• Auto123 gets in (another) first drive of the 2027 Nissan Rogue e-Power.
Santa Barbara, CA — The Nissan Rogue is its maker’s bread and butter in North America. Since its arrival here in 2008, the compact SUV has sold for half a million units in Canada, and according to Nissan nine out of ten of them are still on the road after 10 years.
For 2027, however, there’s change afoot. Nissan is taking a calculated risk with the introduction of the Rogue e-Power, a hybrid unlike any other. The system has been in use for years in other markets, but it’s new to here. Essentially, the gas engine serves solely as a generator to produce electricity. That electricity feeds the electric motors (one up front and one at the rear) that do propel the vehicle.
The result is surprising: a drive that feels much more like an electric vehicle than a traditional hybrid, except that you never need to plug anything in. On top of which, you get an extremely quiet drive out of it all.
2027 Nissan Rogue e-Power — What's new?
The Rogue e-Power thus introduces a new generation of hybrid technology for Nissan in North America. The system combines a 1.5L turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, a small 1.67-kWh lithium-ion battery and two electric motors.
The combustion engine develops 148 hp, but that figure is almost secondary since it doesn’t directly drive the wheels.
The front electric motor produces 202 hp and the rear one 134. Total system output reaches 225 hp.
The Rogue e-Power retains all-wheel drive and even offers one-pedal driving thanks to regenerative braking.
Design of the 2027 Nissan Rogue e-Power
The new Rogue largely retains the dimensions of the current model, but Nissan gives it a bolder silhouette. Where the current Rogue resembles a polished pebble, the new model is more evocative of a precision-cut gemstone.
The grille adopts an elongated hexagon pattern that recurs across several areas of the bodywork. The LED light clusters even hide a small Japanese easter egg: their two-three arrangement evokes “ni-san”, meaning “two-three” in Japanese, a nod to the Nissan name.
At the rear, the triangular C-pillar is meant to recall the clouds above Mount Fuji — an elegant way of saying stylists spent a few hours taking in Japanese landscapes.
Like a number of other carmakers, Nissan also decided to eliminate chrome completely. Depending on the trim, you find more painted surfaces or high-gloss black. The Rogue SV rides on 18-inch wheels, while the SR and Platinum receive 19-inch wheels. A power liftgate and heated side mirrors come standard.
Interior of the 2027 Nissan Rogue e-Power
Nissan didn’t set out to turn the Rogue into a five-star lounge, and that’s likely a good thing. The cabin is understated, functional and above all designed to be used without requiring IT training. Perhaps the biggest news is the absence of piano black trim, which collects fingerprints, dust and micro-scratches as if engineered specifically to collect them. Instead, Nissan prioritizes more durable matte materials. Also a good thing.
The central screen is prominent, but not a black hole into which gets sucked all of the controls. Nissan retains physical controls for climate settings and the audio system. A rotary dial also adjusts volume. Amen.
The “Zero Gravity” front seats remain among the best in the segment for longer road trips. The Rogue provides ample room for four adults and remains very practical for family duties. The rear doors open nearly 90 degrees, and three-count-‘em-three child safety seats can be installed.
Behind the rear bench, cargo volume stands at 880 litres. Once the 60/40 split seatbacks are stowed, capacity climbs to 1,866 litres.
The Rogue e-Power can tow up to 680 kg (1,500 lb).
Technology in the 2027 Nissan Rogue e-Power
The Rogue e-Power features twin 12.3-inch screens on the SV trim. The SR and Platinum trims upgrade to twin 14.3-inch displays and add Google built-in. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. A new 15-watt Qi2 magnetic wireless charger is also included.
All trims receive a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors and a windscreen wiper de-icer. Dual-zone automatic climate control and rear air vents are also standard.
The Platinum adds ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, head-up display, 10-speaker Bose audio system, dual wireless charging pads and a surround-view camera. Nissan also offers a newly enhanced version of its Around View Monitor with 3D view, allowing drivers to better see the front wheels and curb-side obstacles.
