It may have taken a while and sales of its most popular SUV have slumped, but Nissan has finally made the move to offer hybrid vehicles in the United States
The Japanese automaker will add a plug-in hybrid powertrain (PHEV) to the 2026 Rogue compact SUV, which should be available in the U.S. sometime next year, Nissan Americas Chief Planning Officer Ponz Pandikuthira told Automotive News.
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) typically runs on electric power until its battery is low, then automatically switches to using a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine. The battery can be charged conventionally from outside or through regenerative braking.
While Nissan has offered popular all-electric vehicles (EVs) like the Leaf and Ariya for years, the company has surprised many by not joining the hybrid bandwagon, particularly with the Rogue. Competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, which offer part fuel and part electric propulsion capacity, have seen sales skyrocket. Meanwhile, sales of the Rogue have slumped this year.
That's why Nissan is partnering with Mitsubishi to offer its first electrically assisted car in the U.S. next year.
According to the Automotive News report, the Rogue will feature a similar powertrain to the Mitsubishi Outlander. In this model, a 2.4-liter gasoline engine drives the front wheels, while two electric motors form an all-wheel drive system that can work either alone or in conjunction with the gasoline engine. Since the Outlander can produce 248 hp, the Rogue PHEV would be more powerful than the existing model's 201 hp. The Outlander is also rated for 38 miles of electric driving, according to the EPA.
Additionally, Nissan plans to bring its e-Power series non-plug-in hybrid technology to the United States in 2026. This technology, already available outside the United States, also uses electric motors to drive the wheels and uses the gasoline engine to charge the battery.
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