cameras to aid in tight parking maneuvers.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Where this car really shines is over long distances. The ride is great and compliant over bumps and poorly maintained roads. It’s not the most plush ride but coupled with those front seats, you do not feel tired even after an hour long commute to or from work.
Interior Space – Interior space is generous for the first two rows of seats. In the front, I fit just fine at 6’4”. Additionally, those front seats that I mentioned earlier are divine. 2nd row space is not bad sitting behind my taller than average driving position. Headroom and legroom are all good. The 3rd row though is only there if you find yourself in a pinch and need to carry your kid’s friends. If you plan on using the 3rd row often, then might I suggest getting something bigger so that whoever sits back there, won’t hate you for the rest of their lives.
As for the trunk, there’s 308 L (10.8 cu-ft) behind the 3rd row which is not much. But fold them down and the capacity increases to a much more usable 866 L (30.5 cu-ft). Fold down the 2nd row and cargo space increases to 1,822 L (64.3 cu-ft).
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – As for cabin noises on highways, the Rogue PHEV is about as quiet as a Hyundai Palisade or Kia EV5. In other words, really quiet. But at speeds below 30 km/h or so, you will hear the mandatory EV pedestrian humm that all hybrids and EVs are mandated to have. Additionally when the engine is running, it produces a high pitch tone, almost like a dentist drill. But turn on the radio, and the music will drown out that noise… for the most part.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2026 Nissan Rogue PHEV is only available in one time here in Canada. Two in the United States. As the top spec Platinum trim, it will cost you $58,698 CAD ($49,990 USD). The interesting thing is that this is actually a little bit cheaper than the equivalent Mitsubishi Outlander trim. However, the Rogue is missing a few things that the Outlander has.
Gadgets – Being a fully loaded vehicle, the Rogue PHEV has soft leather upholstery, heated front & 2nd row seats along with a heated steering wheel, a 3-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, a wireless phone charging pad, a power liftgate, a Bose 9-speaker audio system, and even rear door sunshades, or peasant blockers as some call them.
However, it’s missing massaging front seats, which the Outlander does have. It’s also missing the updated infotainment system. The Rogue utilizes an older Nissan system that is really showing its age now. Newer Nissan models and the updated 2025 Outlander received a new Google based system that looks sharp. Additionally, while the system in the 2026 Rogue PHEV supports wireless Apple CarPlay, it does not support wireless Android Auto. You have to bring your cable with you if you’re an Android user.
Exterior Design – Yes, on the outside, it looks very much like an Outlander PHEV with the Mitsubishi badges replaced by Nissan ones. It looks a bit odd because I’m so used to seeing this design as being a Mitsubishi but overall, it’s a pretty good looking crossover.
Interior Design – While on the outside it is very much a Mitsubishi, inside it is very much a Nissan. From the quilted leather on the seats and door panels, to the gear selector, to the climate control buttons, it’s all designs that we’ve first seen in the current generation gasoline-only Rogue. Even the font used in the digital driver display and infotainment system is a Nissan font which is the exact same that is used in the Outlander. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that this is a bad thing. It’s great and the interior controls are simple to use. I’m simply pointing out that the interior very much feels like a Nissan product, even the Mitsubishi version, it feels much more Nissan on the inside than it does Mitsubishi.
Safety – Just like the convenience features, the Rogue PHEV comes equipped with every available driver and safety aid. This includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with lane keep, blind zone sensors, surround view cameras, traffic sign recognition, high beam assist, rear cross traffic alert and Nissan’s ProPilot assist, to name a few.
Warranty – In Canada, the 2026 Nissan Rogue PHEV is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle, 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain, and an 8 year / 160,000 km hybrid component warranty. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty, click here.
Conclusion – In the end, Nissan finally has a plug-in hybrid in their lineup. The bad news is that the Mitsubishi version is a better option. Not only do you have more trims to choose from with lower prices but it also gets more updates that this car doesn’t have. I guess the real winner is Nissan who is trying to take buyers away from Toyota & Hyundai and there are about twice as many Nissan dealers than Mitsubishi dealers across Canada. So getting your hands on this car will probably be easier at a Nissan dealer than a Mitsubishi dealer.
Thank you to Nissan Canada for providing the 2026 Rogue PHEV. www.Nissan.ca
2026 Nissan Rogue PHEV Gallery
