2023 Nissan Murano

The Nissan Murano’s splashy styling is its calling card. Few rival five-seat SUVs are so distinctive, and this midsize SUV’s interior ambience is a cut above as well. SL and Platinum trim levels have nicely appointed cabins and features like premium audio systems that make them feel like junior-league Infinitis. However, in spite of all that style, the present Murano is nearly a decade old and doesn’t stand up to newer and more advanced competition in terms of on-board tech, cabin storage or fuel economy. 

With a total redesign expected next year, Nissan hasn’t changed the Murano much for 2023 and the basic design dates back to late 2014. Like the automaker’s other models, trim levels start with basic S, and mid-level SV and move up to the near-luxury SL and Platinum. The Midnight Edition, which debuted last year, can be added to the SV trim level. It’s an appearance package that upgrades the styling with black exterior accents and gloss-black 20-inch wheels.

The Murano falls between similar two-row smallish-midsize SUVs like the Honda Passport and three-row ones like the Pilot. This is a hotly competitive segment, and newer designs like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade and the new-for-2023 Pilot are now the dominant players. Even competitors like the Chevrolet Blazer or Subaru Outback with available four-cylinder engines offer better fuel economy than the V6-only Murano and, usually, more dynamic capabilities.

Sharp steering makes the Murano a pleasant partner on the road as does ample passing power from its 3.5-liter V6 rated at 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. The only available transmission is an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive is standard across the line, but all-wheel drive (AWD) can be specified on any trim for a $1,700 premium. This is no off-road warrior though, and if that’s what you’re after the Ford Bronco and Toyota 4Runner would like a word.

That said, occupants of the Murano’s cabin won’t lack for comfort features. Even the entry-level S comes with heated front seats and dual-zone climate control as standard. The Platinum’s interior is genuinely luxurious with diamond-quilted leather upholstery and other premium niceties. Front legroom falls mid-pack with the Murano’s competing models and it’s the same story in the second row (40.5 and 38.7 inches, respectively).

Safety equipment is comprehensive although the base S lacks the 360-degree camera and adaptive cruise control that are standard on other trim levels. The Murano’s onboard tech is starting to look dated. Especially the 8-inch touchscreen with physical menu buttons. Still, all models come with a navigation system and there are USB power ports front and back. The Murano isn’t a terrible choice even at its advanced age, but newer rivals do many things better for the same money.

Performance: 9/15 

A V6 delivering 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque mated to a CVT is the sole Murano powertrain. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all trim levels can be ordered with AWD. The AWD system is designed to cope with treacherous, low-traction road conditions like snow and rain. Most of the time, the system sends power to the front wheels, only diverting it to the rear when needed. Again, it’s not really meant for off-pavement adventuring, and it only offers 6.9 inches of ground clearance.

Nissan has done its best to tune out the annoying drone that can accompany a CVT. It’s still there, but not objectionable. The V6 engine provides ample power for highway passing and is smooth in operation, but alternatives like the Blazer are more engaging, while the Outback and Bronco offer genuine off-road ability, even with the Outback’s own CVT. Nicely weighted, precise steering infuses a little driving pleasure into the Murano, but it’s not really all that engaging to drive.

The Murano can tow up to 1,500 pounds, which doesn’t compare well with its rivals. The Blazer has a minimum tow rating of 1,500 pounds but can haul up to 4,500 when properly equipped. The Outback can tow up to 3,500 while the Passport and Pilot are good for a full 5,000. The Telluride, meanwhile, can manage up to 5,500.

Fuel Economy: 10/15 

The V6-only Murano isn’t as fuel efficient as similar vehicles with smaller, four-cylinder engines. Whether front-drive or AWD, it’s EPA-rated at 20 mpg city, 28 highway and 23 combined. At least it only requires 87 octane fuel. There is no hybrid option, although most competitors don’t offer one either, apart from the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe, both of which are slightly smaller vehicles. 

The Honda Passport, which is also exclusively V6-powered, earns 22 mpg combined for front-drivers and 21 with AWD. V6 versions of the Blazer have fuel economy numbers that mirror the Passport’s. 

