2022 Nissan Murano

If you are interested in buying Nissan Murano, we suggest that you go for Platinum trim. Along with all the features which other trims offer, Platinum provides a sense of luxury and safety which you generally get from high-end luxury cars. Therefore with $47,000, you can bring home the top model of Nissan Murano which certainly is worthy enough to be the best in its segment.

There will be only 4 trims available for the 2022 Nissan Murano same as last year. These go by the name S, SV, SL, and Platinum. Prices for the same are expected to start from an MSRP of $33,000 and go all the way up to $47,000. All trims are available in both AWD and FWD variants. A common 3.5L V6 engine will be shared by all the trims. There won’t be any additional engine choices on offer in the 2022 Nissan Murano.

Coming to the features on offer, the 2022 Murano SV trim gets Heated leatherette seats as standard, whereas Nissan also offers a Midnight Edition package for all the trims, with black wheels and further dark styling elements. Further additional packages and optional extras are also on offer, as and when you pay a premium for it.

Drivers have plenty of power on tap, and braking is predictable - Motortrend

Because of the limited engine options with the current model, we can expect Nissan to introduce more efficient engine options or even a Hybrid powertrain with the 2023 MY. For now, the Murano is expected to come with a 3.5L V6 engine producing 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. The engine will be paired to a CVT transmission that sends power to the front wheels. AWD is also available on all models by paying extra. Like the engine setup, the Murano feels stable at highway speeds with good feedback from the steering. The Murano can also tow up to 1500 pounds but it is far less than the vehicles in the same segment.

The engine is powerful and smooth but the crude CVT transmission is a letdown with sluggish performance and low response. The Nissan Murano takes 7.3 seconds to hit 60 MPH which is surprisingly slow for a V6 setup and crosses the quarter-mile in 15.6 seconds. In comparison, the Honda Passport with a similar engine setup blitzes the Murano, reaching 60 MPH in just 6.2 seconds and is the fastest in its class. Even with its smaller powertrain on offer, the Hyundai Santa Fe manages to reach 60 MPH in just 7.0 seconds, which is even faster than the Murano.

Handling is also better than expected for a mid-size crossover, but don’t expect to go corner carving in the Murano. The Nissan Murano feels at home on long highway trips where the speed is constant and the transmission is working smoothly with low stress. Daily duties are also handled well as long as the acceleration is smooth and not rushed.

With the current 3.5L V6 engine, EPA estimates for the 2022 Nissan Murano stand at 20 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. The Murano also gets a large 19-gallon tank, providing an impressive highway range of 532 miles. This is with the FWD setup. Opt for the Intelligent AWD system, and those figures remain the same as that of the FWD setup.

With a more efficient engine option expected for 2023, the efficiency figures will be significantly improved. The Hyundai Santa Fe leads the pack with a combined 26 MPG rating, and despite its smaller 18.8-gallon fuel tank, the 2022 Santa Fe is able to stretch out to 451 miles on the go. The Honda Passport EX-L sits last in the bunch with a combined 22 MPG.

The Murano's cabin is among the nicest, most well-equipped interiors in this comparison and is more luxe than most of the other Nissan products - Car and Driver

With the expected redesign, the interiors will get an upgrade with a lot more features. Despite its age, the interiors of the current Murano still look and feel top class mostly because of Nissan’s excellent zero gravity front seats which are the best in class. The higher trim levels get soft-touch leather everywhere, from the seats to the door panels to the armrests. The dashboard still looks modern with a swooping and curvy design and wooden trim outlines. Move onto the back seats and there is plenty of space with a well-cushioned bench seat.

The 2022 Murano gets zero-gravity front seats which are well cushioned and very comfortable even for long journeys. The middle passenger gets a headrest and three-point seatbelt. The rear seats can also be reclined for more comfort. Semi-aniline leather-appointed seats with diamond-quilted inserts are available only for the top trim. The seating capacity is common in all of Murano’s rivals. Legroom space is comfortable for the front row but the rear row lacks legroom space as compared to fellow competitors.

The current Nissan Murano lags in terms of cargo capacity compared to more accomplished rivals like the Honda Passport and Hyundai Santa Fe. The newer expected 2023 design could get a more boxy appearance which could translate to improved cargo capacity.

