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50 mpg in a Nissan crossover? Testing the new E-Power hybrid system.

February 25, 2026
•Ars technica
50 mpg in a Nissan crossover? Testing the new E-Power hybrid system.

Here's something that caught my attention — Nissan's about to turn the hybrid game on its head with a new system that could hit 50 mpg. And get this — Chad Kirchner from Technology reports that Nissan's been pretty reluctant to bring their E-Power hybrid to the US, thinking it’s better suited for Europe and Asia. But here’s where it gets interesting: their previous North American hybrids, like the Altima and Rogue, didn’t really impress anyone on fuel economy. Now, Nissan’s rolling out a third-generation E-Power system in the 2027 Rogue, and early tests show it could seriously boost efficiency. According to Kirchner, this new tech is optimized for the kind of driving Americans actually do — more stop-and-go, less highway cruising. So what does this mean for you? Better fuel savings without sacrificing the driving experience. And honestly, if Nissan pulls this off, it could shake up the entire hybrid market here. Keep an eye on this — big things are coming.

While Toyota and Honda's showrooms are littered with electrified offerings, Nissan hasn't had much to counter. Globally, Nissan offers a series hybrid system called E-Power, but the company has been reluctant to offer it Stateside. If you ask anyone at the company about it, they'll tell you that while it makes sense in Europe, Japan, and other parts of Asia, it is not optimized for the type of driving we do this side of the pond.

Nissan's hybrid offerings in North America have been lackluster at best. There was the Altima that borrowed Toyota's hybrid system from the Camry, and there was the Rogue hybrid that failed to deliver noticeably better fuel economy. And that's really it.

That, however, is about to change with the company's third-generation system.

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Audio Transcript

While Toyota and Honda's showrooms are littered with electrified offerings, Nissan hasn't had much to counter. Globally, Nissan offers a series hybrid system called E-Power, but the company has been reluctant to offer it Stateside. If you ask anyone at the company about it, they'll tell you that while it makes sense in Europe, Japan, and other parts of Asia, it is not optimized for the type of driving we do this side of the pond.

Nissan's hybrid offerings in North America have been lackluster at best. There was the Altima that borrowed Toyota's hybrid system from the Camry, and there was the Rogue hybrid that failed to deliver noticeably better fuel economy. And that's really it.

That, however, is about to change with the company's third-generation system.

Read full article

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