After over ten years, Nissan has finally updated the Murano — the results speak for themselves
Nissan modernized the Murano no less than a decade after its previous generation debuted, and the aging mid-size SUV badly needed it. While the Murano has always rubbed elbows with upmarket Infiniti vehicles, it was more in theory than in practice. Hampered by things like a lazy CVT automatic transmission and a mostly parts-bin feeling interior, the old Murano was never seriously considered a luxury SUV. With the introduction of the 2025 Nissan Murano, however, that reputation might need a serious reevaluation.
What you’re looking at is our test vehicle, which we had for a week. It’s a 2025 Nissan Murano Platinum AWD, a name that tells you everything you need to know. This top-trim Platinum AWD starts at $49,600, but ours has some other extras that push the MSRP up to $53,525. Thankfully, none of the add-ons are integral to how we feel about the vehicle. The Platinum AWD, like all 2025 Muranos, comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 241 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is optional on base SV cars, but standard on SL and Platinum models. Exclusive to the Platinum are goodies like a head-up display, quilted leather seats, and a trick motion-activated tailgate. The base SV Murano starts at $40,470, but we’d recommend the mid-grade SL or even the Platinum for the best experience. It’s worth it.
The 2025 Nissan Murano is proof that details matter
If you’ve seen a Murano in the last ten years, there’s a solid chance that you won’t immediately recognize the 2025 model as a Murano. The SUV you know is gone; the completely redesigned exterior touts a decidedly less-busy design than the outgoing model, with heavily modernized lighting signatures in the front and back. Gone are the dinky 18-inch wheels, replaced by 20- or 21-inchers (ours is wearing 21s). You would expect an Infiniti badge, at least, on the front of this distinct design.
Imagine our surprise when, inside, the Murano was even more impressive. Heated, ventilated, and massaging seats were perfect for our road trip. The highly adjustable (and memory function) seats made finding a good seating position a breeze. Best of all, every control was exactly where you expected it to be. A panoramic glass roof stretches across the front and rear seats, giving the cabin an open and luxurious feel. Sitting behind the wheel is a pleasure, thanks to how thoughtfully Nissan integrates the dual 12-inch screens into the dashboard. Other frills like a Bose sound system and 360-view camera system were immediate value-adders for us.
But it isn’t just the layout itself that helps the 2025 Nissan Murano back up the checks its svelte exterior design is writing. Usability and personalization are apparently prime directives; you can tweak the color of the ambient lighting, adjust what’s displayed on your center screen or driver display, and quickly change up driver aids and drive modes. Issues with the car were simple to remedy; are the gauges too bright at night, even on “Night Mode?” You can still knock down the brightness a few notches, and it took a whopping three clicks from the home screen. Stereo a little bass-heavy? Turns out the person who last had the car before wasn’t an audio engineer and had maxed out the bass on the equalizer. Easy and quick fix. Want your gauges to look like old-school analog ones? You can even do that, in (I believe) two button clicks.
Complaints on the inside are few and very far between. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and CarPlay glitched out a handful of times, although never required a system restart or fresh pairing. The climate control buttons gain nothing by being display buttons with haptic feedback. We wish there was slightly less piano black trim, particularly on the gear selector. Which, by the way, isn’t a selector at all, but instead four buttons, an infuriating deviance from century-long industry standards that is our biggest ergonomic gripe.
Does the 2025 Nissan Murano drive like a luxury vehicle? Yes and no
A turbo 2.0-liter, nine-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and all-wheel drive sounds like a winning combination on paper. In practice, the Murano’s powertrain is best summarized as “fine.” Dynamism still isn’t the mid-size SUV’s strong point, but Sport mode with manual shifting helps quite a bit. Otherwise, power is a little hard to find — after all, peak torque doesn’t show up until 4,400 rpm, and horsepower doesn’t arrive until 5,600 rpm. The result is a powertrain that’s sometimes a little late for class, as it were, although passing on the highway is usually no problem.
Dial-up power delivery aside, the 2025 Nissan Murano does behave mostly like a luxury SUV on paved surfaces. Its strut front and multi-link rear suspension is compliant, aided by little front and rear stabilizer bars that come standard. Body roll is present but well-controlled; overall, the SUV drives more luxuriously than dynamically. Steering is appropriately light and reasonably precise. Brakes lack initial bite but do the job they’re assigned. The Murano isn’t going to win any stoplight drag races, and that’s okay with us. We do, however, wish the power were a little bit more linear, not necessarily that there was more of it. Efficiency isn’t a strong point, either, with the Murano delivering 21/27/23 mpg city/highway/combined EPA ratings, all of which were accurately reflected in the over 500 miles we covered with our Murano.
Final thoughts
The 2025 Nissan Murano is an exceptional SUV, full stop. Not “for a Nissan,” not “for the money;” the 2025 Nissan Murano is just a damn good car. The mid-size SUV segment is incredibly competitive, and standing out is challenging. By virtue of its unique but pleasant exterior design, well put-together interior, and lack of serious foibles, the Murano stands out from its competition. While it may stumble, it certainly never falls flat — bravo, Nissan.