The Outback, with its 260-horsepower 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and standard AWD gets 26 mpg combined. Non-turbo versions of the Outback return 29 mpg combined, but they make do with just 182 horsepower. Front-drive turbocharged four-cylinder Blazers are rated at 25 mpg combined; expect to lose a couple of mpg with AWD.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 13/15 

The Murano earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2022 but was downgraded with more stringent testing implemented in 2023. But it still has a top five-star crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 

In addition to its top-notch crash structure, Nissan also equips the Murano with lots of active-safety gear. Forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, reverse emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, a driver alertness monitor and high-beam headlamp assist come as standard across the line. In addition, all but the base S trim have adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera.

Comfort & Room: 12/15 

Murano occupants will find themselves comfortable regardless of trim level. Even the base S includes heated front seats and a power driver’s seat. Platinum and SL add heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. Platinum trim also gets ventilated front seats. All trim levels have dual-zone climate control. 

The Murano’s 39.9 inches of front headroom narrowly bests the Blazer and Passport, which clock in with 39.8 and 39.5 inches, respectively, but lags behind the Outback’s 40.1. The Nissan’s 39.8 inches of rear headroom bests all but the Passport’s 40 inches. Backseat passengers will find 38.7 inches of rear legroom in the Murano, which is quite generous, but a little less than the Passport and Blazer (both 39.6 inches) and the Outback’s 39.1.

Infotainment: 10/15 

An 8-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard fare in the Murano, regardless of trim level. There are USB-A and USB-C power ports accessible from the front and back seats. Onboard navigation with a connected phone app is present and accounted for across the lineup—even on the base Murano S. Platinum and SL trims get a premium audio system with two subwoofers. 

The small touchscreen looks dated and the physical menu-access buttons next to it reinforce the yester-tech feel. The pinch-and-zoom on the navigation system is also frustratingly imprecise. However, Nissan’s setup is simple to use and some may find it less distracting than larger, higher-tech systems. 

Cargo Space & Storage: 8/15 

There are 32.1 cubic-feet of cargo volume behind the Murano’s second-row seats; fold them flat and it grows to 67 cubic-feet. Chevy’s Blazer offers 30.5 cubic-feet of storage space behind the rear seats. The Honda Passport is the most spacious vehicle here with 41.2 cubic-feet aft of the second row (50.5 if you count, as Honda does, the floor well space) and 77.7 with seats folded. The Outback is runner up with a max total of 75.7 cubic-feet.

The Murano’s cabin would also benefit from more storage cubbies. Occupants only have the center console, some teeny-tiny door bins and the glove compartment to stash small items.

Style & Design: 7/10 

Whether or not you like the Murano’s curvaceous body there’s no doubt that it stands out in a market segment dominated milquetoast and often boxy styling. It’s certainly more pleasing than the Passport or the GMC Acadia. Blacked-out pillars create a floating-roof effect while the chrome-trimmed beltline kicks up aggressively, almost echoing the tailfins of a 1950s American car. The price you pay for looks is reduced outward visibility. 

Murano occupants are treated to a near-luxury feel with a sweeping, wraparound dash and nice interior detailing. The look was very contemporary in 2015, but it’s beginning to look old compared to high-style entries like the Telluride. Seats are comfortable and covered in genuine, semi-aniline leather on SL and Platinum trims and a combination of cloth and leatherette on lower-line models.

Is the 2023 Nissan Murano Worth it? Which Murano is the Best Value? 

Murano pricing starts at an accessible $34,605, inclusive of a $1,295 destination charge for a base FWD S. Add AWD and the price jumps to $36,305, including destination charges. The Subaru Outback and Chevy Blazer both have a lower starting price than the Murano while the least expensive Honda Passport is $3,900 more. 

If it were our money, the $38,245 Murano SV would get the nod. This mid-level trim adds adaptive cruise control, remote start, heated power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, heated power-adjustable side mirrors and a few other upgrades. For another $1,395 you could make it a Midnight Edition. If a sunroof is a must-have, you’ll have to splash out on a $42,105 for an SL and add another $1,420 for the sunroof. 

At $48,600 including destination charges, a full-house Murano Platinum AWD gets perilously close to the fifty-grand mark, and for that money the Telluride, Palisade and Pilot offer more value.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Nissan Murano?

According to our data, the average 30-year-old female driver with a good record can expect an average annual premium of $2,154 across the lineup. The Ford Edge is slightly less at $1,924; the Hyundai Santa Fe average ranges from $1,914 for the XRT trim to $2,137 for the Calligraphy trims. The Subaru Outback starts around $1,722 for the base model and stretches to $1,903 for the Touring XT. But these estimates average all 50 states. See our car insurance calculator to get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses.