2013 Nissan Murano

The Nissan Murano offers a complete package for many families and hence the 2013 model year sees no change whatsoever barring the inclusion of the modern-day safety driver aids. This means that the 2013 Murano also carries forward its drawbacks which include the limited rearward visibility and the average cargo space. With the prices beginning at an MSRP of $29,285, the Murano is priced very competitively against the likes of the Ford Edge, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Toyota Highlander. 

Nissan offers the Murano in four different trims with only a single engine and transmission combination, a choice to choose between FWD or an AWD drivetrain. That being said, the Murano is offered with plenty of features even with the lower trims while the higher trims offer plenty of premium features and creature comforts to make it feel worth the premium asking price of the vehicle. 

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The prices of the higher trims rise quite a bit and although the base S trim has plenty of features packed in, we recommend opting for the SV trim with the AWD drivetrain. It adds a lot of creature comforts necessary for a modern car and the AWD adds practicality while also keeping the prices in check. 

With no powertrain options available, the 2013 Nissan Murano is powered by a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 under its hood, which is rated at 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a CVT automatic transmission that powers the front wheels while there is also an optional AWD drivetrain available which is every bit worth the minor additional cost. The CVT performs very similarly to a conventional automatic and has very little elastic band feel to it. 

The performance of the 2013 Murano is pretty average for its class as it manages a 0-60 mph sprint in about 8 seconds while the quarter-mile drag run takes over 16 seconds. The maximum towing capacity is limited to 3,500 lbs, which although isn’t exceptional is pretty average for the segment. The suspension and steering setup is well-tuned offering an agile and composed driving experience. 

In terms of performance, the Murano is overshadowed by all of its competitors in some of the other aspects. The Ford Edge is not only more affordable but is also lightning quick in terms of acceleration, while the Jeep Grand Cherokee is only marginally pricier and yet offers impressive towing and off-road capabilities. The Toyota Highlander is the most expensive SUV here, but it is only about half a second quicker than the Murano and also lacks in terms of towing prowess. 

The sedate performance from the V6 engine of the Murano might imply higher frugality for many, but that too is not the reality here. The EPA has rated the 2013 Nissan Murano for about 20 mpg of combined fuel economy for both the FWD and AWD drivetrains. The large 21.7-gallon fuel tank comes in as a savior, offering over 400 miles of combined city and highway driving range on a single tank of gas. 

The Ford Edge has the lowest fuel consumption in this comparison but it also employs a much smaller gas tank which limits its driving range by a lot. The Grand Cherokee has the largest gas tank to offer to compensate for the low fuel efficiency, which it does well as it offers the longest driving range here. The Toyota Highlander has identical fuel economy ratings as that of the Murano but the smaller fuel tank capacity translates to frequent gas station visits.

The cabin of the 2013 Nissan Murano is an attractive and comfortable place to be in. The appealing design is further enhanced by the premium materials quality and the fact that Nissan did not try to be trendy with over-the-top designs is worth appreciating. The controls are very well placed and are very intuitive to use as well while Nissan has covered most of the touchpoints with leather for that added premium appeal.

There is plenty of room up front for the passengers and even the rear passengers can be very comfortable in spite of the limited legroom, thanks to the standard reclining rear seats. Ambient cabin lighting and heated rear seats with rear AC vents add to the luxurious feel of the car. The 31.6 cu-ft of luggage space at the back should suffice most needs of its buyers and folding down the rear seat can open up a maximum of 64 cu-ft of cargo space. 

Only the Toyota Highlander offers a third row of seats here, but the space at the back end is very cramped and is best suited only for younger kids. That limits the cargo space to just 10.3 cu-ft behind the third row, but folding them down opens up an impressive 42.3 cu-ft of space. Ford Edge offers the most spacious passenger quarters while the Jeep has a slightly better luggage space. 

• 8-way power driver seat with power lumbar support and memory function
• 4-way power passenger seat
• Heated front bucket seats with adjustable active head restraints
• 60/40 fold-flat reclining heated rear bench seat with pwr return feature
• Leather seat trim & door inserts with Leather shift knob
• Power tilt/telescopic steering column with memory
• Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise & audio controls
• Dual-zone automatic temperature control with rear HVAC vents
• Ambient interior lighting

How intuitive is the 2013 Nissan Murano SUV’s infotainment unit?

Nissan offers the 7-inch infotainment system as standard across its trims and in fact packs in most of its features as standard as well. The interface of the system is on par with the segment and offers features like Bluetooth and iPod connectivity alongside satellite radio. The Bose audio system with dual subwoofers adds oomph to the SUV but isn’t as impressive as we would expect a Bose audio system to be. 

• A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 9-speaker Bose audio system with dual subwoofers
• iPod connectivity
• AMFM/CD Player

The rounded and curvaceous exterior design has now become a trend for many crossovers and the Murano has stayed true to its original design even today after around a decade. The bulging front bumper with angular grille and headlights isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing design but doesn’t look weird as well. The raked front windshield, stylish wheels, and roof rails all add to the sporty appeal of the Murano, while the large glass window area makes the interior feel airy. 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the largest SUV here and hence also weighs the most. The Ford Edge on the other hand is the shortest and yet weighs more than the Murano. Toyota has done well to fit in the third row of seats with the dimensions being similar to the Murano. Murano rides closest to the ground while the Grand Cherokee has the highest ground clearance to offer. 

• Auto on/off HID xenon headlights
• LED rear lights
• Power heated outside mirrors with driver-side memory
• Power liftgate
• Dual panel power moonroof
• Roof rails with silver accents
• 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels

The 4-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and the decent report in the crash tests conducted by the IIHS for the 2013 model year showcases the high levels of safety standards offered by the Nissan Murano. Nissan is also offering modern driver assistance features like lane departure warning and blind-spot detection with the Nissan Murano alongside various other safety functions, a highlight of which is listed below. 

• Vehicle dynamic control system (VDC)
• Front & rear crumple zones
• Nissan advanced airbag system (AABS)
• Active head restraints
• Lane-departure warning
• Blind-spot detection and rear cross-path detection
• Rear back up camera with a 7-inch color monitor
• Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

The Nissan Murano is an exciting prospect for a family car buyer as it not stays within the budget for most of them but also offers plenty of creature comforts, an attractive cabin, and a handful of modern-day safety features. The performance is decent and ride quality is also supple, perfect for city driving and highway cruising. If the low fuel efficiency and the marginally smaller trunk is a sacrifice that you are willing to make, the 2013 Murano could serve you and your family well.