A Hybrid Many Didn't Know Existed Will Soon Disappear Completely

by Steph Willems

Published: July 29th, 2019

“Nissan will not offer the Rogue Hybrid for model year 2020. We will continue to focus efforts on the best-selling Rogue and new 2020 Rogue Sport,” said Nissan spokesperson Kevin Raftery following the release of a 2020 Rogue pricing sheet that omitted any mention of a hybrid. Raftery did not disclose how many Americans actually took home a Rogue Hybrid during the model’s brief lifespan.

a hybrid many didn t know existed will soon disappear completely

Starting at $2,800 more than a comparable gas-powered Rogue, the electrified CUV boasted a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and fuel economy that didn’t warrant the additional cost. In front-drive guise, a 2019 Rogue Hybrid returns 34 mpg on the combined cycle, some 5 mpg more than a 2.5-liter “normal” Rogue. On the highway, the economy boost shrinks to 2 mpg. Do the math.

In contrast, the popular RAV4 Hybrid carries a $2,200 markup — though that price bump also includes standard all-wheel drive. Customers also see a 10 mpg improvement on the combined cycle over a FWD gas-only model (40 mpg vs. 30 mpg).

In the not-too-distant future, Nissan will bring a next-gen Rogue to the market. Whether it returns a hybrid to the Rogue line remains to be seen, though Raftery’s wording — as well as the industry’s overall direction — implies it will.

[Images: Nissan]

#Crossovers #Cuvs #Discontinuations #Green #Hybrids #Nissan #NissanRogue #Rogue #Sales

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6 comments

TheDumbGuy on Jul 29, 2019

Hey Nissan- if you have any cash in your petty cash drawer, why not bend a little sheet metal and make a Leaf station wagon or CUV ? And maybe a Leaf pickup. Leaf pickup. Get it ? I got a million of 'em... On second thought, I was looking at the pictures of the Leaf, and there's no way it could be a pickup. It's just too ugly. Sorry to kick you when you are down, but I couldn't resist...

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- Sgeffe on Jul 29, 2019
  
  I know..you’re here all week..try your server and tip the veal! 8-D
  
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SCE to AUX on Jul 29, 2019

I thought this was a nice blend of the Rogue's comfort and roomy interior with better fuel economy. Maybe the lot orphans will be heavily discounted so there will be an economic reason to actually get one.

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Indi500fan on Jul 29, 2019

Has anyone done an economic study on rigs like this where they sell a very similar hybrid and conventional version as to long term ownership cost? Fuel savings offset higher initial cost over time...but how long to get there?

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- Scoutdude on Jul 29, 2019
  
  Yes there was a study a few years ago that said the Fusion had the quickest payback period of 3.X years IIRC. However they did not appear to factor in the other reduced costs associated with the Hybrid like brake parts that last far longer thanks to regen braking. Nor did it account for getting any of that investment back in increased resale value. And of course it was based on the fuel price at that time.
  
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- Rudiger on Jul 30, 2019
  
  I see a lot of those Fusion Hybrids, including the plug-in Energi version. As to the not-so-great-return-on-investment Rogue Hybrid, it reminds me quite a bit of the first generation Subaru Crosstrek hybrid. It, too, had a stiff markup over the non-hybrid version with a corresponding low improvement in fuel mileage. And, just like the Rogue, it sold in very small numbers, was yanked from the line-up, but returned later with much better fuel mileage. AFAIK, sales of the Crosstrek hybrid are now good enough to keep it in production. Even further back than that was the first Chevy Malibu hybrid. While fuel mileage improvement was, likewise, small, so was the price of admission, something like only $800 more. But, of course, in typical GM fashion, when they started selling, they increased the premium to a much more unpalatable $2200. Suddenly, the Malibu Hybrid wasn't much of a bargain, no one bought them anymore, and it was cancelled.
  
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