2025 Nissan Murano First Drive: A Premium Package, but at What Cost?

• The Nissan Murano is fully redesigned and looks great.
• Its interior gets a big upgrade including a lot more infotainment tech.
• But does the new Murano truly command a premium price tag?

New powertrain, similar fuel economy

The Murano gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in combined driving (21 city/27 highway), which is notable because it's the same as the outgoing Murano even though it has a new powertrain. The two-row SUV ditches its old V6 for a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four attached to a nine-speed transmission. 

There's a little less power than before, with the inline-four making 241 horsepower compared to the V6's 260 hp, though torque is up compared to last year, with the 2.0-liter engine making 260 lb-ft compared to 240 lb-ft. The good news is the throttle is responsive and the engine has a satisfying grumble when getting up to speed. The Murano might be down on horsepower compared to its forebear, but this SUV's increased torque provides enough get-up-and-go to hustle it up to highway speeds. Overall, the Murano is pleasant to drive and its excellent sound insulation keeps the majority of road and wind noise outside of the cabin. 

Interior renovation

The loaded Nissan Murano Platinum I tested has a nice interior, featuring soft-touch materials throughout. It's slightly held back, however, by the clumsy haptic touch controls, which are challenging to use while driving. And below the climate control panel is a lot of glossy black plastic, which is prone to smudging and glare when under direct sunlight. The Murano has grown 2.6 inches wider compared to the previous generation, but the cabin still feels a bit cramped. 

Thankfully, Nissan continues to offer remarkably comfortable seats. And they aren't just for the driver and front passenger; the second row features the same great comfort you get up front. Thinner seatbacks have also slightly improved rear legroom, making the second row a more pleasant place for adults to spend their time. 

A pair of 12.3-inch screens are a highlight of the Murano's cabin; the left serves as the gauge cluster while the right handles infotainment duties. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and I had no trouble connecting my iPhone to the system. Google built-in, which allows you to use "Hey, Google" voice commands, is standard on the SL and Platinum trims.

Cargo space is good, with 32.9 cubic feet of storage behind the second row. But that's less than what you'll get in the smaller, less expensive Nissan Rogue. The storage area is easy to access and has a wide surface area. It's probably better suited for a bunch of grocery bags than large, cumbersome items like bikes. 

Standard driver aids and safety tech

The base Murano SV trim includes Nissan's ProPilot Assist, which is functionally fancy adaptive cruise control. The SL and Platinum trims get ProPilot Assist 1.1, which improves functionality while still being a hands-on-the-wheel experience. The system has no trouble with curvy Tennessee roads, though needing to keep your hands on the wheel limits the appeal of this feature, compared to systems like Ford's BlueCruise or General Motors' Super Cruise, which offer hands-off functionality. 

Every Murano comes with plenty of handy driver aids, including blind-spot warning, blind-spot intervention, rear cross-traffic alert and lane keeping assistance. The blind-spot warning is a bit sensitive, but otherwise, I have no complaints about the Murano's driver aids. 

The base SV trim leaves me wanting more

The starting price of the Murano SV is enticing, but that appeal quickly wanes when you consider how many of the SUV's most desirable features are unavailable. The SV does not get a heated steering wheel, added sound-insulating material, seat-position memory functionality, or the upgraded version of ProPilot Assist. 

That seriously undercuts the Murano's claim to premium-ish status. The SL trim comes with most of the features you want, but its starting price of $46,560 puts it head-to-head with more practical vehicles. 

An identity crisis 

And that's ultimately the problem with the Murano. It's a perfectly fine SUV, but its luxury aspirations make it less broadly appealing. If you're looking for a premium SUV, you're likely to compare it to an Acura or Lexus; the five-passenger RDX or RX start at $46,050 and $50,325, respectively, and have a lot more standard equipment. And if you're looking for a stylish people hauler, you can take a look at the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento or even a fully loaded Nissan Rogue, which is smaller but has more cargo capacity. 

None of those comparisons flatter the Murano, which feels stuck between a practical family runabout and a luxury SUV aimed at empty nesters. It's not a bad vehicle, but it's a tough sell at its advertised price.