Nissan Murano

With an abundance of interior room and high-quality interior materials, the 2022 Nissan Murano's strengths are typical for the midsize SUV class. Now in this generation's eighth year of production, however, the 2022 Murano is past its prime. Though not a terrible vehicle on its own, the Murano pales in comparison to its direct rivals, which are generally newer and offer features not present on the Murano.

Even the Murano's smaller sibling, the Nissan Rogue, shows how SUV design has moved on. Nissan redesigned the Rogue last year, and an increase in front and rear legroom was one of its many upgrades over the previous iteration. The Rogue's legroom is now virtually identical to that of the Murano. The Rogue even boasts more cargo space than the Murano, a newer infotainment system, and more of the latest advanced driver aids.

Unless you absolutely need the extra oomph afforded by the Murano's V6, the Rogue offers more bang for the buck. And if you do want extra power or the latest in features, other midsize SUVs such as the Honda Passport and Hyundai Santa Fe are more compelling. Read our Expert Rating for a full breakdown of the Murano's hits and misses.

What's it like to live with?

We tested a 2015 Nissan Murano and drove it for an entire year, documenting all our ups and downs with this comfy midsize SUV. Not much has changed with the Murano since then, so our impressions are just as relevant today. If you're thinking of buying a Nissan Murano, make sure to check out our long-term test page, where we cover everything from some surprising maintenance costs to the joys of ventilated seats.

Which Murano does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Nissan Murano is a midsize SUV offered in four trims: S, SV, SL and Platinum. A 3.5-liter V6 engine (260 horsepower, 240 lb-ft) comes standard on all trim levels and is matched to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are available across the range. Feature highlights include:

S The entry-level Murano S starts you off with:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Keyless entry and ignition
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Six-speaker audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility
• Satellite radio
• Four USB ports

Every Murano also comes with a suite of advanced driving aids. Features include:

• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
• Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
• Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)

SV Stepping up to the SV level adds:

• Remote engine start
• LED foglights
• Heated mirrors
• Roof rails
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Heated and power-adjustable front seats
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Front parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Nissan and the car in front)

The SV's unique Midnight Edition package includes:

• 20-inch black wheels
• Blacked-out exterior styling elements, such as the grille, roof rails and mirror caps

SL Compared to the SV, the Murano SL gains:

• 20-inch wheels
• Hands-free liftgate
• Driver's seat memory settings
• Ambient interior lighting
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated rear seats
• Leather upholstery
• Navigation system
• 11-speaker Bose audio system
• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Murano and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

A panoramic sunroof is available as a stand-alone option for the SL.

Platinum Tops the Murano lineup with:

• Panoramic sunroof
• Power-adjustable steering wheel
• Ventilated front seats
• Upgraded leather
• NissanConnect emergency notification services