The Nissan Murano is by far the best vehicle I've owned. I've taken the car on road trips down the coast and through the mountains and it drove flawlessly. Even on the roughest parts of the road it was a smooth ride and quiet inside. The stock sound system isn't bad either. For not having big subwoofers and all the other components, the sound is amazing and the bass will bump. One of the downsides about the sound system is the screen used to control the audio and air conditioning is not used for anything else. By this I mean it doesn't have navigation, blue tooth, color, or any other features you would find in a car similar. The gas mileage on the Murano isn't half bad either. On the highway I average somewhere in the upper 20's and in town I average in the lower 20's.
DC
Jacksonville, Florida
5.0
Has been a great car
I purchased the vehicle used from a local used/new car dealer. The overall appearance was the initial thing that attracted me to the vehicle, however, after driving it I also appreciated the performance and handling characteristics.
I delved a little deeper and discovered that it has a 3500lb towing capacity, pretty much unheard of for smallish crossover SUVs. (I can tow a small boat, U-Haul trailer, etc., no problem!) Power everything, heated leather seats and an awesome factory sound system with subwoofers in the back. I've had the car over 10 years and 110k miles with no major issues whatsoever, only your typical wear and tear items like brakes/tires/belts/etc. Overall, this vehicle has been great, especially compared to the domestic sedan it replaced which had required a transmission rebuild at 60k.
A couple of things could use improvement, however.
Although having full power controls and heating on the them, the front seats could be more supportive and contoured. After a couple hours of driving I am dying to stretch my legs. The overall ergonomics of the posture seem to be better suited to a shorter person. (5'8 Or less)
Some of the plastics on the dash have discolored unevenly from the sun, no cracking, but it does seem kind of cheaply. As well, you can see the outline of the passenger side airbag through the dash covering and one of the visors won't stay up anymore. Minor issues, but worth mentioning.
Fuel economy seems average, not great, but not terrible. I get about 20mpg combined (mostly city). I'm not sure how that compares to other vehicles in its size/weight/engine.
TB
03030
4.0
Luxury Ride but Costly Repairs
The Murano is luxurious with leather heated seats, a leather gripped steering wheel, and a Bose stereo. The front seats are electric and the rear seats recline easily. It's easy to fold the rear seat down for extra hauling space. The gas mileage averages 18 to 19 mpg with combined city/hwy driving. I've seen 23 mpg on hwy trips. The ride is very comfortable for short trips and long trips. The handling is great. There's power when you need fast acceleration and braking is great. The downside to this luxury vehicle - maintenance costs. Not long after purchase, we realized the dealership had turned the tires around so we wouldn't see the dry-rot. The tires run about $800. Right after that, we had an issue with the power steering that is apparently common with this vehicle - that was another $1000 bucks. And to top it off, both front power windows went out at once and we've been quoted $1100 to replace both motors. So on the one hand, you can't beat the drive and the luxury that comes with the Murano. On the other hand, repairs are pricey. For the price, the inside noise while on the highway is a little much. If you turn the stereo up, you don't notice it as much, but holding a conversation means turning off the radio. I think this is the most fun car I've driven. It handles curves well and hugs the road. There is, however, a blind spot out the right side of the windshield when turning left. Also, blind spots with cars right beside you but slightly back. You can't see them in the side mirrors or the rearview mirror.
Nissan Murano News
Autolist Editorial
Nissan Murano Generations
See all Nissan Murano generations here. The Murano is a midsize crossover SUV that slots between the compact Rogue and the three-row Pathfinder in Nissan's crossover lineup.