Unleash the Ultimate Road Experience: 2025 Nissan Murano First Drive Review Revealed
2025 Nissan Murano First Drive Review: You Can Stop Pretending
The midsize crossover segment is a crowded one, with a multitude of options vying for attention. But what if you’re not interested in off-road adventures or four-wheeling escapades? What if you just want a stylish daily driver to get you around (sub)urban America? Enter the 2025 Nissan Murano, a redesigned crossover that’s focused squarely on serving an audience that’s been overlooked in the rush to ruggedize every vehicle on the market.
A City Slicker’s Delight
The Murano’s new design is a subtle one, with a slightly longer and wider body that still manages to look sleek and modern. The interior is just as refined, with comfortable seating for five and a generous cargo area. The Murano’s strength lies in its ability to cater to a demographic that’s been ignored in the off-road craze – people who don’t need a vehicle that can conquer the desert, but still want a stylish and reliable companion for their daily commutes.
Aiming for the Blazer and Passport
The Murano’s target audience is clear: it’s gunning for the Chevrolet Blazer and Honda Passport, both of which are same-same but different. The Blazer, with its lower base price of $36,795, is less focused on elegance and more on perceived sportiness – a strategy that’s not without its appeal. And as for the Passport, whose entry-level EX-L trim starts at $43,795, leans into that ruggedness with a top TrailSport model. But the Murano’s ethos is different, especially as it’s set to launch with a focus on refinement and comfort.
Early Verdict
People will buy the 2025 Nissan Murano simply because it’s a stylish crossover, and I won’t blame them for it. It’s really the only offering at this level that focuses so specifically on around-town life, and if that’s what you’re looking for, I don’t reckon you’ll be disappointed in the product itself. It’s pricey, with a roughly $42,000 starting price and $50,000-plus ceiling, but looking at the competition, it’s right in line.
Specifications
- Base Price (Platinum as tested): $41,860 ($50,990)
- Powertrain: 2.0-liter turbo-four | 9-speed automatic | front- or all-wheel drive
- Horsepower: 241 @ 5,600 rpm
- Torque: 260 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Cargo Volume: 32.9 cubic feet behind second row | 63.5 cubic feet behind first row
- Curb Weight: 4,193-4,438 pounds
- EPA Fuel Economy: 21 mpg city | 27 highway | 23 combined
- Quick Take: It proves a crossover can still be smooth and sleek when it doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not.
- Score: 7.5/10
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