Nissan unveils the 2025 Murano as it attempts to give buyers a “road-going sanctuary” in an attempt to boost sales and give the CUV newfound levels of luxury and refinement.
Nissan is moving the Murano in a more premium direction for 2025 with the exterior styling getting a cleaner look.
The Nissan Murano is supposed to be one of Nissan’s strong sellers with the CUV expected to be a potent player in the hotly contested utility vehicle segment. However, all has not gone according to plan with the aging Murano rapidly becoming an afterthought in a segment where evolution and constant updates have raised the stakes for automakers who have to now contend with higher expectations from buyers.
The Japanese auto giant is out to change that with the 2025 Murano which not only debuts new exterior styling but is also bringing more luxury and technology into its cabin to lure in comfort buyers looking to blur the line between mainstream value and sensible luxury.
Exterior styling attempts to make Murano cool again
The new suit of clothes is attempting to inject more vigor into the Murano which was sorely lacking in its predecessor.
The outgoing Murano made its debut all the way back in 2015 so Nissan had plenty to work with when it came time to finally update the model for 2025. The exterior styling is the most controversial aspect of the new Murano with the front fascial now getting a two-piece grille with thin lights occupying the upper section of the grille. A large bar divides it and the wing-shaped LED running lights and the Nissan logo are in the lower portion of the piece. The new model also maintains the “V-Motion” design theme but it’s not as garish as it was on the outgoing model.
The rest of the exterior gets cleaner styling with the rear fascia getting new taillights with a thin lightbar now unifying both ends of the liftgate. The 2025 Murano also gets 21-inch wheels for the first time but the stylish hoops will be reserved for the Platinum models only. The license plate cutout gets relocated to the bottom of the rear fascia and the coupe-like profile that has always been a Murano signature is enhanced with additional pieces of chrome trim.
Murano interior gets more tech
The Murano’s interior also gets heavily revamped with more technology and luxury features especially on Platinum models.
The Murano’s interior has also been heavily redesigned with the cabin getting two large digital displays. The Murano also removes nearly all of its physical controls and what’s not controlled through the screen is done through haptic feedback controls just below the infotainment screen which is similar to what we have already seen in the Ariya EV. Google Built-In is also included as part of the Murano’s Tech Package and it also adds Nissan’s ProPilot Assist 1.1 with Invisible Hood View and a 3D Intelligent Around View camera system.
The digital instrument cluster is configurable and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard equipment. Certain trim levels also get a full-color heads-up display system and active sound cancellation but the 10-speaker Bose audio system is an optional extra. Nissan says that the Murano is slightly bigger than before and look for some of that added size to make room in the second-row seats a bit more tolerable than before.
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Goodbye CVT
Nissan has addressed a long-running customer complaint with the CVT and the old V6 being benched for a new four-cylinder and a nine-speed automatic.
While the interior gets top honors for its extreme makeover, the new powertrain actually comes very close to dethroning it for the title of “Most Improved.” The moldy V6 and the unloved CVT that came with it are all benched with the 2025 model getting Nissan’s 2.0-liter variable compression equipped turbocharged four-cylinder which comes equipped with a nine-speed automatic. This engine has also seen duty in other Nissan and Infiniti models over the years and it continues to be an attempt to increase fuel economy.
In the case of the Murano, it makes 241 horsepower and while that’s a 19-hp drop from the outgoing model, torque is up by 20 lb-ft. Front-wheel drive continues to be the standard drive layout but buyers looking for more four-season capability can switch it out for the optional all-wheel drive system. While the engine itself is not going to light the world on fire, the addition of the nine-speed automatic takes a very large ball and chain off the Murano’s leg and is perhaps a sign that the company is finally listening to angry consumers who have wanted the CVT axed for years due to its shift logic software and expensive service costs.
The 2025 Nissan Murano will go on sale early next year with the company releasing pricing closer to its on-sale date. Look for pricing to creep upward as a result but the Murano will still be firmly in the hunt with rivals from Toyota, Hyundai, and Chevrolet.
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