Much of Nissan's success over the past 20 years has been, fundamentally, built on a simple platform: reliable vehicles at an affordable price. The Altima, Rogue, Sentra and Versa rose to success not because they were at the top of their respective classes but because they served a purpose at a more accessible price than their competitors.
The Nissan Murano, on the other hand, attempts to give the automaker somewhat of a premium edge. The redesigned 2025 model starts at $40,470, but it's light on features and comes with front-wheel drive. Adding all-wheel drive costs $1,000, the second-tier Murano SL comes in at $46,560 and the top-of-the-line Platinum costs $49,600. That's a pretty penny when you consider a fully loaded Hyundai Santa Fe goes for $48,415 and includes a third row of seats. Is the Murano really premium enough to outpace the well-rounded competition?
What's under the Murano's hood?
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.
How does the Murano drive?
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.
How's the Murano's interior?
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.
How's the Murano's tech?
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.
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.
How's the Murano's storage?
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.
Competitors to consider
The Nissan Murano competes with other midsize SUVs, including the Honda Passport, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Toyota Venza, Chevrolet Blazer, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento. Consumers might also consider the Nissan Rogue, which is slightly smaller but delivers comparable rear seat space and more cargo volume than its larger sibling.