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Caraganza Review 2025 Nissan Murano: Trading Its V6 Soul for a Screen-Filled Future

There was a time I could work on cars. I had the tools, the patience, and just enough knowledge to be dangerous. I once installed a tachometer on a 1968 Pontiac Le Mans with my own two hands—fed the wire through the dash, hooked it up to the distributor, fired it up, and heard the glorious sound of Detroit V8 thunder rip through straight pipes. And the best part? The tach actually worked. It was part science, part witchcraft, and entirely satisfying.

These days, if a digital gauge flickers or a screen goes dark, you need a priest, a diagnostic laptop, and a six-month financing plan. We don’t fix things anymore—we update them. And if that doesn’t work, we replace the whole module and prepare to sell a kidney if the warranty has expired.

That’s kind of where we are with the 2025 Nissan Murano.

Back in 2015, I reviewed what Nissan then billed as “the future” of midsize crossovers. Of course, that future didn’t include robot maids or flying cars—just a well-designed, reasonably priced two-row SUV with a V6 engine, a comfy ride, and enough cargo space for a week’s worth of groceries and a golden retriever.

Now, here we are in 2025. The Murano has entered its fourth generation, and Nissan says it’s still from the future—just… a different one. One where engines are smaller, knobs are extinct, and every single function lives behind a sheet of fingerprint-covered glass.

Gone is the silky 3.5-liter V6. In its place: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 241 horsepower, mated to a new nine-speed automatic. In theory, this is progress. In practice? It’s fine. The Murano was never about horsepower bragging rights, and it still isn’t. It’s not pretending to be an off-road brute or a backroad barnstormer. It just needs to move forward quietly and comfortably—and it does exactly that.

The 2025 Murano comes in three trims: SV, SL, and Platinum. The SV can be had in front- or all-wheel drive, while the SL and Platinum get AWD standard. My test car was the Platinum—fully loaded and dressed to impress. And to Nissan’s credit, it mostly does.

Handling is noticeably better than the last model. The steering has actual feedback now, and the turbo-four with the nine-speed is vastly more civilized than the droning CVT it replaces. No, it doesn’t sound like a dinosaur waking up, but it also won’t make your ears bleed while merging onto I-95.

Still, sporty it is not—and that’s fine. The Murano is cushy, calm, and clearly aimed at people who want a soft ride and seats that feel like they were lifted from a Delta One cabin. Nissan’s “Zero Gravity” front thrones remain some of the best in the business—even if the business mostly involves sitting in traffic.

Inside, the redesign leans heavily into modern minimalism. It’s sleeker, sure. But it’s also flatter than a vinyl record left on a radiator. The touchscreen now controls nearly everything: climate, audio, navigation—you name it. Which of course means adjusting anything while driving now requires three taps, a swipe, and a prayer. Want to change the fan speed without taking your eyes off the road? Too bad. Welcome to the future. Hope you enjoy digital menus.

And then there’s the price. Here’s where things get weird.

The Murano costs more than the Nissan Rogue, but not because it’s bigger—because it isn’t. It’s actually smaller in some key areas. The difference is in the design, materials, and overall vibe. But start ticking boxes on the options sheet—especially in a fully-kitted Platinum—and suddenly you’re brushing up against luxury-brand territory. Except without the badge, the turbo six, or the dealership espresso bar.

It’s not quite a budget Mercedes GLC or a discount BMW X3. It’s something else entirely: a niche. A stylish, smooth, near-luxury two-row SUV for people who don’t want three rows, don’t want to spend $60,000, but also don’t want a base Rogue.

So is the 2025 Murano still “a vision of the future”? Sort of.

It’s the future we ended up with—smaller, quieter, more digital, and entirely dependent on software updates. A future where cars are comfortable, connected cocoons with Spotify integration and surround-view cameras, not things you pop the hood on to do some Saturday afternoon wrenching.

And honestly? That’s not such a bad thing.

Unless your tachometer stops working. In which case, good luck finding the distributor.

The Murano is still good. It’s just not the future we dreamed of. It’s the future we settled for—and in this case, settling isn’t the worst thing you could do.

The 2025 Nissan Murano Platinum AWD
MSRP: $49,600
MSRP as tested: $54,450
Engine: 2.0 liter turbocharged I-4 241 horsepower @ 5600 rpm, 260 lbs.-ft torque @ 4400 rpm
Transmission: 9 speed automatic w/OD
Fuel Mileage (EPA estimated): 21 City/27 Hwy 23 combined
Fuel Mileage (as tested): 30mpg
Base Curb Weight (lbs) : 4438

Exterior Dimensions
Height, Overall (in): 67.9
Length, Overall (in): 192.9
Min Ground Clearance (in): 8.3
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in): 78
Wheelbase (in): 111.2

Interior Dimensions
Seating capacity: 5
Total Passenger Volume (cubic feet):107.1
Front Leg Room (in): 44.3
Front Head Room (in): 39.4
Front Hip Room (in): 56.9
Front Shoulder Room (in): 60.8
Second Leg Room (in): 36.3
Second Head Room (in): 37.9
Second Hip Room (in): 56.9
Second Shoulder Room (in): 58.5
Passenger Volume (ft³): 108.1

Warranty
Basic Miles/km: 36,000
Basic Years: 3
Corrosion Miles/km: Unlimited
Corrosion Years: 5
Roadside assistance: 5 years, 36,000 miles
Drivetrain: 5 years Miles/km: 60,000

Greg Engle
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