2025 Nissan Murano Assessment | GearJunkie Examined

The fourth-generation Nissan Murano has arrived. This crossover has advanced rather a lot over its 22 years available on the market, getting larger, extra refined, and extra luxurious.

It’s made particularly for the North American market. And, Nissan says the automobile is focused at older individuals, many empty nesters, that need a excessive seating place and is a straightforward to get out and in of, snug automobile.

Nissan invited me to Franklin, Tenn., to drive the 2025 Murano Platinum AWD across the stunning countryside within the space. A mixture of curvy backroads and brief freeway jaunts revealed what the brand new Murano is all about.

In brief: For about $50K, which is in regards to the common new automotive worth right this moment, you get a feature-rich and opulent crossover. The 2025 Nissan Murano’s peppy turbo motor and extensive stance make it a pleasure to drive, however there is just one powertrain on provide, and it solely will get 23 mpg.

2025 Nissan Murano Assessment

Because it appears with all next-generation autos hitting the U.S. market, the brand new Murano will get a bit larger. Not rather a lot on this case, however about 3 inches wider and 1.4 inches extra floor clearance is sufficient to discover a distinction.

The three.5L V6 is changed by a brand new 2.0L Variable Compression Turbo I4 engine, backed by a nine-speed automated transmission. On faucet are 19 much less horsepower and 20 further pound-feet of torque. The engine pulls strongly as soon as the automobile is transferring and the turbos spool up, and in regular driving the additional torque is extra usable than the misplaced horsepower. That is an satisfying, nimble automobile on backroads.

New Look

All-new styling was centered by an “Energetic Class” design language. Design, tech, and luxury are the pillars that Nissan centered on for this fourth-gen automobile. What that has equated to is a lot of horizontal styling strains, a extra curvy physique with muscular rear fenders. The rear wiper was additionally hidden and the rear plate moved from the tailgate to the bumper.

Inside, there are glass and wood-looking supplies to go with the leather-based seating. The brand new twin 12.3-inch screens have a hood that’s wrapped in leather-based with distinction stitching for a bit extra of an built-in look. Total, the inside is sort of a pleasant place to be and exudes luxurious, particularly for one thing at this worth level.

All of the Feels

The entire contact factors contained in the 2025 Nissan Murano are mushy and pleasing. The one factor that isn’t pleasing is the spot the place the motive force’s proper knee rests on the console, as it isn’t padded and has stitching proper the place your knee lands.

The seats shine by as a spotlight within the 2025 Murano. The therapeutic massage characteristic on the top-spec Platinum that I drove for this overview is powerful and is simple to activate with a single button on the seat.

Whereas the brand new steering wheel adjusts outward from the sprint rather a lot, it doesn’t go down very far. It additionally has a flat backside, which mixed makes ingress and egress from the automobile simple.

Hydraulic steering has been changed with an all-electric system. That is wanted for ProPilot help and a few driver security options. Sadly, there is no such thing as a ProPilot 2.1 hands-free on any trim of the 2025 Nissan Murano.

Nissan calls its new shocks “Frequency Delicate Dampers,” however that’s simply advertising jargon for brand spanking new shocks which are correctly tuned for this new wider and heavier automobile chassis — they aren’t adaptive. The suspension has been tuned stiffer than the final technology, which suggests much less physique roll and a bit extra enjoyable within the corners.

Regardless that the brand new Murano has gained a couple of hundred kilos, it feels gentle and nimble. It has good throttle response however some noticeable turbo lag. I discovered that the nine-speed auto-trans did hunt for gears an excessive amount of, in all drive modes. The brakes are loads good for this automobile.

To get the brand new Murano transferring, there’s now a push button shifter. This frees up room on the console, however does take some getting used to.

Sights & Sounds

Customized ambiance lighting is very configurable and provides a luxurious contact, as does the three wallpaper themes you possibly can select for the screens. Be sure you try the one which strikes the solar throughout the display screen because the time of day modifications.

The ten-speaker Bose premium sound system is okay, however not outstanding. Commonplace energetic noise canceling helps make the cabin really feel quiet, whereas sound enhancement pipes in a bit extra engine be aware while you get the revs up in Sport mode.

New on-board digicam methods provide spectacular visibility across the automobile. The best digicam views are the Clever 3D, entrance extensive, and invisible hood.

