2022 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Mazda CX-5

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 was crafted to stand apart from its competitors by embracing a design philosophy that opted for smooth, elegant curves over aggressive lines and angles. While other automakers leaned into deeply-creased hoods and pronounced grilles, Mazda envisioned the CX-5 as a sleek and refined presence on the road. Even when stationary, this SUV conveyed a sense of motion and fluidity. Although it didn't intend to show off, it pushed Mazda's established design ethos forward in a sophisticated manner.

At its base level—the CX-5 Sport—the model featured automatic on/off LED headlights, 17-inch gray metallic aluminum alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Despite these foundational specs, the exterior differences across the trim levels were generally minimal.

The CX-5 Touring added rear privacy glass, leatherette seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and more advanced auto-leveling LED headlights that pivoted with the steering wheel. This feature proved invaluable for navigating corners in dimly lit areas. The Touring Preferred SV Package added further luxuries, such as a 10-speaker Bose sound system and leather seats, making it a notable upgrade.

Distinctly styled, the CX-5 Carbon Edition boasted a Polymetal Gray paint, black metallic aluminum alloy wheels, and interior flourishes like red leather seats and honeycomb trim.

Moving up the range, the Grand Touring model included dual heated mirrors and 19-inch bright silver alloy wheels, among other high-end appointments, while the Grand Touring Reserve added ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The flagship CX-5 Signature upped the ante with Caturra Brown Nappa leather seats and genuine wood trim, rivalling premium brands such as Buick and Acura. Its design elements, from a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror to ambient lighting and a black headliner, conveyed a premium feel.

By comparison, the 2022 Nissan Rogue showed a marked evolution from its earlier, somewhat cutesy designs. The Rogue’s redesign from the previous model year into a mature, sophisticated appearance was clear. Sharing many hallmarks with Nissan's latest models, it featured a polished V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights with DRLs positioned above, and LED fog lamps on the SL and Platinum trims. Subtle aerodynamic enhancements, such as active grille shutters and underbody covers, contributed to its sleek appearance.

The Rogue's cabin adopted a layered dashboard design. This approach featured contrasting colors and textures, achieving a balanced, elegant style. Notably, the center console incorporated an electronic gear selector lever—freeing up space beneath it for additional storage, from a handbag to other essentials. The driver and front passenger enjoyed a 9-inch floating center display, comfortably positioned for a quick glance, while the instrument panel varied from a 7-inch display in lower trims to a full 12.3-inch digital screen in higher trims.

The Rogue also included Nissan’s Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats, which were both attractive and ergonomically sound. The second row provided ample legroom, although its "compact crossover" designation meant it could become tight for three adults over long drives.

The evolution of the Rogue's design culminated in a sophisticated package, underscored by high-quality interior materials in the Platinum trim, ensuring that fit and finish remained top-notch.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 offered a choice between two solid engine options. The base model featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generated 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, regardless of whether it ran on regular or premium fuel. This engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with manual shift and sport modes available. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, though all-wheel drive (AWD) was available for added traction.

For those craving more power, the Carbon Edition provided an option to upgrade to a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering a more robust 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. This engine transformed the driving experience, especially when combined with the CX-5's engaging chassis.

At the top end, the Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims were exclusively powered by the turbo engine and came standard with AWD, offering genuinely sporty dynamics. The turbo engine maintained nearly identical fuel efficiency to the base engine, with AWD turbo models achieving 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. The base engine with FWD saw higher efficiency at 25 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined.

The spirited driving experience of the turbo engine was complemented by the CX-5’s responsive handling, though its stiff suspension could be a drawback on rougher roads. The driving excitement came with some compromise in ride comfort, often making the seats' lack of bolstering more noticeable during spirited drives.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Nissan Rogue entered the fray with a notable mechanical innovation—a new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine. This engine produced 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, a marked improvement over the previous year’s figures. The "VC" stood for Variable Compression, allowing the engine to adjust its compression ratio to enhance either power or fuel efficiency on the fly.

The EPA estimated the Rogue's fuel economy at 30 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined, making it significantly more efficient than the previous year's model. This, combined with its lively performance from the improved engine, made the 2022 Rogue feel brisk and more responsive.

Nissan continued with its CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) but improved its range of gear ratios to enhance acceleration and responsiveness, addressing common complaints about CVT "drone" from drivers. Though a manual transmission was not available, the Rogue was well-suited to a broad audience seeking efficiency alongside performance.

Its chassis and suspension delivered a smooth and controlled ride, with minimal body roll that inspired confidence in various driving conditions. The Rogue’s tight 35.4-foot turning radius added an element of agility in urban environments.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 excelled in terms of daily usability and style, tailored to family needs. While the front row offered a comfortable seating position and good headroom, taller passengers in the rear could find the legroom lacking. The back seat featured two full LATCH connections and a tether connector on the middle seat, though they could be cumbersome to access.

Climate controls in the CX-5 were straightforward and effective, staying true to Mazda's user-friendly approach. However, the larger traditional shifter on the center console might have come across as dated compared to the more modern electronic shifters found in competitors' vehicles. Positioned behind the shifter, Mazda's infotainment controls were not the most intuitive for shorter drivers to reach.

Cargo space was where the CX-5 fell short. It offered 30.9 cubic feet of space behind the second row, expanding to 59.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. In comparison, the Nissan Rogue's cargo area provided substantially more room, featuring 31.6-36.5 cubic feet depending on the configuration, expandable to a cavernous 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. Thus, for those needing ample storage for family outings or shopping trips, the Rogue had a significant edge.

Nissan honed the Rogue into a formidable contender, particularly in maximizing storage solutions within the cabin. The front and rear cabins offered thoughtful storage areas, along with various charging options, ensuring that all passengers' devices were kept charged and ready.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 featured a standard 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen. While its size was impressive, Mazda’s operating system felt outdated and could be frustratingly cumbersome to navigate with the center console’s rotary dial. The lack of dedicated knobs for quick tuning or stereo adjustments further added to the inconvenience.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, which partly mitigated these issues by allowing users to rely on their smartphones for many functions. Despite these advantages, Mazda's system still seemed a bit behind the times compared to competitors.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, benefiting from the previous year's tech upgrades, raised the bar considerably. It offered three key screens on upper trims: a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. Integration with Google Maps and Waze through voice commands added to the Rogue's tech appeal.

Standard on all models were Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on higher trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan’s hands-on driver-assist system, featured prominently as it combined adaptive cruise control with steering assist. Enhanced versions of ProPilot Assist used navigation data to adjust speed proactively, providing a seamless and increasingly autonomous driving experience.

Nissan’s Intelligent Key evolved to allow rear-door unlocking with a simple tap, showing the brand’s attention to detail in user convenience.

Mazda equipped the 2021 CX-5 with a comprehensive array of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision warning, among others. Optional add-ons included a head-up display, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a surrounding view camera system. While traffic sign recognition was available, its performance could be erratic.

The CX-5 earned top safety ratings, securing a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, reflecting its strong crash test performance and advanced safety technologies. Mazda's warranty coverage included a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue also came equipped with the Safety Shield 360 suite, offering features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. Notably, it included rear automatic braking as standard, a feature still optional on many rivals.

Nissan's ProPilot Assist, enhanced in models with Navi-Link, took driver-assist technologies a step further by integrating adaptive cruise control with navigational data, enabling semi-autonomous driving capabilities.

The 2022 Rogue earned a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. The 2021 model received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, a distinction likely to carry over to the 2022 model once tested.