2020 Nissan Murano

The starting price of the Nissan Murano is $31,530, and it goes up to $43,730. It is a little expensive than its rival cars, but surely it provides a galore of features. The 260hp engine is a feature that cannot be ignored. It is a car which offers both style and efficiency. Due to certain flaws, Murano faces fierce competition mainly from Chevrolet Blazer and other rivals such as Ford Edge and Kia Sorento.

The Nissan Murano comes in four trims, the same as last year, with no significant differences in the trim pattern. All with attractive and different features that will enthrall you. The most costly is the Platinum trim, which consists of LED Headlights and 20" aluminum-alloy wheels. The Nissan Connect Service is a crucial addition too.

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Keeping in mind the prices of all versions of the car, if you are looking for an SUV for both short and long drives, you certainly need to go for the SL version. It is not priced as high as the Platinum version and has exciting features such as the Bose Music System.

Nissan made the intelligent choice of ditching those boring 2-liter four-bangers you see in every other SUV these days for a proper 3.5 Liter V6 that makes a healthy 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. The only downside is that it works with a conservative CVT transmission fit for an insurance clerk who can't tell the difference between a GT-R and a Maxima.

But hey, if you aren't a petrol-head and wouldn't bother yourself about perfectly-timed gear shifts, the new CVT will suit you just fine. Moving on, you would find that the competitors are all equipped with slightly bigger V6 motors making a few more ponies, but the Murano doesn't precisely fall at the back of the pack, and you'll find out why in the next section. 

Though it has faced fierce competition from cars such as Kia Sorento, it is still a high performing car. With smooth and proper engine performance, the vehicle is adaptable to conditions of a city, mountains, highway, or any other scenario.

Acceleration

The Nissan Murano can reach 0 mph to 60 mph in just 7.8 seconds. All credit to its 3.5L powertrain. This feature makes the SUV a responsive car with an excellent balance in all aspects. It is standard in the case of emission of carbon dioxide, as most of the vehicles in the segment emit a similar quantity of Carbon Dioxide.

It excels in most of the aspects of its competitors. Although the time taken to accelerate from 0 to 60mph is less, however, it comes out to be the slowest car of the lot. The primary focus is on the quality of the engine and the less rate of carbon dioxide emitted. It helps Nissan Murano to outclass the biggest competitor i.e., Kia Sorento.

Ride and Handling

The performance figures might suggest that the Murano rides like a European hot hatch whenever you push it, but in reality, it rides like any other tame SUV that gives you enough power when you need it and enough calm and quiet when you don't. The CVT used here is a very efficient one but doesn't guarantee Patrol-like excitement on the freeway.

The heated steering is a little dull, but it tries its best to give you the necessary feedback via the electrical systems onboard as long as you don't expect a corner-hugging sports-car out of it, the very comfortable and smooth ride. This new Nissan provides more apparent than you might think.

Braking

A significant upside that contributes to the performance and safety of the Nissan Murano is the braking system that does its job reasonably well. It can get to a full stop from 60MPH in just 120 ft, which puts it almost on par with other rivals. Furthermore, the 60-0MPH figure is also better than Chevy's performance in this arena.

The brakes in the front are 12.6 inches, and the ones in the rear are 12.1 inches in diameter. Here's how the Murano performs against the competition in terms of braking.

Moving onto the braking performance section, the Murano misses out the top spot but still manages to come seconds in the list. The Kia Sorento showcases the best braking timings out of all the other three of its competitors with a 60-0 distance of just 116 feet.

Murano faces tough competition from other competitors, due to its high power engine and less price. Although the price and the engine of Santa Fe make it look like a better car, it is not as refined as the Nissan. The fuel efficiency is a true comparing factor and it leads the way in that. It has many advantages over the Ford and Kia.

In the city, the Nissan Murano is expected to deliver around 20 MPG and on highways, expect an average of 28 MPG.

Being lighter and efficient clearly has its perks in the fuel economy department and that's exactly why the new Murano can give a combined 23 miles to the gallon making it a good fuel efficient car its segment. The closest car to the Nissan in terms of fuel economy is the Chevy Blazer that gives a combined figure of 24MPG. while the Ford Edge provides even better 25mpg combined. 

 Once you get inside this Nissan, you are greeted by a very smooth and flowing dash fitted with an 8-inch infotainment screen due to which it doesn't house an awful number of buttons like the older models. The materials used are surprisingly top-notch and could also be on par with something like a Lexus RX350. The highly ergonomic design of the dash also ensures that everything is well within the reach of the driver.

The Murano can drive around 5 people at a time insatiable comfort and the broad seats do the job of providing maximum back and thigh support to the passengers. To further boost the amount of convenience in the interior, there is also a Driver's Memory System in which you can save the seating position, height and temperature most suitable to you.

Nissan is a 5-seater SUV. Its volume is a little less, and it may not be effortless for people to comfort themselves in long journeys. Despite that, it is quite comfortable and spacious. The driver seat provides a reasonable room for people to drive with pleasure and comfort. The only car in the comparison to which the Murano falls short of in terms of space is the Ford Edge.

