Compare the2025 Nissan RogueVS 2025 Mazda CX-50

The Rogue Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The CX-50 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Rogue’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The CX-50 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Rogue and the CX-50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rogue for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-50.

There are almost 2 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rogue’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Rogue has a 150-amp alternator. The CX-50’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 66 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

The Rogue’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 14 more horsepower (201 vs. 187) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (225 vs. 185) than the CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Rogue’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (225 vs. 163) than the CX-50’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Nissan Rogue is faster than the Mazda CX-50 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Rogue gets better mileage than the CX-50:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Rogue uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-50 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Rogue has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Rogue’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-50 are solid, not vented.

The Rogue stops shorter than the CX-50:

For better traction, the Rogue has larger tires than the CX-50 (235/65R17 vs. 225/65R17).

The Rogue has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The CX-50 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the Nissan Rogue has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-50 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Rogue has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Rogue flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-50’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Rogue Platinum AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the CX-50 pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Rogue has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-50 Hybrid Preferred (8.2 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Rogue to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Nissan Rogue may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Mazda CX-50.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Rogue Platinum AWD is quieter than the CX-50:

The Rogue has 5.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-50 (105.4 vs. 100.3).

The Rogue has 2 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-50.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rogue’s rear seats recline. The CX-50’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rogue has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-50 with its rear seat up (36.5 vs. 31.4 cubic feet). The Rogue has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-50 with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Rogue Rock Creek/SL/Platinum’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Rogue SL/Platinum’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-50 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Rogue and the CX-50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Rogue is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Rogue to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CX-50 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Rogue is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Rogue owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rogue will cost $165 less than the CX-50 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Nissan Rogue will be $1575 to $4972 less than for the Mazda CX-50.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Nissan Rogue and the Mazda CX-50, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Nissan Rogue outsold the Mazda CX-50 by over six to one during 2023.