2025 Nissan Murano Up Close: Modernized Murano
Nissan’s redesigned 2025 Murano hit the show floor at the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show looking far more up to date than its predecessor. Borrowing styling cues first seen on the redesigned Kicks, as well as the Ariya all-electric SUV, the Murano is suddenly relevant again in the competitive mid-size SUV class.
Related: More 2024 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
Higher-Tech Inside
Dual 12.3-inch displays dominate the Murano’s dashboard. One handles instrument panel duties and is configurable to driver preference; the touchscreen display on the right side uses Google Built-In and offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. The design is sleek and, based on experience of these systems in other Nissans, works fairly well.
The climate control panel below the touchscreen, however, is a different story. Borrowing from the Ariya, the panel provides minimal feedback and, at least in the model on the show floor, the whole panel moves with the press of an individual control. The latter could change once production versions go on sale, but it cheapens an otherwise upscale interior.
Comfortable Up Front, Roomy in Back
Up front, the seats are well cushioned and comfortable, and the control layout is mostly intuitive — heated steering-wheel controls to the left of the steering wheel are the sole exception. In back, the materials quality is there and the backseat feels bigger than the last-gen Murano’s, but the seats themselves were overly firm.
New Looks
The previous Murano was an interesting, amorphous blob. This one has much more defined lines and bold styling similar to what we first saw on the Kicks. The new Murano will stand out a lot more among competitors, which may or may not appeal to you. For what it’s worth, though, photos don’t seem to do it any favors; I think it looks much better in person.
No CVT!
The additional good news for shoppers is that this Murano replaces the continuously variable automatic transmission with a nine-speed automatic. The possibly not-so-good news is that the sole engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder. We’ll reserve judgment until we drive it, but the CVT’s behavior was usually best described as “mildly aggravating” and we’ve appreciated a similar shift in the Pathfinder, so we’re being optimistic. Stay tuned for when we drive the new Murano.
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