Infotainment

The upgraded Nissan Connect Infotainment system does wonders in controlling the car's audio/video and mobile connectivity features. It comes with Android Auto and Apple Carplay as standard and an 8-inch color display to keep up with whatever's happening in your car. The Nissan Navigation system can also be operated via this screen, which can also be configured in the "Advanced Drive-Assist Display" mode as well.

What's more is that you have the usual Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports, and a premium Bose sound system to play your favorite track in high-quality sound. You could say that the new Murano is packed with all the necessary features for a car of this era and that it also boosts the usability of those powerful features to new levels.

The technology used in the Murano is one of the most well known in the SUV segment. It has tremendous additional upgrades along with great features. The tech-functions inside the car continues to upgrade year by year.

The Nissan Murano infotainment system has a lot of additions such as:

Infotainment features

• 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• USB and USB Type-C ports
• Bluetooth connectivity
• 11-speaker Bose premium audio system
• Satellite radio
• Speed-sensitive volume control

Cargo

The Nissan Murano is a spacious car altogether, but when it comes to the competitive face, other cars are a little better. It offers a cargo space of 31 cubic feet behind the second row and 67 cubic feet with all seats folded.

It is defeated by the Ford Edge and by relatively small margins in terms of Cargo. It is around 6 cubic feet less than Ford Edge. But manages to overcome all other rivals.

Interior Features

• Semi-aniline leather upholstery
• adaptive cruise control
• Climate control
• front and rear cupholders
• electrochromatic inside rearview mirror
• Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel
• tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• Heated steering wheels
• 8-way power adjustable front seats
• interior air filtration
• Interior Accent Lighting
• Heated front and rear seats

Nissan's famed Zone Body construction keeps the drivers safe during an unavoidable collision via designated crumple zones and reinforced chassis portions. This system has the added benefit of being extremely lightweight in comparison to its rivals, and we can all appreciate it as soon as we take a look at how little the Murano weighs.
 

Tipping the scales at just 3769 lbs, this Jap boy is the most lightweight car here, and that weight is sculpted in fluidic and futuristic lines that give rise to a very handsome machine that is the Murano. It may not be as retro cool-ish as a Dodge Durango, but it is a stylish little SUV you wouldn't mind staring at for a while in the parking lot.

Exterior Features

• Turn signal mirrors
• Daytime running lights
• Front fog/driving lights
• Dusk sensing LED headlamps
• Front, side, and rear view camera
• Heated mirrors
• hands-free entry
• Panoramic sunroof

Nissan Murano has scored five-star ratings in major crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, it received a 4-star rating in crash tests like frontal barrier crash rating overall, including Driver and Passenger. The SUV has also performed well in the IIHS safety ratings.

Safety Features

• 10 standard airbags
• 4-wheel ABS
• Front and rear ventilated disc brakes
• Pre and post-collision safety system
• Stability control
• Traction control
• Emergency braking preparation
• Blind spot and lane departure warnings accident avoidance system
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Universal remote transmitter

 2020 Nissan Murano vs Ford Edge

The Nissan Murano has a considerable advantage over Ford Edge. With a better and more powerful engine, a more efficient braking system, and an attractive interior, it outclasses the Edge. Even though it lacks the supple ride comfort of the Murano but pays for that with its sporty handling. Although, Ford has a much better ground clearance and excels in cabin volume.

2020 Nissan Murano vs Chevrolet Blazer

Even though the Chevrolet Blazer does not feature any distinctive looks like the Murano, it still manages to look very young like a modern-day crossover. It is designed while focusing on fierce driving sessions, while the Blazer offers energetic handling for which it does have to sacrifice some of its ride quality. Interiors in the Blazer feel friendly and have a modern-day layout. However, the Murano still manages to perform slightly better than the Blazer in terms of cabin and cargo space.
 

2020 Nissan Murano vs Kia Sorento

After Kia Sorento received a redesign, the carmaker offered some new engine options. Sorento's 185-hp four-cylinder engine is underwhelming but its optional 290-hp V6 engine competed with the Morano. Kia Sorento also wins the game with ample cabin space and significant cargo room. Kia is also cheaper than the Nissan Murano, offering more power, better fuel economy, extra space, and a more flexible cabin.

The 2020 Murano is the SUV of SUVs that keeps all the members of the family happy and still doesn't sacrifice on performance. It's good-looking, practical, and extremely reliable, making it an essential car to check out before buying a new SUV. Plus, it has the added benefit of being cost-effective in the long run and has a higher resale value than most of its rivals.

To answer the questions put forth at the beginning of this review. The Murano is still a joy to drive every day. The axiomatic interior and exterior of the car give it a stunning look. Although it enjoys a high price, it seems reasonable with all the features it possesses. The Nissan Murano's appeal always carries away the traditional shape, revealing futuristic outlook. There are a lot many things about the latest version of Murano that regular SUV buyers will embrace.