2025 Nissan Murano: Better Late Than Never

The all-new, fourth-generation 2025 Nissan Murano replaces its ten-year-old predecessor, but does anybody care? Remember, the Japanese two-row midsize crossover originally burst onto the scene in 2003 with a bold, revolutionary design and package. Many competitors have emerged since then including the Ford Edge, which was discontinued earlier this year for the North American market.

Sales across the segment have taken a significant drop in recent years as larger, three-row SUVs have proven more popular. Development of a new Murano actually started a long time ago, but Nissan temporarily put it on the back burner as it focused on redesigning the Pathfinder and introducing the fully electric Ariya. The latter is slightly more compact than the Murano yet very similar in terms of styling and interior layout.

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The company doesn’t want to give up on the Murano and still believes in it. After all, the Ariya is nowhere near ready to go mainstream, while the low-selling Altima midsize sedan is admittedly living on borrowed time. We’re not even talking about the departed full-size Maxima, which has been rumoured to come back at some point as an EV.

Worth the 10-Year Wait?

As mentioned before, the outgoing 2024 Murano was a full decade old and virtually unchanged from its debut as a 2015 model, with quirky lines that didn’t exactly age very well. Clearly, Nissan didn’t plan to sell it for so long, but the Murano still managed to enjoy decent success in Canada and the U.S.

In a wise move, the new generation boasts a more understated and more timeless look. Oh sure, the front fascia may go out of style in a hurry, but that’s something designers could easily fix down the line, maybe as part of a mid-cycle refresh.

The 2025 Murano arguably lacks originality and certainly doesn't impress as much as the first generation. It does, however, look sharp, with broad shoulders, muscular wheel arches and that X-motif where the rear quarter windows meet the D-pillars. The last item appears to be ripped off from the Hyundai Kona, but it’s quite beautifully executed here.

Inside, you'll literally feel like you're sitting in a Nissan Ariya. The driver’s cockpit is pretty much a carbon copy, except for the massive centre console offering multiple storage compartments. Nissan has replaced the traditional shifter with push-button controls to free up space. Also similar to the Ariya, there are touch-sensitive buttons with haptic feedback for the HVAC system, as well as dual 12.3-inch screens placed side by side. SL and Platinum models get Google Built-in including Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play, plus a 3D Intelligent Around View Monitor. Naturally, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto comes standard.

The 2025 Murano’s cabin is even more spacious than before, with optimized rear-seat space resulting from the slimmer front seatbacks. Versatility is remarkable, too, although you’ll lose a few precious litres of cargo room due to the more sloping roofline. Clean and modern styling complemented by refined materials makes up for the very dated appearance of the previous model.

Where’s the V6?

Unsurprisingly, Nissan has opted to replace the naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 with a 2.0-litre variable-compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engine, which is also found in the Infiniti QX50/QX55 and expected to land in the Pathfinder in the near future. In theory, it’s supposed to maximize both power and fuel economy, but the results are hardly conclusive. While potent enough at 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, the 2025 Murano proves less fuel-efficient than a 280-horsepower Mazda CX-70 featuring an inline six-cylinder engine.

The great news is that the 2.0-litre VC-Turbo engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission instead of a CVT. Despite some hesitations at times, the new gearbox definitely makes acceleration more pleasant than with the QX50, whose CVT operates like a total buzzkill.

Featuring all-wheel drive as standard, the new Murano also makes use of an electric power steering system that is more of a disappointment than an improvement, especially for driving enthusiasts. It simply lacks precision and feedback. Fortunately, the vehicle's stability is enhanced by wider tracks and larger wheels, now up to 21 inches. The latter somehow don’t compromise ride quality, which we found to be amazingly smooth. Credit goes to the well-calibrated suspension, extra soundproofing and magnificently sculpted seats.

How Much?

With prices that range from $48,878-$56,528, the 2025 Nissan Murano costs roughly the same as the fully electric Ariya when you factor in existing EV incentives. However, those incentives won’t be around forever (just look at Quebec), so a number of customers shopping for a midsize SUV are likely to turn to the conventionally powered Murano—provided that Nissan offers competitive lease and financing rates, of course.

Exclusively sold in North America, the new Murano is a seriously fine and well-crafted vehicle that’s much more focused on comfort and versatility than performance and handling. It's stable, safe and generously equipped, yet not really exciting to drive—kind of like the smaller Nissan Rogue, but with a more premium and more serene interior environment.