I drive the 2025 Nissan Murano, the brand’s largest two-row crossover SUV that starts its fourth-generation. It offers a new chassis, engine, and updated tech.
| What’s Good: New chassis vastly improves ride and handling feel. Massaging seats always welcome. Nine-speed automatic replaces the CVT! | What Could Improve: 21-inch wheels look a bit awkward. Luke warm on the push button PRNDL. Fuel Economy only so so in today’s world. | My Conclusion: A massively improved driving feel in a better looking, more technologically up to date crossover that’s deliberately meant to stay on pavement. |
OVERVIEW
After concluding a brief drive in a fourth-generation, 2025 Nissan Murano Platinum, I come away largely impressed at the big leap forward it made in driving feel. Moreover, while the Murano always took a more style heavy approach to the two-row crossover SUV market, the latest one executes best. I quite like the continuous chrome arc that makes up the top of the window trim. And the thin LED beams running on either side of the grille drew in my eye.
My Platinum trim example is the top of three trims offered, SV and SL making the base and midgrade options. Price starts on the high side, $41,860 for a front-wheel-drive Murano SV. Thankfully, adding all-wheel-drive only raises the price by a grand: $42,860. SL and Platinum trims comes standard with AWD. Going Platinum puts cost in the fives, starting at $50,990, and several accessories offered pumps up the price from there.
However, measuring just under 193 inches long—and only offering two-rows—allows both rows plenty of space for adults and plenty more behind for all of their things. Nissan offers a lot of amenities to keep folks comfortable, too.
Powertrain
Nissan chucked the outgoing Murano’s 3.5-liter V-6 to the bin and replaced it with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with variable compression ratio technology, fittingly called VC-Turbo. In doing so, the Murano lost 19 peak horsepower, garnering 241 from the new turbo-four verses 260 from the V-6. Torque goes in the other direction, thankfully, now 260 lb.-ft verses 240.
But good news awaits! Nissan also tossed the continuously variable transmission to the side, instead bolting up a nine-speed automatic transmission to the new turbo-four. The new transmission provides a nice wide ratio-range and engages immediately, delivering a more direct, linear feeling of power. It shifts competitively quickly and smoothly. And, thank goodness, the shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel actually shift gears again. Huzzah!
Select an SL or Platinum Murano and all-wheel-drive comes along for the ride. SV trims include front-wheel-drive as standard, but, as I noted earlier, $1000 gets you AWD there too. My chance to drive the Murano happened during snow, which gifted me a prime testing ground to test traction, and the Murano passed with flying colors. See video above for proof.
Unfortunately, downsizing cylinder and displacement did not result in superior fuel economy. You get 21 mpg in the city, 27 on the highway, 23 combined in a Murano, and that’s regardless of which drivetrain you choose. That’s not altogether bad, but with so many hybrid choices these days, it’s not good either.
Chassis
The Murano received huge chassis improvements for 2025. To start, the structure itself gained additional bracing in key areas, especially around the front and rear suspension location points. Nissan also installed new electric power steering with a faster steering ratio. Finally, engineers installed a new shock absorber that adjusts damping force based on frequency of input shaft movement. These new shocks allowed Nissan to firm up the ride in regular driving, all while still absorbing big bumps in relative comfort.
That means Murano passengers feel a lot less body roll as well as pitch and drive and yet still enjoy a comfortable ride. Thanks to the faster steering rack, the driver benefits from a faster reacting front-end and a suspension that keeps up with steering inputs. This is a vast improvement to the outgoing Murano.
Furthermore, the cabin isolates out most road and wind noise well. That results in a quiet cabin, even at interstate speeds, to enjoy. Couple that with the comfortable and spacious first and second row seating, the Murano makes a mighty fine highway cruiser. As long as the fuel economy number doesn’t bother you.
Details and Inside
Part of the comfortable cruising comes from nice seats. Nissan calls them zero gravity. That means a lot of work went into avoiding pressure points and supporting all parts of the body simultaneously. Of course, the fact that the Platinum trimmed seats provide massage helps. The semi-aniline leather upholstery doesn’t hurt either. Both rows warm up from heated seats as well. The steering wheel heats up to keep hands warm too. Still not done, the front row folks get ventilation as well, to keep things cool in the summer.
Two 12.3-inch screens make up the digital instrument cluster and center display. The former offers plenty of options to view pertinent information as you see fit. The latter offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. As well as Google built-in, which includes Google Play, Maps, and Assistant. Generally speaking, the system behaves seamlessly, and Google Assistant allows several functions to operate hands-free.
But space separates the Murano from many crossovers this size. Because Nissan only offers two rows of seating, each row gets several more inches of space and quite a bit more cargo room. With both seats up, the Murano provides 33 cubic feet of storage space. Fold the second row down and that increases to 64 cubic feet. Plenty for a plethora of particulars that you wish carry along for the ride. Or to satisfy whatever Big Box store cravings you have on any given Saturday.
On the other hand, several SUVs this size offer more seatbelts for folks when you’re in a caravaning pinch.
in conclusion
The starting price of the 2025 Nissan Murano stings a touch. Several of its competitors enter the market with a price tag in the threes. On the other hand, even the Murano SV provides the two 12.3-inch screens and heated front seats. You also roll on at least 20-inch wheels outside.
Going Platinum adds enough features to start flirting with the premium crossover market. And the ride quality makes it competitive in that space as well. The biggest sticking point, for me at least, is the better fuel economy available from hybrid technology offered elsewhere. And that’s in the mainstream (Kia Sorento Hybrid) and the premium (Lincoln Nautilus) space.
Outside of that, the Murano stands out with exquisite style, high levels of comfort, and a much-improved powertrain. It also decidedly sticks with on-road comforts over off-road prowess, a divergence from most. But that may prove its biggest advantage yet for those that prefer pavement.
COMPETITORS
Honda Passport
Lincoln Nautilus
VW Atlas CrossSport
SPECIFICATIONS
2025 Nissan Murano Platinum: 5-door, 5-seat, crossover SUV
Base price: $50,990 (includes $1390 destination charge)
Price as Tested: $55,030
Powertrain: Turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4
Peak Power: 241 horsepower at 5600 rpm
Peak Torque: 260 lb.-ft at 4400 rpm
Transmission: nine-speed automatic transmission
Drive: all-wheel-drive
Fuel Economy in MPG and range
21 city
27 highway
23 combined
Dimensions
Length: 192.9 inches
Width: 78.0 inches
Height: 67.9 inches
Wheelbase: 111.2 inches
Weights and Capacities
Curb weight: 4438 lbs.
Interior volume: 107 cu ft
Cargo volume (behind 2nd/1st rows): 33/64 cu ft
Calculated weight to power (lbs./HP): 18.4:1
Mfr’s claimed 0-60 mph: NA seconds
Mfr’s claimed Top Speed: NA mph
Government classified size: midsize station wagons
Options: Splash guards painted, $255; USB charging cable set, $90; carpeted floor mats and cargo mat, $510; cargo package, $455; tablet holder, $160; illuminated cargo scuff plate, $505; exterior ground lighting $675; panoramic headliner illumination, $430; illuminated kick plates, $415; dash cam, $365; spare tire, $180
