What Makes the Nissan Murano Such a Great, Affordable SUV?
This is an excellent question that comes down to a variety of reasons. It’s no secret that the Nissan Murano is a terrific low-price daily driver, but figuring out whether a vehicle is right for you isn’t always easy. It relies on understanding what you’re looking for and need from your next ride. If you want a spacious and comfortable midsize SUV that’s fun to drive and offers impressive fuel efficiency while also going easier on your budget, then it’s a good idea to look at a Nissan Murano for sale and see if it will work for you. Let’s look at the 2024 Murano to see what it offers and compare it to a similar vehicle in the same class, the 2024 Honda Passport, to highlight some of the things that make the Murano such a remarkable machine.
Impressive Performance and Excellent Fuel Efficiency
We’ll admit that performance isn’t necessarily the most important thing to look for in a midsize SUV, but it’s worthwhile since you want something fun to drive. The 2024 Murano is powered by a 3.5L V6, clocking in at 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. Out of the gate, that is a hefty engine for a vehicle like this, featuring Nissan’s unique Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission for an incredibly smooth and responsive drive. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard for the Murano, but all-wheel drive (AWD) is available with Nissan’s Intelligent AWD for enhanced traction and handling.
In addition to a solid engine, transmission, and drivetrain options, the Murano provides fantastic fuel efficiency with an estimated 20 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and 23 MPG combined fuel economy. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a midsize SUV that’s more efficient than that without going to a hybrid model. The Honda Passport, in comparison, gets an estimated 19 MPG in the city, 24 MPG on the highway, and 21 MPG of combined fuel economy. The Murano gets you around longer between stops for gas, especially if you spend a lot of time on the highway each day.
Great Exterior Style and Features
Nothing beats having a good-looking SUV parked in your driveway, which Nissan understands because they make all their vehicles with gorgeous designs that always look great. The Murano has a black front grille, with some models featuring a chrome surround, LED exterior lighting, and large wheels. 18-inch wheels are standard, though many models have 20-inch wheels instead. Higher-level trims such as the Murano SL also feature luxuries such as a sliding and tilting panoramic moonroof that looks great outside and inside. For all trims, you can enjoy standard features such as heated driver- and passenger-side mirrors. Although every model looks terrific, the Midnight Edition is a particular favorite of ours with its black aluminum-alloy wheels, Super Black exterior color, and black exterior badging that all come together to create a gorgeously intimidating look.
A Beautiful and Comfortable Interior
Good looks on the outside are one thing, but a stylish and comfortable interior is absolutely essential for any modern vehicle and is precisely what you’ll find with the 2024 Nissan Murano. Just looking at its standard features, you get impressive creature comforts like leatherette seating, heated front seats with eight-way power adjustable functionality, and an illuminated entry system to welcome you to the driver’s seat, which includes two-way power lumbar support so you can adjust it to fit your body and be incredibly comfortable. The standard leather steering wheel and an auto-dimming rearview mirror help you avoid being blinded by vehicles behind you.
However, the Murano Platinum model takes these features to the next level with elements such as ventilated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. You get full leather seating in the SL model, with semi-aniline leather in the Platinum, taking luxury, comfort, and style to the next level. Considering that these features are comparable to the higher trims of the Honda Passport, which starts at about $3,000 more, you can see just how remarkable Nissan’s SUV is.
Impressive Tech Features
We’ll admit that we’re suckers for great technology in vehicles these days, coming from an age when having a CD player in your car was a big deal. Seeing what is considered a standard feature of a model like the Nissan Murano is always exciting as a demonstration of how far the auto industry has come. Starting features in the Murano include a standard six-speaker sound system, an eight-inch infotainment display, and a second Driver Information Center screen. You get standard illuminated steering wheel-mounted audio controls plus remote engine start through the keyfob and Bluetooth wireless audio streaming.
Looking at higher trims, like the Platinum, you get several upgrades, including an 11-speaker Bose Premium sound system that provides absolutely stunning sound quality on the road or an integrated NissanConnect Navigation system with voice activation, customizable mobile apps, and more great features for you to enjoy. Looking at the Honda Passport, we get an eight-inch infotainment display with an available 10-speaker sound system and similar navigation functionality at a significant price bump and no option for a larger screen. We have to wonder what folks are paying for with the Passport?
Advanced Safety and Driver Assistance
We could talk about great fuel efficiency, impressive Bose sound systems, and gorgeous styling all day, but none of that matters if your vehicle can’t help keep you safe on the road. Fortunately, the Murano includes the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assistance technology as a standard feature on every model, which is the perfect way to ensure your SUV protects you daily. This package includes an Intelligent Forward Collision Warning with Automatic Emergency Braking to alert you to a potential crash and help you avoid it, plus Pedestrian Detection to assist if someone suddenly steps in front of your vehicle. A Rear Collision System with Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Automatic Braking are also included to help you in all kinds of situations.
More familiar features, such as Lane Departure Warning, are standard with the Murano, in addition to Blind Spot Warning and High Beam Assist to help you avoid blinding oncoming drivers. Nissan’s Intelligent Cruise Control is perfect for daily driving and long road trips, and the Intelligent Driver Alertness system can warn you if the Murano detects you might be drowsy or distracted. Available options include a Traffic Sign Recognition system to help you keep track of changes in road conditions, plus an Intelligent Around View Monitor that gives you an enhanced sense of objects around your vehicle that you might not be able to see. These are the features we love in a vehicle that can help protect you and your loved ones.
All This and an Incredible Price
As you can see, there’s a lot to like about the 2024 Nissan Murano, and it should be pretty easy to tell why we’re such big fans of it. What takes all of this to the next level, however, is that the Murano is available right now, starting at just $38,740 MSRP with all of the terrific standard features we looked at.[a] By comparison, something like the 2024 Honda Passport, which has the same infotainment display size, lower fuel efficiency, and similar comfort and tech features, starts at $41,900 MSRP—a difference of more than $3,000. This makes the Murano an incredible value and a remarkably accessible midsize SUV, keeping it at a price that works for you and your family. It also means you can stretch your budget further and consider some upgrades like ventilated seats or the Bose Premium sound system, all while getting a reliable vehicle that you can count on and enjoy day after day.
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