Cars and the car industry are night-and-day different from how they were in 2014. Yet, that’s when Nissan last gave us an all-new Murano. So it’s no surprise that the redesigned 2025 Murano looks radically different both inside and out—and not just in the way it’s styled, but in the technology under the skin.
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Many of changes will win over new buyers, including improvements to the levels of standard luxury and convenience technology. But some owners of the current car might be disappointed to discover certain decisions Nissan’s engineers have made that almost look like backward steps.
So, let’s dive into five key things you need to know about the 2025 Nissan Murano.
#1 Design Cues From Ariya – With a Hint of Ferrari Daytona
Nissan resisted the temptation to take the Murano down the EV route, but it wasn’t above pinching some design ideas from its electric Ariya. The front grille’s big grin and slim LED headlights are very similar to the Ariya’s, though here they’re separated by a body-color strip of plastic, that makes it look like a Ferrari Daytona or its 12cilindri modern equivalent if you squint a bit. Okay, squint a lot.
Move to side, though, and the Murano is far more interesting than its EV sister, with pronounced muscularity to the rear arches. You might even call it handsome.
#2 Dual Screens And Massaging seats
The Ariya influence extends to the cabin, though it’s no carbon copy. Every one of the three trims (SV, SL, Platinum) gets active noise cancellation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a pair of 12.3-inch dashboard screens – one for gauge duties, the second an infotainment touchscreen.
Built-in Google tech including Maps, Assistant and the Play store are all standard on the upper two trims, which also get a Bose hifi. Step up to the top-spec Platinum and you unlock semi-analine leather chairs with a massage function.
#3 The CVT Is Out, A 9-Speed Auto Is In
Good news: the droning CVT that was the only transmission available on the old SUV has been put out to pasture, and not a moment too soon (more like nine years too late). In its place comes a nine-speed auto, and you get that whether you specify front- or all-wheel drive. It’s a true automatic, not a dual-clutch transmission, so should have buttery smooth city manners.
#4 V6 Says Goodbye, Turbo’d 4-Cylinder Steps In
The more controversial mechanical ‘upgrade’ is the substitution of the old 3.5-liter V6 for a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four. It’s controversial because the new motor makes 241 hp (244 PS), which is down 19 hp (19 PS) on the old V6. On the plus side torque has risen 20 lb-ft (27 Nm) to 260 lb-ft (353 Nm), so it could still feel snappier in passing situations and the 1,500-lb (2,034 kg) tow rating is unchanged. But so, you might be surprised and disappointed to learn, is the 23 mpg gas mileage.
#5 Off-Road Performance Gets A Boost
You don’t buy a Murano for serious off-road work; it’s built for life in the concrete jungle, not the leafy kind. But a couple of changes should mean it’s more capable in both environments.
One is a camera-based see-through hood that enables the driver to view what’s going on at front-wheel level when they can’t see it with their own eyes. The tech is useful when crawling over rough terrain but it’s also useful in parking garages and when exiting uphill intersections. The other feature is the 2025 model’s additional ride height. An extra 1.4 inches (35.6 mm) increases the amount of fresh air between the road and floorpan to 8.3 inches (211 mm).