2022 Nissan Murano Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

With a powerful engine and a sophisticated cabin, the 2022 Nissan Murano carries itself like a luxurious vehicle. It has two rows of seats and a sizable cargo area, and it seems a little more refined than many competitors. With this model, Nissan went for an upscale aesthetic rather than a rugged one. At the same time, the Murano is capable and can come with all-wheel drive. This gives it the opportunity to attract a broad range of potential customers.

What's New for 2022?

Not too much is different about the 2022 model year in comparison with the 2021 version. The SV trim now gets to have synthetic leather upholstery and heated front seats. This will help this trim, which is second from the bottom in the lineup, attract the attention of customers who want to treat themselves to vehicles that are a little more special. In addition, a Midnight Edition trim is now available. It has many similarities with the SV trim, but it comes with illuminated doorsill protectors, 20-inch black wheels, and black exterior accents.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2022 Nissan Murano – The Pros

1. Fun to Drive

With a 260-horsepower engine under its hood, the 2022 Nissan Murano offers a thrilling experience. The engine is a V6 with a displacement of 3.5 liters, and it provides 240 pound-feet of torque. The continuously variable transmission results in smooth acceleration. Another element that can make the ride more enjoyable is four-wheel independent suspension. There are rebound springs and stabilizer bars that help the SUV round corners with ease.

2. Capable of Dealing with Tough Conditions

Nissan has given customers the choice of whether to get their new Murano's with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive would be sufficient for some, but for those who frequently face icy, snowy, or muddy conditions, all-wheel drive might be best.

The all-wheel-drive system makes adjustments on its own, depending on whether it detects any loss of traction. As needed, power can be sent to the rear wheels to improve grip and ensure that the driver can stay in control. Plus, all-wheel drive can kick in when the vehicle is first accelerating and when its cornering.

3. An Impressive Infotainment System

In recent years, Nissan has focused a lot on incorporating advanced technology into its vehicles. The Murano is a perfect example of how all of that hard work has paid off. This SUV gets to have an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice recognition, and Siri Eyes Free. People can listen to text messages so that their eyes can stay safely on the road. So that a driver's hands can remain on the steering wheel, the text messaging assistant allows people to simply say what they want texted instead of actually having to type it in.

Every Murano has SiriusXM, two USB ports, and two USB-C ports. Some can have navigation, and that navigation system provides traffic updates so that drivers can hopefully find their way around congested roads.

4. Bose Speakers Make a Difference

While the standard audio package consists of six speakers, there's the opportunity to get a Nissan Murano with a Bose premium sound system. It would consist of dual subwoofers and 11 total speakers. The sound would be rich and balanced, and notes at different ranges would all be able to shine.

The volume on the Murano is sensitive to speed. As the SUV accelerates, road and wind noise may increase. The audio system can turn up the volume to compensate for that, only to quiet down again when the vehicle slows down.

5. Offering Plenty of Information

With a Murano, it can be easy to stay informed of what's going on. Every trim has an advanced drive-assist display. This display measures seven inches and can be found right behind the steering wheel. It can let drivers know about their tire pressure, what direction they're heading in, what's playing on SiriusXM Radio or Bluetooth audio, and what turn to take next, for example.

Another way in which the Murano keeps drivers aware of how things are going is through the available remote connectivity. With a compatible smart device, someone can check to see whether the doors are locked or unlocked, where the vehicle has been parked, and whether it's time to schedule an oil change.

6. An Extra Pair of Eyes

It's amazing what the Murano can do in terms of keeping people safe. It's as if it has eyes all around it that are continually looking out for potential issues.

While this SUV doesn't exactly have eyes, it does have various cameras and monitoring systems. With these components, the SUV can warn drivers when they're veering out of their lanes, backing up into traffic, or about to hit a vehicle or pedestrian. The model comes standard with several driver-assist systems, to include rear automatic braking and intelligent lane intervention. It also has a driver alertness program that can emit warnings when it seems like people aren't paying attention to the roads.

Even more advanced safety features are available on select trims. They include a front and rear sonar system, traffic sign recognition, and an intelligent around view monitor.

7. Keeping Passengers Comfortable

First of all, there's a lot of space in the cabin to stretch out. The Murano is certainly not a large SUV, but it still has almost 39 inches of rear-seat leg room. Beyond that, most trims have heated front seats to keep people cozy. Those front seats can even be heated and cooled, providing comfort at all times of the year. The steering wheel and rear outboard seats can have heating elements, too. When it's very cold outside, every bit of warmth can make a difference.

8. An Elegant Cabin

The Murano can be set up with many high-end features. It can have leather or an even fancier semi-aniline upholstery on its seats. Those semi-aniline leather seats have diamond-quilted inserts. The steering wheel and shift knob can be wrapped in leather as well. Other available features that can be nice to have include an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a power tilt and telescoping steering column.

9. A Modern Exterior

From the outside, the Murano is quite handsome. Its modern appearance is enhanced by LED headlights, LED Daytime Running Lights, and LED taillights. It can have black or silver roof rails, chrome door handles, and a black or chrome grille. The dual panel panoramic moonroof is especially intriguing since it lets in so much light and really raises the sophistication level of the SUV.

10. Ready to Carry Cargo

While the Murano doesn't take up too much room in a garage or parking spot, it does have a good amount of interior space. Behind the rear seat, the cargo area has a volume of 32.1 cubic feet. If that's not enough, the rear seats can be quickly folded down. This would provide a total of 67 cubic feet of storage space. An available motion-activated liftgate can make it easier to load and unload equipment in the back of the Nissan.

Reasons Not to Buy a 2022 Nissan Murano – The Cons

1. No Hybrid Available

The industry is moving towards more eco-friendly vehicles. Many well-known SUVs now come with hybrid powertrains, and there are even some plug-in hybrids and all-electric models available. With the Murano, Nissan has stuck with a traditional powertrain. It earns an estimated 20 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway. These numbers aren't stellar, and they definitely leave something to be desired.

2. Gets Expensive Quickly

While the entry-level trim is priced just under $33,000, the other trims are pretty pricey. Two of them are more than $40,000. At this level, people will expect a lot out of their vehicles, and the truth is that the Murano might not have the capability that allows it to meet high performance expectations.

3. Can't Tow That Much

The Murano has a solid engine, but unfortunately, it can't be used to tow very much weight. It only has a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds. Some other SUVs, in comparison, can tow 2,000, 3,500, or even 5,000 pounds. Anyone who will frequently be hauling heavy cargo may want to look elsewhere.

 

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2022 Nissan Murano vs 2022 Chevy Equinox

Chevrolet makes several SUVs, and the Equinox is one that's fairly comparable in size to the Murano. The Equinox is considerably more affordable than the Murano is, but it doesn't come close in a performance matchup. It only has 170 horsepower. Further, the Equinox doesn't have as many driver-assist technologies as the Murano has. For instance, it doesn't come standard with rear automatic braking or blind spot monitoring.

2022 Nissan Murano vs 2022 Honda CR-V

The CR-V is a popular model. It comes with two powertrains, one of which is a hybrid system. However, neither of them can generate as much horsepower as the Murano's engine does. In the world of SUVs, performance is a key factor.

Then, there's the issue of safety. Like the Equinox, the CR-V does not have blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard components. In addition, the base trim of the CR-V has a screen that only measures five inches, and it doesn't come with smartphone compatibility. In contrast, the entry-level trim of the Nissan has an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Conclusion

Anyone looking for a practical two-row SUV that has an elevated style would likely be pleased with the 2022 Nissan Murano. It has so many things going for it, especially in terms of technology, safety, and performance.