Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
The Murano comes back swinging with comfort and style
Thoughout its history, Nissan has had plenty of winners. The Frontier is a rugged, old-school delight, the new Z is a joy, the Altima is an underrated bargain gem, and the Rogue Rock Creek is unexpectedly pleasant. Even the latest Armada looks primed to be another hit for the company.
And then there's the Murano — a model that hasn't gotten much recent attention. For 2025, Nissan put the Murano under the knife and gave it a huge glow-up for 2025. Car and Driver reports, "After nearly every other major player in Nissan's lineup has been refreshed or redone, the 2025 Nissan Murano finally gets its day."
After nearly a week of driving it, I can attest the results are positive. Can the new Nissan Murano deliver the sales boost Nissan wants? Time will tell.
Here are five things I liked about it:
Exterior styling
The new Murano's best feature is its exterior styling. It's a showstopper. In my short time with it, multiple people complimented its design. One friend, an avid fan of German luxury SUVs, was shocked when I told him it was a Nissan.
The new Murano is wider, longer and more striking than its predecessor. Its clean lines, sloping roofline, slightly flared fenders and stretched, futuristic-looking face give the Murano a modern, sleek look. Nissan refers to the new Murano as "energetic elegance," and I can certainly see the elegance part.
Motortrend reports, "Viewed at any angle, the new stance will be hard to ignore. Nissan has flared out the fenders to cover wheels as big as 21 inches and in doing so has increased the width of the Murano by a hefty 2.6 inches."
It's Lexus-esque but pulls off its own quasi-luxury vibe quite successfully — which it borrows a bit from its sister, the Ariya. The headlights, widely set grille and wing-shaped daytime running lights are especially well done.
If you're a shopper who values curb appeal above all else, this SUV should be on your shortlist.
Interior styling
The interior styling is just as impressive. It's beautiful, modern, and replete with luxurious materials, especially in the Platinum trim. The dash is elegant, and the multicolored flat shelf is a highlight — and perfect for resting your hand while using the touchscreen (more on that in a moment).
Nissan has also incorporated some of the Ariya's styling cues into the new Murano, like the faux-wood trim that houses capacitive climate controls. This ultra-modern and bold design will be loved by some and loathed by others.
Regardless of its actual functionality, the integrated dash buttons look very cool.
There are two 12-inch displays that Motortrend describes as dominating the impressive interior design. "The center infotainment screen adds new camera displays to the existing optional 360-degree camera, including eight preset 3D views and a feature that lets you see 'through' the hood by stitching multiple camera feeds together. The screens are surrounded by stitched textiles for a softer look and feel and the instrument cluster is framed by a new, flat-bottomed, two-spoke steering wheel."
Exceptional seats
As with other Nissan models, the Murano has fantastic seats. Front and back, Nissan has employed its Zero Gravity seat engineering to create thrones that are truly among the best in the business. If you drive a lot or take longer road trips,
Nissan's seats alone make their vehicles worth your consideration. As Christopher Smith of Motor1 wrote of the seats, "The hype is real."
Heated steering wheel
On cold mornings, the Murano's heated steering wheel was a lifesaver. While some heated steering wheels only ever get mildly warm, this one gets impressively toasty — possibly the warmest I've ever tested.
Comfort and space
If aesthetics are the Murano's top selling point, then comfort and space are its second. The Murano is a surprisingly large mid-size SUV, but it makes up for its larger-than-expected exterior dimensions with impressive space inside.
Up front, there is a lot of knee and shoulder space. Backseat space is likewise accommodating, even for grown adults. Cargo space is plentiful and will swallow pretty much anything you can buy at Costco.
Final thoughts
The mid-size SUV segment is a brutal one with tough competition. The 2025 Nissan Murano excels in its styling, inside and out. It's also very comfortable and more than adequate as a daily driver.
If you're ok with those and in love with the Murano's standout styling and comfort, it's definitely worth checking out.
In conclusion, I echo what David Beard of Car and Driver said at the end of their road test, "It may have taken Nissan a decade to get with the program, but the Murano's across-the-board improvements help shape it into a much stronger contender in the very important mid-size SUV segment. The Murano may not fix all of Nissan's sales woes, but it represents an important step forward."
