10 Nissan Murano Competitors to Consider

2018 Nissan Murano Red Parked Front Quarter ・ Photo by Nissan

When Nissan introduced the Murano as a 2003 model, it had a niche that defied direct competition. The Murano was a crossover for grownups, available with near-luxury levels of elegance and sophistication with standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The SUV landscape has changed as the Murano has evolved over three generations, but the 2018 Murano maintains its status.

The Murano is available in four trim levels: S (starting at $30,800), SV ($34,100); SL ($38,500); and Platinum ($42,230). Add $1,600 to upgrade to all-wheel drive with any trim level. Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque on tap, delivered through an Xtronic continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The mid-size five-passenger Murano rides on a 111.2-inch wheelbase and is 192.4 inches long. Here are 10 of its competitors, presented in alphabetical order by brand.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is Chevy’s closest competitor to Murano until next year’s Blazer arrives. The Equinox has three available turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains, one of which is a 1.6-liter diesel. The Equinox is a two-row crossover with five-passenger seating, and it's 9.7 inches shorter than the Murano at 183.1 inches long.

The Equinox still manages to come close to the Murano’s cargo capacity (63.5 cubic feet vs. 67.0 cubic feet for the Murano) and luggage space (29.9 cubic feet vs. 32.1 cubic feet for the Murano). The two models are closely matched in rear head and leg room, while Murano gives second-row passengers nearly 4 additional inches of hip room (55.4 inches for the Murano vs. 51.7 inches for the Equinox). The Equinox starts at $26,595 for an LS FWD model with a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and goes up to $38,295 for a Premier AWD model with a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Dodge Durango

The Durango sells at less than half of the volume of its Jeep Grand Cherokee platform-mate, but it still should be considered a viable competitor to the Nissan Murano. Three engine choices are available in the 2018 Durango: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, and a 6.4-liter SRT Hemi V8, each hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on all trim levels.

Prices start at $29,995 for SXT RWD and go up to $62,995 for the ridiculous SRT AWD model. Third row-seating is standard on all but the SXT, where it is optional. Like the Murano, the Durango can be kitted out with near-luxury levels of equipment and options. Additionally, the Durango can tow up to 7,200 lbs, far outpacing the Murano’s capabilities of 1,500 lbs.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2018 Ford Edge

The 2018 Ford Edge exists right in the center of the Ford crossover lineup. A two-row crossover, it slots in between the Escape and Explorer, where it competes directly with the Murano. For 2018, the Edge is available with a choice of three engines: a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder with 245 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque; a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 (315 hp/350 lb-ft of torque); and a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated (non-turbo) V6 (280 hp/250 lb-ft of torque). Each engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive.

Base prices for the Edge start at $29,315 for the SE with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost and front-wheel drive and go to $40,770 for the Sport with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost and all-wheel drive.

Photo by Ford

2018 GMC Acadia

All-new for 2018, the GMC Acadia is now a mid-size SUV available in five-, six-, or seven-passenger configurations with two or three rows of seating. Acadia prices start at $29,995 for a front-wheel drive SL trim model and go up to $48,095 for the top-of-the-line Denali trim with all-wheel drive.

The Acadia can be fitted with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine (193 hp/198 lb-ft of torque) or a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 (310 hp/271 lb-ft of torque) and a six-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Acadia can also be equipped with Traction Select, an all-terrain drive mode system, and its conventional geared transmission differentiates it from the Murano’s CVT, which for some drivers may give the Acadia a competitive advantage.

Photo by GMC

2018 Honda Pilot

The 2018 Honda Pilot is a three-row crossover with standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive, now in its third generation. Like the Murano, all Pilots come with a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine, this one featuring 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the Murano’s CVT, the Pilot comes with a conventional automatic transmission: a six-speed on LX, EX, and EX-L models and a nine-speed on the Touring and Elite.

The Pilot’s electronic throttle-by-wire system enables its Intelligent Traction Management with drive mode selection for variable surfaces, and it's standard on all but the base LX. Pilot base prices begin at $30,900 for LX FWD models and go up to $47,470 for the Elite AWD. The Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance features is optional on the EX and EX-L, and standard on the Touring and Elite.

Photo by Honda

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai has done a good job of packing the 2018 Santa Fe with an abundance of standard convenience and safety features, along with a high level of optional advanced safety features. These include smart cruise control with start/stop, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a lane-departure warning, an electronic parking brake, automatic vehicle hold, dynamic bending lights, and high-beam assist.

The Santa Fe's base prices start at $30,850 and go up to $41,300. Like the Murano, the Santa Fe comes with just one engine selection, this one a 3.3-liter V6 engine with 290 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, with standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive. Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty is a great boost of confidence. The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe is a three-row crossover, but it's similar in dimension to the two-row Murano.

Photo by Hyundai

2019 Infiniti QX50

If near-luxury isn’t quite enough for your taste in your mid-size two-row crossover, you might find what you’re looking for in the newly redesigned 2019 Infiniti QX50. (Infiniti skipped the 2018 model year with this early-release model, on sale now.) Riding on a new platform, the QX50 has a wheelbase of 110 inches and overall length of 185 inches but a larger interior volume than the Murano (135 cubic feet compared to 108.1 cubic feet in the Murano).

The QX50 comes with a new variable compression 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (268 hp/280 lb-ft of torque), and like the Murano, uses a CVT with standard front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive ($1,800). QX50 prices start at $36,550 for the Pure FWD trim and go up to $45,150 for the Essential AWD.

Photo by Infiniti

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The flagship of its brand, the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a wide range of competitors for the Nissan Murano. With eight 4x2 models and 12 4x4 models, base prices start at $30,895 for a Laredo 4x2 and go up to $86,200 for a Trackhawk 4x4. There are four gasoline engine options: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, and an SRT 6.4-liter Hemi V8. There’s even an available 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel engine. Each engine is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

4x2 models are rear-wheel drive, while 4x4 models come with one of five different 4WD systems, depending on engine and intended use. The Grand Cherokee seats five and can hold 36.3 cubic feet of luggage behind the second row. That's expandable to 68.3 cubic feet of cargo space by folding down the 60/40-split rear seat, narrowly eclipsing the Murano’s capacity.

Photo by Ron Sessions

2018 Kia Sorento

Now in its third generation, the 2018 Kia Sorento is a strong competitor for the Nissan Murano. The Sorento comes with standard five-passenger seating and available seven-passenger capacity. L and LX models get a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine (185 hp/178 lb-ft of torque). The LX V6, EX V6, SX, and SX Limited get a 3.3-liter V6 (290 hp/252 lb-ft of torque), while the EX 2.0T comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder (240 hp/260 lb-ft of torque). Each engine connects to a six-speed automatic transmission, unlike the Murano’s CVT.

Front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is available on all but the base L. Pricing starts at $25,900 for the L FWD and goes up to $46,300 for the SX Limited AWD. Every Kia comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Photo by Kia

2018 Toyota Highlander

Over three generations since its debut as a 2001 model, the Highlander has evolved from a truck-inspired crossover into its own sophisticated three-row crossover with similar dimensions to the Murano. The 2018 Highlander starts at $31,230 and goes up to $48,480 for the Hybrid Limited Platinum.

Gasoline-only models come with either a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine or a 3.5-liter V6 and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while hybrid gasoline-electric models get a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and two electric motors. The 2.7 uses a six-speed automatic transmission, while the 3.5 gets an eight-speed automatic. The hybrid comes with a CVT, like the Murano. With its wide range of powertrain options, the Highlander is a tough competitor for the Nissan Murano.

Photo by Toyota