Nissan doesn’t skimp here on driver assistance features. Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection detection comes standard. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert and driver attention monitoring are also included.
The ProPILOT Assist system, combining adaptive cruise control and lane centring, comes standard even on the SV trim.
The SR and Platinum trims can be optioned with hands-free traffic jam assist, operating up to roughly 50 km/h. The SR and Platinum can also benefit from automatic lane changing. The ProPILOT Emergency Stop system can even automatically decelerate the vehicle and contact emergency services if the driver becomes unresponsive following multiple alerts.
Powertrain of the 2027 Nissan Rogue e-Power
This is where the new Rogue differs most from its predecessors and also from other hybrids in its segment. As mentioned, the 1.5L turbocharged 3-cylinder engine doesn’t turn the wheels; it generates electricity. Its operating range is thus much narrower than a conventional engine's, typically running between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm. Nissan claims to have achieved a thermal efficiency of 42 percent, an exceptional result for a gas engine.
The electricity it generates is destined to the two electric motors. The front motor produces 202 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque, while the rear produces 134 hp and 144 lb-ft. Total system output reaches 225 hp.
The system functions like an electric vehicle equipped with a small power plant under the hood. One benefit is that at low speeds, the Rogue moves in near total silence. When the battery drains, the combustion engine starts up to recharge it. But unlike several series-type hybrids, the engine avoids that annoying tendency to wail as soon as you step on the accelerator.
Driving the 2027 Nissan Rogue e-Power
Once underway, throttle response is instantaneous. No turbo lag to wait out, no gears to select, no gear changes. You press down and it moves. Simple, effective and quite enjoyable.
The system also offers an e-Pedal mode, allowing substantial deceleration simply by lifting off the accelerator through energy recovery.
We repeat: Above all, the Rogue is strikingly quiet. Nissan managed to ensure the 3-cylinder engine remains discreet. During our test drive on Northern California roads, it was occasionally difficult to tell whether the combustion engine was running. This is precisely where the Rogue gains an edge over certain competing hybrids. In a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, for example, the internal combustion engine becomes quite vocal under hard acceleration. The Rogue, by contrast, stays far more muted.
Nissan even supplied a 2026 RAV4 Hybrid for a direct comparison, and that comparison was almost cruel to the Toyota. The Rogue proved quieter, punchier and more refined.
A complete evaluation, especially in winter conditions, will be necessary to confirm our initial observations, but first impressions are excellent.
Fuel consumption
Nissan estimates fuel consumption for the Rogue e-Power at 5.9L/100 km in the city, 6.7L/100 km on the highway and 6.2L/100 km combined based on its internal testing. Those are attractive figures for an all-wheel-drive vehicle of this size, though, since Nissan invited comparisons, Toyota achieves better efficiency with the RAV4. The Rogue’s figures compare evenly to those of hybrid variants of the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-50 and Subaru Forester.
But the Rogue is the one that delivers a driving experience most closely aligned with an electric vehicle.
The final word
Nissan is betting big with its Rogue e-Power. The Rogue is its most crucial model in North America, so there’s no room for error. The Rogue e-Power offers the smoothness, instant response and quietness of an electric vehicle without the need to hunt for a charging station. For buyers who enjoy electric driving dynamics but don’t want to manage range or charging, it’s a proposition well worth considering.
It remains to be seen whether Canadians will be willing to pay the premium. The base trim sits just under the $40,000 mark; expect to spend roughly $5,000 more for a well-equipped SV like our test model, and another $5,000 for a fully loaded Platinum model.
2027 Nissan Rogue e-Power competitors
- - Hyundai Tucson hybrid
- - Kia Sportage HEV
- - Mazda CX-50 hybrid
- - Subaru Forester hybrid
- - Toyota RAV4 hybrid
