2021 Nissan Murano

History/Overview

In 2003, Nissan’s Murano was among the first mid-size crossovers to take the mainstream segment upscale. The Murano’s second generation arrived in 2009, and a third-gen design debuted for 2015.

What’s New/Key Changes From Last Year

For 2021, the Murano is standard with Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assists, which was optional last year.

Available Trims

Nissan offers the Murano in S, SV, SL, Midnight Edition and Platinum trim levels. Common to all is a 3.5L V6 engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). S has front-wheel drive, while all other trims use AWD.

Standard Features

S trim’s exterior comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, auto on/off LED headlights/taillights, black roof rails, heated/power-adjustable side mirrors with turn signal repeaters, and passive keyless entry. Inside, you get a 7.0-inch driver info display, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone automatic A/C, and a six-speaker stereo with satellite radio.

Murano S’s safety kit comprises a driver alertness monitor, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane departure intervention, automatic high beams, rear cross traffic alert, rear door alert, rear parking sensors, and forward and rear collision detection with automatic braking.

SV trim adds a panoramic sunroof, a hands-free tailgate, navigation, 360-degree camera views, a garage door remote, intelligent cruise control, remote engine start, a power driver’s seat, leather shifter trim, traffic sign recognition, and moving object detection.

SL models gain 20-inch wheels, silver roof rails, driver’s seat position memory, an auto-dimming mirror, ambient interior lighting, a power front passenger seat, heated rear seats, leather upholstery, a heated/leather-trimmed steering wheel, an 11-speaker sound system, and front parking sensors.

Midnight Edition trim gets black wheels and roof rails, lighted kick plates, and various other black exterior touches.

Platinum models add dark silver wheels and silver roof rails, Nissan Connect services, electric steering wheel adjustments, lighted front kick plates, ventilated front seats, quilted leather seating, and dark wood interior trim.

Fuel Economy

Nissan’s fuel consumption estimates for the Murano are 11.7/8.3 L/100 km (city/highway) for the S FWD model, and 11.7/8.5 L/100 km for AWD versions.

Competition

The rest of the auto industry has only recently caught up to the Murano’s combination of mid-size, five-seat crossover practicality and slick styling. More recent adherents to that formula are the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, the Chevrolet Blazer, and Toyota’s Venza. The Murano also competes with more conventional mid-size models, like the Ford Edge, Hyundai’s Santa Fe, the Subaru Outback, and Honda’s Passport. The Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-9 also line up well, though these models offer three-row seating.