Is the New Nissan Murano Worthy of the Long, Long Wait for Its Arrival?

The Nissan Murano has always been one of the more intriguing SUVs in the company’s lineup and the midsize SUV segment. The fourth generation continues the tradition of styling designed to stand out from the crowd. The 2025 Murano is an attractive vehicle, and the update is overdue—Nissan introduced the third generation for the 2015 model year. As so much time goes by, speculation begins about whether it will get a new life cycle at all. In this case, the delay was because Nissan planned to reinvent the Murano as an EV, but the carmaker created the Ariya instead, which stole the resources and delayed the Murano’s refresh.

Worth the wait? The new model is more premium than anything Nissan has built in decades. It’s wider, with a new elegant look including its simulated “Murano Glass” trim color that shifts hues in the light. Its more upscale and well-appointed interior is like the Ariya’s, with a larger 12.3-inch infotainment screen with Google Built-In, a matching driver screen, and a color head-up display. Embedded touch-sensitive buttons in the simulated wood trim (the Ariya uses real wood) make it feel special, as do the orchestral notes when you turn the SUV on and off.

The cabin, with its chocolate brown quilted leather and nice layout for phones and USB, drive modes, and other key functions, is a quiet and serene place. The piano-key gearshift also frees up interior space. The “zero gravity” seats are comfortable and cooled, with massage function in the front. The roomy second-row seats are heated and surrounded by USB outlets, air vents, one seat-back pocket, and ambient lighting. The cargo area is large, as well.

However, riding on the same decade-old Nissan D platform with an aging suspension, the SUV is plagued by vibrations and poor body control, and you feel every bump through a chassis unsettled on uneven surfaces.

It’s now powered by Nissan's 2.0-liter variable-compression turbo I-4, which provides more torque but less horsepower than the 3.5-liter V-6 it replaces. There is no hybrid option.

A nine-speed automatic transmission replaces the unloved CVT, and our judges were divided about the result. Some said it’s a much better partner for the VC-Turbo engine, completely changing the powertrain’s character and making it much more responsive; it even downshifts under braking in Sport mode. Others deemed the Murano loud, slow to respond, jerky at slow speeds, and prone to upshifting too early. “Between the turbocharger, variable compression, and transmission, getting the acceleration you ask for is a matter of waiting,” associate editor Alex Leanse said. But refinement aside, enough power is present.

Overall, the Murano handles well and is equipped with Nissan’s ProPilot driver assist system, which is a proven quantity.

This is a well-appointed, relatively premium vehicle with a starting price of less than $42,000, and a well-equipped Platinum AWD model is just more than $53,000. With its aging suspension and sometimes rough powertrain, it may not be a good choice for enthusiasts, but less discerning buyers will appreciate it.

This review was conducted as part of our 2026 SUV of the Year (SUVOTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.