The world is firmly moving away from sedans and into ever-larger vehicles. SUVs in 2022 offer luxuries once reserved for only the finest executive sedans, and many love the idea of off-road adventures despite the fact these modern SUVs are a far cry from the truck-framed beauties of the previous few decades.While many Nissan and Mazda cars received high praise, their SUVs struggle to keep up with competitors such as Honda and Toyota. Further, each company produces SUVs that relate closer to crossovers than actual SUVs, and Mazda isn't shy about labeling their models as such. Regardless, each company only offers a handful of SUV models, but they're slowly carving out market share. We may be a bit salty about the lack of sports cars now available, so we'll break it down, and you decide who has the better SUV.
10 Nissan Kicks
The smallest SUV in Nissan's lineup is the Kicks. The compact crossover starts at $20,000 and has seating for five, and does well for itself as a commuter SUV. The 36 MPG it can obtain on the highway has many sedan owners looking at a slightly larger option.
The fuel efficiency comes at a steep price, though, as the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine puts out only 122 horsepower. What really makes the Kicks feel slow is the lackluster CVT which takes its sweet time to shift gears. Additionally, the Kicks is firmly an urban SUV with minimal off-road capabilities.
9 Mazda CX-30
Mazda doesn't have a long history with SUVs, and they've even gone so far as to coin the term CUV to describe their lineup of crossover-style hatchback SUVs. The smallest of these is the CX-30 which comes in at $22,200 and has eight trim levels. Further, the class-leading interior pushes the luxury feel, which offers more premium features as standard options than the competition.
The top four trims offer a turbocharged 2.5L Skyactiv-G engine which produces 250 horsepower, which is generous for this size. The non-turbo CX-30, on the other hand, is a bit underpowered. Both come with an automatic transmission which is unresponsive at times. The CX-30 also comes with AWD standard on all trims and is relatively fuel-efficient with up to 31 MPG highway.
8 Nissan Rogue
Nissan produces two variants of the Rogue, the standard Rogue, and the Rogue Sport. While the Sport is cheaper, it is by far the weaker SUV. That said, the standard Rogue enjoys a comfortable ride, Nissan driver-assist tech, and upscale interior materials.
The Rogue starts at $27,000 and is powered by a new 1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder engine that makes 201 horsepower, 30 more than the previous 2.5L model. It can come either as FWD or AWD, yet expect the handling to be best firmly on the pavement. Additionally, the smaller engine in the Rogue makes for excellent gas mileage as the highway ratings sit at 37 MPG.
7 Mazda CX-5
A step larger than the CX-30 is the CX-5, Mazda's smaller mid-size SUV. It also features eight trims that start at $26,000 and stretch well into the $40,000s. Despite the turbocharger being an option on the higher trim levels, the CX-5 makes less horsepower than its smaller sibling.
Producing 227 horsepower, the same 2.5L Skyactiv-G engine powers the CX-5, and like the CX-30, all trims come with AWD standard. The larger body doesn't do the CX-5 any favors in fuel economy, though as highway ratings are less than 30 MPG.
6 Nissan Murano
Slightly larger than the Rogue is the Murano. At almost $33,000 starting, the Nissan lineup starts to get expensive, especially with several trim options available. Despite the larger size, the Murano still only seats five, and the interior doesn't sport the same attention to detail that the Rogue enjoys.
While the Murano does achieve 28 MPG on the highway, it struggles to stand up against much more capable vehicles. In fact, Car and Driver rated the Murano poorly overall. They cite the 260 horsepower V6 as lackluster, the interior materials don't hold up to competitors, and the overall value is weak.
5 Mazda CX-9
Mazda attempted to make a statement with the CX-9. The larger and more luxurious model starts at $35,000 to reflect the level of class woven into each trim level. The GT trim sits at the top of these trim levels, which offers a comfortable urban drive with smooth handling and decent fuel economy despite its size.
The CX-9 has a beautiful interior with Nappa leather and 2nd-row captain's chairs. This class seems to be where Mazda spent the budget because under the hood sits the same 2.5L Skyactiv-G engine that produces 227 horsepower. The lack of power can't be justified on a vehicle this size. Mazda claims it can make 250 horsepower with 93 octane, but we're suspicious that anyone has that kind of money.
4 Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder is arguably the only authentic SUV on this list. At least, it's the only one on this list with a rich SUV history. It starts at $33,800, and the current Pathfinder sports modern styling and four available trims. It is also larger than the Rogue filling the gap between the much larger Armada and the smaller Murano.
Under the hood, the Pathfinder fits a 3.5L V6 that puts out 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. That power makes towing up to 6,000 lbs easy, which means the Pathfinder is also the first somewhat off-road capable SUV on this list. It comes in either 2WD or 4WD, and it's obvious which one is better. Further, the 27 MPG on the highway gives the Murano a run for its money.
3 Mazda MX-30 EV
Manufacturers around the world are rushing to put out an all-electric vehicle. The Frenzy continues with the Mazda MX-30 EV, which is similar to the CX-30 platform, just in an all-electric package. Don't expect to find the MX-30 on lots near you, unless near you is California, the only place where it's currently available. However, it shouldn't take long for everyone else to have a turn!
In addition to being limited to California, the $33,500 starting price may scare some off, but a $7,500 tax credit makes it quite affordable. Though the price is agreeable, the 143 horsepower electric motors only have a 100-mile range. The 35.5 kWh battery needs at least 36 minutes to charge 80%, much slower than rival Tesla. The MX-30 EV is a city vehicle, making it a tough sell for adventure lovers.
2 Nissan Armada
Sitting as the capital SUV in the Nissan fleet is the Armada. This massive three-row SUV has seating for eight people and sits in a huge package. The $48,900 starting price reflects both size and the comfortable ride. In addition to the large starting price, the Armada comes in several trims to ensure you aren't paying too little for your SUV.
Powering this beast is a potent 5.6L V8 with 400 horsepower standard. It comes in 2WD and 4WD configurations, but the 4WD is the only option that makes any sense, especially if you plan to utilize the 8500 lbs of towing. The Armada is large and in charge, but the poor gas mileage and weird handling may give others pause.
1 Mazda CX-50
Companies turn their backs on sedans and produce SUVs that fill every possible size. To fill the perceived gap in their lineup right above the CX-30, Mazda developed the CX-50. The CX-50 is supposed to arrive sometime in spring 2022 at is expected to start at $27,000.
Similar to other Mazda SUVs, the CX-50 will come in various flavors, including several with the 2.5L turbocharged engine. AWD is standard on all trims, and the CX-50 will have 3500 lbs towing capacity. Mazda markets it to be more capable, but compared with other SUVs in their lineup, we're doubtful any significant abilities will be present.