2025 Nissan Murano Review: Improved, But Is It Enough?

What Is The 2025 Nissan Murano?

For 2025, the Nissan Murano received an extensive redesign, featuring a classy interior and sleek exterior. Along with more safety and technology, the new generation makes Nissan’s bread-and-butter crossover much fresher and more competitive in the knife-fight that is the midsize segment.

The Murano I tested arrived in Platinum trim with all-wheel drive, with a few options and destination charges; this crossover cost $54,525.

How Does The 2025 Nissan Murano Drive?

Nissan heavily emphasized the interior for the launch of the fourth-generation Murano, pitching it as a sanctuary. I think that’s overselling it, but it’s very nice in there, especially in this top trim. This Murano was done up in a scheme called Twilight Blue, which means you get classy blue semi-aniline leather seats and a dark gray dashboard. Watch my interior review video, and you’ll see I like the layout with the vents and speakers integrated into the design.

The dual 12.3-inch screens are appropriately sized, meaning you can see what you need to see, but it’s not overwhelming or tech for tech’s sake. It’s a midsize crossover, so cupholders and consoles matter, and the Murano held my wallet, keys, and coffee easily. One Tuesday night, I decided to run to the library as darkness fell, and I was impressed with the ambient glow and premium feel the Murano exuded.

The Google-powered infotainment is decent. Nissan’s not the only one that has gone this route. The screens are a little dense to operate, and they’re far enough away from the driver that there’s a bit of distraction as you learn how to toggle between things. I also didn’t love the pseudo buttons for temperature, which provide haptic feedback. Aesthetically, it’s a nice touch, but they take a tenth of a second more to mentally calibrate, and I found myself jabbing at them at times.

There are privacy screens in back, which my 7-year-old always likes, for some reason. Despite the angled roofline, the second row has ample headroom for adults. The cargo area swallowed the weekly grocery run easily and accommodated two sets of golf clubs. After 18 holes that ended with storms threatening, the seat heaters soothed my back after a round that featured good drives and putts, but bizarre fairway play.

The 241-hp variable compression turbo four is a solid engine, and it works well with the nine-speed automatic transmission. The 280-lb-ft of torque delivers a bit of grunt during acceleration, and it’s a smooth, quiet powertrain. The VC turbo is a selling point for Nissan. There’s no hybrid, though, which is something some of its competitors offer.

The Murano’s design works for me. It’s attractive—one of the better-looking crossovers in the segment—and recalls the sporty models of 10-15 years ago when the company really had things humming under Shiro Nakamura’s elite stylings. The 2025 Murano has long proportions, cool ‘Crystal Cube” LED headlights, and a sleek greenhouse. If the Maxima sedan were still around, this is not far off from where it would have landed in appearance. When the Murano is relevant, design is one of its key calling cards

Should I Buy The 2025 Nissan Murano?

I would recommend it for consideration, but it’s not my No. 1 pick. I like the Honda Passport a bit more, though the Murano has more character than the Honda Pilot. I also put the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride a notch above the Murano, and things like the Jeep Grand Cherokee are more interesting than the Murano. So middle of the pack. I like Nissan’s updates, and I think the Murano is one of the more attractive crossovers on the market. It’s a decent deal. But again, this segment is a knife fight.

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