All models of the Murano get an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with NIssanConnect software and plenty of functions including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, voice recognition, and Bluetooth. Higher trims like SL and Platinum get a Bose premium audio system with 11 speakers including dual subwoofers. Travel link with traffic updates is available for 3 months trial for the SL and Platinum trim.

Some notable interior features include the following:

• 8-inch NissanConnect infotainment system
• Heated steering wheel
• Reclining rear seatbacks with center armrest 
• Android Auto and Apple Carplay connectivity
• Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition 
• SiriusXM travel link with traffic updates
• Voice recognition
• Steering wheel-mounted cruise control 
• Driver’s seat and outside mirrors position memory system
• Bose premium audio system with 11-speaker and dual subwoofers

The Nissan Murano is a sedate and comfortable car despite its aggressive and sporty design. All models get LED headlights with DRLs and chrome door handles to improve their looks. Higher trims also get a moonroof and roof rails, further enhancing the looks. 20-inch alloy wheels have been provided for the SL and Platinum trim while S and SL trim possess 18-inch alloy wheels. For 2022, the Murano also gets treated with a Midnight Edition package with black wheels.

We can expect the 2023 model to receive Nissan’s new styling which was shown on the all-electric Ariya concept with swooping LED DRLs, quad-LED headlights, and a large grille. The rear design gets a light bar across the tailgate extending to the sides. The current generation is still a looker with bold styling and the signature V-shaped grille with silver accents.

The 2021 Honda Passport is the heaviest one among all opponents of the 2022 Nissan Murano, yet it still turns out to be the fastest in the segment. Murano has the largest wheelbase with a dimension of 111.2 inches than any of its rivals. But low ground clearance of 6.9 inches is still an issue when the car is on uneven and rough terrain. Also, The 2022 Nissan Murano is expected to bring more exterior color and add-on coating options for the lower-trim models.

Some notable exterior features include the following:

• Bold V-shaped grille
• Active Grille Shutters 
• LED headlights and taillights
• Automatic headlights with LED DRLs
• LED fog lights
• Dual panel panoramic moonroof
• Motion-activated liftgate

Nissan hasn’t skimped on safety with the current 2022 Murano, and we can expect even more safety additions with the new model. The 2022 Nissan Murano doesn’t have a safety rating and evaluation from NHTSA but we can have an idea with the 2021 model data. The 2021 Nissan Murano received a full 5 stars in overall safety rating. The 2021 Murano also bagged the coveted “Top Safety Pick+” Title from the IIHS. All models of the Murano come equipped with Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 which comes with a plethora of active safety features. Child Safety Locks, Electronic Stability Control, multiple airbags, and ABS are some of the standard safety features. Higher trim levels also get traffic sign recognition, surround-view monitor, front and rear park assist, and intelligent cruise control.

Some active and passive safety features included in the 2022 Nissan Murano are:

• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Intelligent Lane Intervention
• Blind-spot warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rearview monitor
• Rear automatic braking
• Hill-start assist
• High beam assist
• Intelligent driver alertness

2022 Nissan Murano vs 2021 Honda Passport

The Honda Passport looks more modern and contemporary, and it also has better more performance and cargo space. The Nissan Murano hits back with a more feature-rich cabin and more fuel economy. So it’s a close race between Murano and Passport. But the new Murano could improve in both cargo space and performance since the Passport will be a carryover model for 2022.

2022 Nissan Murano vs 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe

Compared to Santa Fe, which has not been rated by NHTSA on safety grounds, the Murano is the safer of the two as per IIHS and NHTSA ratings. Murano also keeps the odds in its favor with more horsepower and torque. The Santa Fe SE on the other hand trumps the Murano with a more comfortable ride, better fuel efficiency, improved cargo space, and ease of use. Overall, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Murano are lacking in different aspects. It is your choice which car to choose depending on which aspect you prefer more.

The Nissan Murano SUV has always been an underdog in the mid-size SUV segment because of its age. But there are a lot of changes slated for the 2023 model from a thorough redesign to a more efficient powertrain and several feature additions. The new 2023 Nissan Murano could give it a significant boost and address issues like the limited cargo space and engine options. With these changes, Murano can easily surpass the rivals in the areas it was lacking. The 2022 Murano already comes with a plethora of safety features as standard with the new model slated to get even more. Overall, with the release of the new model, and even with only minor changes being brought about, the 2022 Murano will make an excellent family crossover.