Could the Nissan Rogue PHEV Be a Clone of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV?
The announcement of Nissan’s latest financial results this week came with some pretty sad news including the shuttering of three global assembly plants within the next two years, the elimination of shifts in the U.S., as well as job and salary cuts down the line. The company also officially ended merger talks with Honda but said it would continue to seek partners to consolidate its operations going forward.
On a brighter note, Nissan teased six new models that will debut later in 2025 or in 2026. They were shown on a slide with shadowy pictures not revealing much about each one.
- Also: Nissan to Cut Rogue, Altima Production in U.S.
- Also: Confirmed: Nissan Rogue PHEV is Coming in 2025
Other than the small electric crossover set to replace the LEAF, the model we’re most interested in definitely is the Rogue PHEV, a plug-in hybrid variant of Nissan’s compact SUV, which was confirmed several months ago. This vehicle will borrow its powertrain and other components from the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
The strange thing, as you can see, is that the body outline and headlight signature are similar to the Outlander’s more than the current Rogue’s. Sure, the latter may benefit from styling revisions as part of its electrification process, but could it also be possible that the Rogue PHEV will be no more than a clone of its Mitsubishi cousin?
The latest Rogue and Outlander were developed alongside each other, although their designs are vastly different. Are Nissan’s troubles dire enough and cost-saving measures vital enough to resort to selling a rebadged Outlander PHEV? We sure hope not. All will become clear following the reveal in a few months.
By the way, the Outlander PHEV’s system combines a 2.4-litre gasoline engine with two electric motors for a total of 248 horsepower. It also features a 20kWh battery that provides an electric range of 61 km. But wait: updates are in store for the 2026 model year in North America, including a battery with slightly larger capacity.
We highly suspect this is what the Rogue PHEV will receive, making for a compelling alternative to the somewhat disappointing and not so reliable turbocharged triple-cylinder engine (201 hp). What do you think?