Thanks to the rising popularity of SUVs and crossovers, the burgeoning compact crossover segment is one of the toughest to compete in. While stalwarts like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 have been leaders of the pack for years, but other strong rivals like the Mazda CX-5 and Nissan Rogue have improved leaps and bounds with their recent redesigns. This made us wonder if the all-new 2021 Nissan Rogue can actually outclass the Mazda CX-5.

Nissan Rogue vs Mazda CX-5

Take one look at the 2021 Mazda CX-5 and you will be pleasantly surprised at just how elegant and sophisticated it looks. Mazda redesigned it for the 2017 model year and it shows marked improvements over the last generation with it sculpted body lines and smoothed-out appearance. Among others in its class, the CX-5 takes top ranks in the looks department and it’s been hard to beat for the last few years.

Until now, as the 2021 Nissan Rogue was unveiled this year and will be showing off its appealing new design that’s a cross between rugged and luxurious. While it might not be as sleek as the CX-5, we think that Nissan finally made the Rogue a more formidable competitor this time around as its aesthetics should be more appealing to a wider range of buyers.

Interiors from a class above

The interiors of both of these cars are where the game gets serious, after all, you spend more time staring at the inside of a car than the outside of it. The Mazda CX-5 was quite the game changer when it was redesigned as its interior looks like something out of an Audi or maybe even a Mercedes-Benz. Mazda seemingly took notes from German rivals as the CX-5 incorporates a classy and simplistic design throughout its cabin complete with soft-touch materials and soft leather upholstery. If elegance is what you seek, then this is the crossover to get.

However, the Nissan Rogue’s interior was gussied up as well. It now has available leather seats with a diamond-stitch pattern and also incorporates soft-touch materials on the dash and door panels for a decidedly upscale approach. There’s even a large 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system available on the higher trim levels as well as a 12.3-inch instrument panel display. That’s the kind of stuff you would normally find on a car from a class above.

Looks are subjective

Ultimately, looks are subjective and while the Nissan Rogue has enough stuff on it to compete handily with the Mazda CX-5, as well as rivals from Honda and Toyota, it’s up to prospective buyers to decide on which one is classier.

But if we had to pick, we would say that the 2021 Rogue has more than enough class to outshine the CX-5 almost any day of the week when it comes to luxurious amenities and styling. But then again, we have yet to drive one and actually see it in person. And if you’re at all interested, the 2021 Nissan Rogue should be hitting dealerships soon, so hop in one and see if it gives you a richer feeling than a CX-5.