Acquired Proper

Nissan acquired rather a lot proper with the brand new Murano. It looks like a extra grown-up, refined luxurious automobile. The large screens and comparatively intuitive interface are very properly built-in into the automobile. With Google built-in, you get Google Maps and over 100 different accessible apps, in addition to Alexa on board.

The second row has window shades built-in into the doorways, which is at all times a pleasant characteristic.

Additionally within the second row is spectacular leg room, which must be good for automotive seats. To make loading children, and adults, into the second row simpler, the rear doorways open very extensive. Head and shoulder room within the second row are OK.

No fashionable automobile could be full with out a number of methods to cost your digital equipment. The 2025 Murano has two USB-C ports up entrance and two for the second row. It additionally has a 12V outlet up entrance and one within the cargo space. A wi-fi telephone charger on the entrance of the middle console comes customary on all trims.

I dig the brand new wheel designs on the Murano. On the top-spec Platinum, the intricate 21-inch wheels include plastic inserts that assist enhance aerodynamics. I believe they really look fairly cool as effectively. Whereas they really feel like low cost plastic, fortunately, they seem like a high-quality product. A regular energy elevate gate makes cargo loading a breeze.

Might Be Higher

You would possibly argue that the smaller engine with much less horsepower is due to gasoline effectivity, however you’d be improper on this case. The 2025 Murano will get 21 mpg metropolis, 27 freeway, and 23 mixed mpg. That’s 1 mpg higher round city, 1 mpg worse on the freeway, and precisely the identical on common. The brand new Murano is a couple of hundred kilos heavier, about 3 inches wider, and sits over an inch greater off the bottom than the outgoing mannequin, none of which assist with gasoline effectivity.

Due to the sloping hood design, it’s very arduous to inform precisely the place the entrance of the automobile is. I’m positive that is one thing you’ll get used to with time, and for positive the brand new digicam methods assist help slow-speed maneuvering in tight areas.

Whereas for positive centered and oriented towards an older clientele and ease of ergonomics, the 2025 Murano has a 3.7-inch taller step-in peak — at 19.5 inches. It additionally has a step-in and out to recover from the edge within the door sills.

The lane hold warning within the new Murano can be very aggressive. After all, you possibly can flip this driver-assist security characteristic off, however you want to take action every time you activate the automobile.

The plastic jack mount compartment beneath the rear cargo space rattles when making aggressive lateral actions with the automobile. I’ll be aware that this may very well be as a result of I used to be driving a preproduction automobile.

2025 Murano: Pricing & Availability

There are actually no choices packages accessible on the 2025 Nissan Murano, however as an alternative simply three trim ranges — SV, SL, and Platinum — and just some choices. SV will be had in front-wheel drive (FWD), or, for simply $1K will be upgraded to AWD. 2025 Murano Choices embody premium paint, two-tone paint, spare tire, 20-inch alloy wheels, and some little choices like mud flaps, lighting accents, and a touch cam.

Pricing begins at $40,470 for SV FWD. The mid-grade Murano SL AWD will run you $46,560, whereas the top-of-the-line, as-tested Platinum AWD is available in at $49,600. All of those costs exclude the obligatory $1,390 you’ll be charged for supply/vacation spot.

Count on U.S. Nissan sellers to be getting the 2025 Nissan Murano earlier than the top of 2024.

2025 Nissan Murano Assessment Wrap-Up

Whereas the 2025 Murano will get a bit extra floor clearance, it isn’t in any approach oriented for off-road journey — Nissan wouldn’t even let me go away the pavement with my check automobile. The taller journey peak is particularly designed to provide the motive force a extra upright and commanding driving place, and steadiness the styling of the automobile with its large wheels (20-21 inches).

With three interiors and eight exterior colours, and for the primary time, a two-tone choice with black roof, the 2025 Murano will be bought in a mode that may enchantment to most any luxurious crossover purchaser.

Murano is now the most effective values in its class, however you need to need a very on-road-focused crossover that leans into luxurious. It may very a lot profit from a hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain to extend energy and enhance gasoline financial system.

The important thing opponents for the 2025 Murano are the Blazer, Passport, Santa Fe, and Crown Signia. Whereas a couple of of these have gone the way in which of sporty and/or adventurous, Nissan has gone the opposite approach and positioned the Murano as the posh selection.