2023 Mazda CX-30 vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 Nissan Rogue, a staple in Nissan's lineup since 2007, continued to impress with its mature and sophisticated design. The exterior featured Nissan’s V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a sleek floating roof illusion. The interior boasted a layered dash with contrasting colors and surfaces, an electronic gear selector lever, and a spacious center console. The 9-inch infotainment display and Zero Gravity bucket-style front seats added to the Rogue's appeal, making it a comfortable and stylish choice for drivers and passengers alike.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-30 offered a more artful yet rugged exterior design, characterized by a long hood, dramatic flanks, and excessive gray body cladding. The interior, however, exuded elegance with quality materials, gloss black trim, and polished metal accents. The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus model featured off-white leather, a chocolate brown center console, and black dashboard and door panels, giving it an entry-level luxury SUV feel. Despite its upscale cabin, the CX-30's exterior design and interior comfort for the front passenger left room for improvement.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a significant boost in performance with its new 1.5-liter VC-Turbo engine, producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine, combined with a new CVT, offered a lively driving experience with impressive fuel economy figures of 30 mpg city/37 mpg highway/33 mpg combined. The Rogue's chassis and suspension provided a smooth, controlled ride with minimal body roll, and the electric power-assisted steering added to its responsive handling.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30, on the other hand, featured two engine options: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged version producing up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel. The CX-30's six-speed automatic transmission and AWD were standard, with an Off-Road traction assist function. Despite its robust acceleration and enjoyable driving dynamics, the CX-30's small fuel tank and less intuitive brake pedal detracted from its overall performance.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior space and storage options, with numerous places to stash items, including bottle holders, cupholders, a glove compartment, and a center console bin. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed ample legroom and storage options, while the cargo area offered 31.6-36.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

In comparison, the 2023 Mazda CX-30 provided standard dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. However, the front passenger seat lacked adjustability, and rear legroom was tight. The CX-30's cargo space was limited to 20.2 cubic feet, expandable to 45.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, falling short of the Rogue's capacity.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue came equipped with advanced technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch center infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on upper trims. ProPilot Assist, Nissan’s hands-on driver-assist technology, was also available, enhancing the Rogue's safety and convenience features.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30's Mazda Connect infotainment system had several flaws, including the lack of a touchscreen display, conversational voice-recognition technology, and a tuning knob. Despite these shortcomings, the system featured Bluetooth, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and connected services. Turbos added SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and a 14-speaker Bose premium sound system. However, the overall user experience was less intuitive compared to the Rogue's system.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning. ProPilot Assist offered advanced driver-assist capabilities, and the Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2021 model.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 also prioritized safety, earning a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus model added a surround-view camera, parking sensors, and Traffic Jam Assist. Despite a few overzealous safety system responses, the CX-30's safety features were comprehensive and effective.