In a busy autumn of model updates, Nissan has placed three new entries on the market stage. First, the company launched the Pixo a compact electric hatchback that borrows the smallest platform from its Renault-Nissan alliance partners. At the same time, the automaker released the pricing structure for the fourth-generation Rogue Hybrid positioning it squarely against rival crossovers. Finally, a thorough road-test of the 2026 Nissan Sentra shed light on the strengths and shortcomings of the brand’s most affordable sedan.
Pixel-inspired Pixo reshapes the A-segment
The A-segment – Europe’s tiniest car class – is gaining traction as buyers look for cheaper, low-emission mobility. Nissan’s answer is the Pixo built on the Renault group’s 27.5 kWh battery platform that also underpins the Twingo and Dacia Spring. With a modest 80 bhp motor powering the front wheels, the vehicle claims a 161-mile range on a single charge. Nissan highlights an 11 kW AC/50 kW DC charger as standard, promising a 28-minute top-up – a feature now mirrored in the UK-spec Twingo.
Designwise, the Pixo leans into nostalgia: lead designer Masato Koyama says its styling draws from 8-bit video-games, giving the car boxy headlights, pixel-shaped wheels and a host of hidden visual references. Nissan even counts 23 easter eggs tucked throughout the exterior and interior. Inside, the cabin shares the same basic layout as the Twingo, with colour-coded air vents, varied upholstery trims and a sliding rear-seat that the Spring lacks. An infotainment screen runs a Google-based OS equipped with an AI voice assistant, keeping the tech experience consistent across the platform.
Production will take place at the Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia – the same line that assembles the Twingo and Spring – with the first units expected to roll out in early 2027.
2026 Sentra SL: value-focused sedan with mixed performance
The 2026 Nissan Sentra continues on its legacy platform, pairing a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four with a continuously variable transmission. Output remains at 149 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque a modest figure compared with many rivals that now exceed 200 hp. In independent testing, the top-spec SL trim (priced just under $31,000) took 9.0 seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 mph, while the sportier SR variant shaved that to 8.3 seconds. By contrast, a turbocharged 1.6-liter Kia managed the same sprint in 7.0 seconds, and the Corolla edged ahead of the Sentra.
Quarter-mile times echoed the straight-line story: the SL posted 16.9 seconds, the SR improved slightly to 16.5 seconds, and the Kia cut through at 15.4 seconds. Braking performance was a notable weak point – the SL required 133 feet to halt from 60 mph, a distance considerably longer than the SR’s 119 feet. Nonetheless, everyday braking felt predictable and the system was responsive in normal traffic.
On the highway, the Sentra remained composed up to 100 mph, delivering a stable ride despite a modest engine surge. Handling impressed testers; the car negotiates corners with a flat-rate feel and provides direct, albeit heavy, steering. Road and wind noise penetrates the cabin, but it stays within expectations for a sub-$30,000 sedan. Interior materials, while not premium, avoid cheap-looking plastics thanks to thoughtful colour accents and trim detailing.
Rogue Hybrid pricing and a distinctive powertrain
After a delayed rollout, Nissan finally announced the pricing for the 2027 Rogue Hybrid in the United States. The base SV AWD trim starts at $37,065 (including destination charges), aligning closely with the Honda CR-V Hybrid and sitting a few thousand dollars above the now-hybrid-only Toyota RAV4, which starts at $33,495. The top-end Platinum AWD version reaches $45,065.
What sets the Rogue apart is its e-Power-style drivetrain: the gasoline engine never directly drives the wheels. Instead, a 2.0 kWh battery supplies power to electric motors, while the internal combustion unit functions solely as a generator, recharging the battery and harvesting energy via regenerative braking. This architecture allows the SUV to behave much like a pure electric vehicle during normal driving, though it lacks plug-in capability.
Nissan projects fuel consumption north of 40 mpg, a figure that would place the Rogue alongside the new RAV4 and ahead of the CR-V. Inside, technology is generous – a 14.3-inch infotainment screen (standard on Platinum, optional on SR) with Google integration and Gemini support, a 12.3-inch screen on lower trims, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus the ProPilot Assist system offering lane-keeping and hands-free driving in traffic. Early deliveries are slated for the fall, beginning with the SR AWD equipped with the SR Technology Package; the remaining trims will appear by early 2027.
