On the road with Nissan’s new E-Power hybrid, coming to the 2027 Rogue

Nissan is gearing up to make a significant impact in the hybrid vehicle market with its innovative E-Power system, which will debut in the 2027 Rogue. While competitors like Toyota and Honda have established themselves with a range of electrified vehicles, Nissan has been less prominent in this arena in North America. The E-Power series hybrid system has found success in markets like Europe and Japan, but Nissan has hesitated to introduce it to the U.S. market. Company representatives have pointed out that the driving conditions in North America are different, making the system less appealing until now. In the past, Nissan's hybrid offerings, such as the Altima and the earlier Rogue hybrid, have not captured consumer interest, often falling short on fuel efficiency. However, that narrative is about to change. In a recent demonstration, Nissan transported a pair of European-spec Qashqais to North America, providing a preview of the powertrain that will soon be featured in the Rogue. Although the Qashqai is slightly smaller than the upcoming Rogue, it shares the same groundbreaking powertrain, which includes a new 1.5-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine tailored specifically for the E-Power system. As a series hybrid, this engine powers an inverter that channels energy to the front electric motor or stores it in a 2.1 kWh battery for later use, rather than driving the wheels directly. The front electric motor, adapted from the latest Nissan Leaf, delivers an impressive 202 horsepower (151 kW). While the Qashqai remains a front-wheel-drive vehicle, the Rogue E-Power is set to offer all-wheel drive, powered by an additional electric motor at the rear axle. Nissan has yet to disclose the total output for the Rogue, but it promises to surpass that of the Qashqai, indicating exciting developments ahead for the iconic SUV.