Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5 VS 2026 Nissan Rogue

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-5 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Nissan Rogue, which scored only an “Acceptable” in these critical safety features.

The CX-5 has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Rogue doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Rogue.

Both the CX-5 and Rogue have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the CX-5 has Smart Braking Support - Rear Crossing (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Rogue’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CX-5 and the Rogue have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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 and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-5 is safer than the Rogue:

	CX-5	Rogue
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Rogue:

	CX-5	Rogue
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	86	209
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	357 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	781 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	67	123
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	.91 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.42 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Mazda CX-5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Rogue is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 23rd.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda CX-5 is faster than the Nissan Rogue:

	CX-5	Rogue
Zero to 30 MPH	3.3 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	9 sec	9.1 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.6 sec	5.9 sec

The CX-5 has a standard locking fuel door, which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Rogue. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-5 higher (6 out of 10) than the Nissan Rogue (5). This means the CX-5 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Rogue every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the CX-5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rogue:

	CX-5	Rogue
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11.5 inches

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Rogue:

	CX-5	Rogue
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	146 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the Rogue (110.7 inches vs. 106.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Rogue.

The CX-5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57% to 43%) than the Rogue’s (58.6% to 41.4%). This gives the CX-5 more stable handling and braking.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the CX-5 S Premium Plus is quieter than the Rogue Platinum (38 vs. 39 dB).

The CX-5 has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom and 1.4 inches more rear legroom than the Rogue.

The CX-5’s cargo area is larger than the Rogue’s in almost every dimension:

	CX-5	Rogue
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.1”/75”	35.5”/70.5”
Max Width	57.5”	51.3”
Min Width	41.3”	43”
Height	33.9”	32.7”

The CX-5’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Rogue’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The CX-5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Rogue’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-5 Premium Plus has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Rogue doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Rogue offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The CX-5 offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Rogue’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Rogue doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The CX-5 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Rogue SV/Rock Creek/Platinum.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Mazda CX-5 retains 57.6% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 51.38% resale value of the 2026 Nissan Rogue after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner up to $1701 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Nissan Rogue, based on reliability, safety and performance.