The Nissan Leaf was one of the first modern electric vehicles to hit the market, but Nissan has been slower to introduce plug-in hybrids. It’s only just now in the process of adding one to its lineup, only by borrowing from another automaker.
At first glance, the 2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-In Hybrid appears to be a straightforward addition to the Rogue’s resume. Many competitors have already ticked this box, offering many of the benefits of electric power to customers who aren’t yet ready to switch to an electric vehicle – provided they use these plug-in hybrids regularly.
However, there is a twist here. Instead of adding a plug-in hybrid powertrain to the standard Rogue, Nissan redesigned the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and swapped out the Mitsubishi badges for its own. It is, as they say, a bold strategy. Let’s see if it pays off.
Borrow from the best
Before touchscreens and piano black plastic panels, low-cost new badges were the bane of automotive journalists. Selling the same car under different brand names—known as “badge engineering”—led to duds like the Cadillac Cimarron (a Chevrolet Cavalier with added chrome) and redundancies like the Mercury Tracer (a Ford Escort with a different name). It is now much less common, which makes the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid even more puzzling at first glance.
However, Nissan knew what it was doing. The company has been Mitsubishi’s largest shareholder since 2016, acquiring a 34% stake in the smaller automaker after Mitsubishi was rocked by an emissions scandal in the two companies’ shared home market of Japan. For this reason, the current generation Rogue and Outlander were designed based on a common architecture. So under the skin, the plug-in hybrid model based on the Outlander is still technically a rogue.
Mitsubishi is also doing better when it comes to plug-in hybrids. The original Outlander PHEV debuted in 2012 (though U.S. sales came much later) and was the first plug-in hybrid SUV. So Mitsubishi has had plenty of time to revive its plug-in hybrid system and provide Nissan with well-developed technology to temporarily (no pun intended) fill a gap in its lineup until a new, in-house hybrid system is ready for the US
Design dissonance
The Outlander is a good-looking crossover. It should not be confused with a station wagon, but it also has a modern design that avoids SUV clichés. It’s just strange to see a Nissan badge on this design, considering it was originally intended for a pure Mitsubishi. Buyers will also likely be confused when they see two completely different-looking vehicles with the Rogue badge at their local Nissan dealer.
The interior feels less flashy, mostly because the Outlander elements are simpler, although still handsome. However, the technology is a step behind the non-hybrid Rogue. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but with a 9-inch touchscreen instead of the 12.3-inch screen available on higher-end versions of the standard Rogue. The graphics on both the touchscreen and the standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster appear to come from a 1990s arcade game, but key functions are controlled via analog buttons and knobs anyway.
Infotainment isn’t the only area where the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid falls short of the original Rogue. This model can be equipped with Nissan’s most advanced driver assistance system, ProPilot Assist 2.1, but the plug-in hybrid (along with its Mitsubishi twin) is only available with version 1.1 of the system. This means you can’t drive hands-free on the highway. The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid retains the Outlander’s third-row bench seat, making this model a seven-seater. However, the rear seats are too small to be of much use, and like other three-row vehicles, they take up a lot of cargo space. When you fold it up, you get comparable space to other small crossovers. Headroom and legroom in the first two rows are also appropriate for the segment.
Provides an EV-like driving experience
The technical specifications are identical to those of the Outlander PHEV. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is used primarily as a generator to maintain charge in the 20-kilowatt-hour battery pack, but can also power the front wheels when needed. Instead, the system is designed to rely on two electric motors, one of which supplies power to each axle. The system’s total output is 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque – less than the plug-in hybrid versions of the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4.
The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid also features the same driving modes as the Outlander PHEV. Called Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) by Mitsubishi, the system includes three modes (Normal, Power, Eco) for controlling the mix of gasoline and electric power, and four (Asphalt, Gravel, Snow, Mud) for making the most of that power on different surfaces. Like the Outlander, Tarmac mode felt reasonably good on regular asphalt (we didn’t have a chance to drive the Rogue on gravel, snow, or mud), but wasn’t fun. Added to this is the slack suspension, which, like the Outlander, does not inspire confidence and corners while also affecting ride comfort.
While Nissan hasn’t addressed the Outlander’s shortcomings, it has retained the virtues of this plug-in hybrid. Mitsubishi’s powertrain is similar to an electric vehicle, delivering plenty of torque right off the bat and smoothly ramping up acceleration regardless of what the combustion engine is doing. Drivers can also take advantage of strong recuperation when braking, although, like the Outlander PHEV, recuperation tends to cut off abruptly when approaching a stop. Regardless, this gives drivers a great preview of what they will experience in a fully electric vehicle.
Enough electric range for short journeys
The Rogue Plug-In Hybrid is also just as efficient as the Outlander PHEV. The EPA rating equates to an electric range of 38 miles and a combined fuel economy of 26 mpg once the battery charge is low. The electric range should be enough to cover short trips, but it’s worth noting that Toyota is promising up to 52 miles of electric range for the next-generation 2026 RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Today’s Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage plug-in hybrids have a range of 32 miles and 34 miles, respectively, but have a combined fuel economy of 35 mpg in hybrid mode.
However, the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid does not have the DC fast charging hardware of the Outlander PHEV. But considering the Mitsubishi uses the orphaned CHAdeMO port and can only fast charge at 50 kilowatts, which takes 38 minutes for a 10-80 percent charge, owners won’t be missing out on much.
Even with the standard 3.5 kW AC onboard charger, the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid can be fully charged overnight (Nissan specifically states 7.5 hours), which should be sufficient for daily use. Nissan has also retained the Outlander PHEV’s two 12-volt, 1,500-watt power outlets, so you can use the battery to power your coffee maker at a campsite.
The warm-up for Nissan’s next-generation hybrid system
Nissan had not announced pricing for the Rogue Plug-In Hybrid at press time, which is unfortunate as that will determine this model’s relevance. The Rogue looks and drives just like its Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV twin and is just as efficient. Unless it’s cheaper, there’s no reason to buy one.
Even Nissan doesn’t seem to care about selling many Rogue plug-in hybrids. This renaming serves primarily as a placeholder until the next-generation Rogue arrives with a new hybrid system called e-Power. Already available outside the US, this system is unique because the gasoline engine is completely separate from the drivetrain. All driving power comes from electric motors. Nissan promises up to 41 mpg with EV-like driving dynamics, albeit without a plug.
Nissan provided a European-market Qashqai e-Power for this test drive, and it certainly didn’t drive like other hybrid vehicles. The lack of engine vibration was impressive, as was the extent of the regenerative braking, which brought the Qashqai pretty close to one-pedal driving. If Nissan can deliver on fuel efficiency, this will be a great option for buyers who don’t have room to plug in. However, it’s interesting to note that in addition to the E-Power and plug-in hybrid models, Nissan will also need versions of the Rogue that promise an EV-like driving experience – without adding another electric vehicle to its lineup.
