2021 Nissan Rogue vs 2021 Mazda CX-30

The 2021 Nissan Rogue adopted a more technical, SUV-like appearance with its 2021 redesign. Stylish dark gray plastic cladding covered its lower perimeter, giving it a rugged feel, although the rear bumper appeared overly audacious with simulated skid plates and lower door protection. Clean LED lighting, a prominent V-Motion grille, and well-proportioned dimensions enhanced its modern aesthetic. The Rogue offered aluminum wheels up to 19 inches in diameter and optional two-tone paint with a black roof, contributing to a customized look. The Rogue came in four versions: S, SV, SL, and the luxurious Platinum, each escalating in amenities and features. Our test vehicle, a Rogue SL outfitted with the Premium Package, totalled $35,195, presenting a light and roomy cabin with Almond color leather, soft-touch surfaces, simulated wood trim, and fabric-wrapped windshield pillars, ensuring a quality feel. A standout interior feature was the Rogue SL's panoramic glass sunroof. Lastly, the Rogue humorously retained a CD player alongside wireless Apple CarPlay, avoiding technological obsolescence.

In contrast, the 2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo flaunted a more stylistically bold appearance with shiny black wheels, grille, side mirror housings, and matte black body cladding, almost as if a black Sharpie had its way with it. Mazda's intention was to give the CX-30 a light and agile appearance, creating an illusion of the body floating over the wheels. The CX-30 appeared higher off the ground than the Mazda3 hatchback due to this styling. The cabin closely resembled the Mazda3's, equipped with quality materials, complementary tones and textures, and stitched chocolate brown surfaces. Changes were minimal, with chrome accents around the engine start button and a frameless rearview mirror standing out. Leatherette upholstery was standard, with black or white leather available in Premium trims. Our test vehicle, priced at $35,745, included Snowflake White Pearl Mica paint, Premium Plus trim, and Black leather upholstery, presenting a very attractive, driver-focused interior with a premium feel.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This output was barely sufficient for a nearly 3,500-pound SUV, making it adequate but not exhilarating for daily driving. Its continuously variable transmission (CVT) performed decently, with programmed ratios emulating a traditional automatic's feel. For adventure, the Rogue offered up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, all-wheel drive, Snow and Off-Road modes. Yet, its naturally aspirated engine felt sluggish in more demanding driving conditions. Although fuel economy was commendable, achieving 27.5 mpg on a mixed driving loop, it fell slightly below the EPA's official 29 mpg rating for the Rogue SL with front-wheel drive. What stood out was the SUV’s steering, which saw dramatic improvements due to relocating the electric assist from the steering column to the steering rack, combined with quicker ratio adjustments.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo housed a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 227 horsepower with regular fuel, or up to 250 horses with premium fuel. Torque figures were impressive, offering 310 to 320 pound-feet depending on fuel grade. This engine allowed for rapid, effortlessly smooth acceleration. We averaged 24.1 mpg, which was close to its official 25 mpg combined EPA rating, but the small 12.7-gallon fuel tank necessitated frequent refuelling. On the road, Mazda's G-Vectoring Control Plus and front suspension tuning significantly enhanced driving dynamics, delivering a driving experience that felt both robust and agile. However, its higher ground clearance and added weight did slightly reduce on-pavement pleasure compared to the Mazda3. In off-road scenarios, the CX-30 Turbo excelled, especially with the new Off-Road mode that effectively transferred power to the rear wheels when necessary. While the torsion-beam rear suspension might betray itself over uneven surfaces, the CX-30's overall performance remained impressive for its segment.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue made strides in enhancing comfort and functionality. Zero Gravity seats inspired by NASA technology contributed to decreased fatigue and increased comfort. With each trim level, seat material and adjustability improved, culminating in premium leather in the Platinum model. The SV added dual-zone climate control; SL and Platinum trims offered a three-zone system for rear passengers. The Rogue's rear seat was spacious, accommodating up to three child safety seats with more generous headroom and legroom. Rear doors opened nearly 90 degrees for easy loading. Nissan effectively reduced interior noise, employing thicker dashboard insulation and acoustic front glass. Cargo capacity was ample, with 31.6 cubic feet in S and SV trims and 36.5 cubic feet with the Divide-N-Hide cargo system in SL and Platinum trims. Folding the rear seats expanded the space to 74.1 cubic feet, ranking it among the roomiest in the compact SUV segment.

Conversely, the Mazda CX-30's driver comfort was paramount, featuring eight-way power adjustment and long-distance support for the front seats, which were heated along with the steering wheel in Premium trims. However, ventilated seats were notably absent, affecting its premium appeal. The front passenger seat, comfortable but with limited adjustment, contrasted with the well-tailored driver's seat. Despite minimalistic styling contributing to a spacious feel upfront, the rear seat disclosed the CX-30's compact nature. Rear air conditioning vents added some comfort for back-seat passengers, but overall space was limited compared to the Rogue. While storage space was decent, the positioning of the wireless charger within the center console presented a usage dilemma. Cargo space was less impressive, with 20.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 45.2 cubic feet with the seats down, falling short compared to the Rogue.

Nissan’s infotainment package for the 2021 Rogue was comprehensive, beginning with an 8-inch touchscreen in the base S model and offering features like Bluetooth, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims like the SV and SL added NissanConnect Services with a WiFi hotspot and smart assistant integration. Our test vehicle, equipped with a 9-inch screen in the SL Premium Package, included a door-to-door navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose premium audio setup. Top-tier Platinum models featured advanced technology like a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.8-inch head-up display.

The Mazda CX-30 outfitted an 8.8-inch display prominently on its dashboard, operated via controls on the center console and steering wheel, rather than touch. Mazda Connect’s voice recognition and smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required learning but performed adequately once accustomed. However, navigating through radio station favorites became cumbersome due to the multi-step process required. At Premium trims, the CX-30 included a high-quality 12-speaker Bose audio system, SiriusXM, and a navigation system. An Active Driving Display in Premium Plus trims added a head-up display projecting onto the windshield, ensuring critical information was within the driver’s line of sight.

Safety ranked high on the 2021 Nissan Rogue's list. Each Rogue came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems featuring automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and a blind-spot warning system. While it omitted adaptive cruise control in the Safety Shield 360 package, ProPilot Assist with lane-centering was standard from the SV trim onwards. Platinum trims enhanced the ADAS features with a driver monitoring system, rear pre-tensioning seatbelts, and an innovative ProPilot Assist with Navi-link. The beefed-up vehicle architecture and use of high-strength steel promised better crash protection, though official crash-test results were pending.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 also prioritized safety, earning stellar ratings from both the IIHS with a Top Safety Pick+ and the NHTSA with five-star ratings in several tests. Equipped with the full suite of i-ActiveSense systems, the CX-30 provided a reassuring safety net. Premium trims added adaptive front lighting, parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and the useful Traffic Jam Assist for low-speed lane-centering. New for 2021, TJA impressed with its performance at below 40 mph, allowing for safe and efficient navigational support in congested conditions. A mobile 9-1-1 notification system ensured swift emergency response in case of a collision.