CARS NEWS
With a sharp exterior and a modern cabin, the new Nissan Murano is much improved
If you caught a glimpse of this SUV in a crowded parking lot, would you be able to tell it's a Nissan Murano? Hell, would you be able to recognize it as a Nissan at all? For a company so otherwise, um, preoccupied with its current corporate situation, Nissan still does one thing very right: Design. The new Murano is no exception. Even though it uses a version of last year's platform, the 2025 Nissan Murano still feels brand new. It has a beautifully redesigned exterior, an equally appealing interior with the latest tech, and a new turbocharged engine that makes it all feel a bit more modern—finally. Granted, not everyone will love the new Murano's looks; the split headlight treatment alone is sure to split opinions. But much like the smaller Kicks, the Murano turns heads with its unique shape and bold design choices—that aforementioned front end included. And it all looks really beautiful in this shade of Aurora Blue. The cabin is no less pretty. The Twilight Blue leather on this Platinum tester virtually mimics the paint. Subtle wood accents line the dash with a few pieces of piano black plastic that, thankfully, aren't all that offensive. Two 12.3-inch screens sit atop the dash projecting Nissan's latest infotainment interface, which is clean, crisp, and easy to use. I didn't experience any of the lag Editor Chris Smith noted during his first drive. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are always welcomed. Unfortunately, like many modern automakers, Nissan was bitten by the touch-capacitive bug. The Murano's lovely-looking wooden console takes a page from the Ariya; it's littered with illuminated touch-capacitive controls for the HVAC system. A simple task like changing the temperature or increasing the fan speed requires a steady hand and lots of focus. Not exactly what you want when you should be, you know, focused on driving. The steering wheel controls are… better, but still not great. Instead of individual buttons, the Murano has a single piece of black plastic covering individual selections on either side of the wheel. It clicks well, at least—it's not more touch-capacitive nonsense. But it was easy to hit the wrong option by mistake. The Murano's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder makes 241 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. It actually has less power than the old V-6 (260 horsepower), but more torque (240 pound-feet). The new engine also returns 23 miles per gallon city, 24 highway, and 23 combined, which, again, isn't much better than the old V-6. The previous Murano achieved 20 mpg city, 28 highway, and 23 combined. In practice, though, the Murano's new powertrain feels much better on the road. Snappy throttle response gives the SUV excellent pep off the line—it feels genuinely quick in Sport mode. The four-cylinder has enough power at speed for seamless highway passes and uneventful onramp merges, and it's all paired to a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic. Dynamically, the Murano gets new dampers that help decrease body roll. There's still some lateral movement, but it's mostly kept in check. Electronic power steering replaces the outdated hydraulic setup, and while it is exceptionally light and almost too twitchy, there's still enough chatter to tell you what the vehicle is doing mid-corner. Front-wheel drive comes standard on the base Murano SV, while the SL and this Platinum tester offer all-wheel drive at no extra cost. The Murano's updated ride also greatly improves its comfort. Although the 21-inch wheels on this Platinum model still thump hard over certain bumps, the suspension does a good job of smoothing out rough pavement otherwise. It's also absolutely buttery on the highway. The cabin is quiet with barely any wind or tire noise making its way into the cabin, even at highway speeds. And the seats on this Platinum model are stellar; they're perfectly form-fitting and offer heating, ventilation, and a massage function on this trim. Even the second row is nice and roomy thanks, in part, to the Murano's added width; it's about 2.6 inches wider than its predecessor. With a starting price of $41,860 including destination, the 2025 Murano is priced competitively. The Hyundai Santa Fe starts at $35,675, the Jeep Grand Cherokee starts at $38,290, and the Toyota Highlander costs $40,970. The updated 2026 Honda Passport, when it hits dealerships, will start in the mid-$40,000 range. This top-of-the-line Platinum costs $55,030 as-tested with all-wheel drive and a few fancy dealer add-ons. But even at that price, the Murano feels worth it. Contrary to my colleague Chris Smith, I don’t find the 2025 Murano disappointing at all. The styling is excellent, the interior—aside from a few quirks—is a lovely place to be, and the updated powertrain and improved suspension make the driving experience much better. There are a lot of options in this segment—a lot of good options—but you could certainly do worse than the 2025 Murano. Read more
The 2025 Nissan Sentra
The Honda Civic is still the gold standard, of course, but there are about half a dozen alternatives from brands like Hyundai, Mazda, and Toyota that nearly match the Civic. The Nissan Sentra falls into that chasing pack. It's an affordable, affable, and attractive commuter with a functional four-cylinder engine and an interior you won't be ... Read more
The Nissan Armada Costs the Same for 2025 Despite Major Upgrades
The revamped Armada goes on sale in December with the same price the outgoing model. Nissan thoroughly updated its Armada SUV for the 2025 model year. It has a new look, a new engine, and the latest must-have tech. But the automaker was able to keep the Armada's starting price the same while expanding the number of trim offerings. The 2025 Nissan Armada will begin at $58,530, the same price as 2024's entry-level SV 4x2. All prices include the $2,010 destination charge. However, it’s not a trend that continues throughout the rest of the 2025 lineup. The SL 4x2 and Platinum are $2,630 and $1,340 more expensive, respectively. New trims for 2025 include the rugged Nissan Pro-4X, which starts at $75,750. It gets off-road upgrades like 20-inch all-terrain tires, a metal skid plate, an adaptive air suspension, an electronic locking differential, and more. It sits 2.1 inches taller than the standard Armada and has 9.6 inches of ground clearance. The Platinum Reserve trim now sits at the top of the lineup, pushing the Armada’s price to $82,000 for the top spec. It has 22-inch wheels, massaging seats, an adaptive air suspension, and other luxury goodies. The new Armada borrows the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine from the Infiniti QX80. It makes 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque and pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 2025 Armada goes on sale in December. Read more
Nissan GT-R50
This Nissan GT-R50 is one of just 19 built by coach builder Italdesign. And now, it can be yours. Remember the Nissan GT-R50? First introduced as a concept in 2018, it went into production in late 2020, with a total of 19 units built. Based on the GT-R Nismo, the GT-R50 uses unique body panels by coach builder Italdesign, giving it the sense the ... Read more
2025 Nissan Murano
Nissan calls the 2025 Murano a "road-going sanctuary." It's the first Murano to offer optional massaging front seats, though all Muranos get a new digital cockpit with dual 12.3-inch displays. It's the first to get 21-inch wheels, available on Platnum trims. It comes standard with Nissan's Safety Shield 360 driver-assist suite. It's completely ... Read more