The new 2025 Nissan Murano once more an automotive fashionista

By LARRY PRINTZ

Tribune News Service (TNS) T he Nissan Murano has always been the Nissan of choice for fashionistas, even if its well-dressed demeanor has remained visually unchanged for a decade. That’s an eternity in the world of high fashion. Yet for 2025, it receives a welcome design transformation.

“When we shaped the all-new Murano, we knew we wanted to make it an even more premium experience, a vehicle that looks like it should have a much more expensive price tag,” said Giovanny Arroba, Nissan’s design director at the vehicle’s unveiling Wednesday at Nissan North America headquarters in Franklin.

Arroba and his crew have succeeded. The front-end features slim LED headlights visually connected by a thin trim bar. Beneath it, the Murano’s daytime running lights are integrated into the horizontal front grille, much like the redesigned Nissan Kicks. Its clean, strong horizontal form lends strength to the front end. Out back, the taillamps are integrated into a single light bar. In addition, the hatch has been decluttered by locating the wiper above the rear window and concealing the exhaust tips. The side window shape recalls that of the athletic Inniti FX, while the black roof hides the body’s true shape, lending it more of a coupe-like appearance.

It’s a vehicle that’s once more up-to-theminute chic, with a cabin that boasts a spa-like ambiance. Front seats are large and comfortable with an ideal seating position. The rear row sits a bit low to provide head clearance. It affords a good view of the sunroof’s mechanicals, which are clearly visible – even though they shouldn’t be.

For most buyers, the updated tech package will be especially welcome, as it’s as overdue as the redesign. The 2025 Murano’s cabin now boasts dual 12.3-inch displays with Google integration as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. Four USB-C ports, a standard wireless phone charger and a Bose 10-speaker audio system are on board, as is a color head-up display and an around view monitor. It’s set in an interior that benets from ambient lighting and welcomes drivers with ventilated, massaging front seats that are both heated and cooled. Other options return, imparting a sense of luxury, including a heated steering wheel, panoramic moonroof, rear sunshades, and available semi-aniline quilted leather-appointed seats.

As with the Nissan Ariya, the 2025 Murano’s touch-sensitive climate controls are integrated into the wood trim, while the transmission is actuated using buttons. This helps free up space on the center console.

And, as with any vehicle update, the 2025 Nissan Murano wears a fresh suit of clothes. Now 2.6 inches wider than the previous Murano, overall length and height remain about the same.

All Murano models are powered by Nissan’s variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, now mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission rather than the continuously variable transmission. It produces 241 horsepower and 260 poundfeet of torque, an increase of 20 pound-feet compared to the outgoing Murano. Opting for the base SV grade nets a choice of frontwheel or all-wheel drive. SL and Platinum models come solely with all-wheel drive.

Nissan has now switched to electric power steering, and has installed frequency-sensitive dampers to improve ride and handling. Nissan North America didn’t offer the opportunity to drive the new Murano, nor did it announce pricing, which should be known by year’s end, when it hits showrooms.

While the new Nissan is a long-overdue update for what had become a calcied design, it doesn’t break any new ground. But its modern aesthetics are a welcome sign of a revitalizing Nissan product line, one that includes a redesigned Armada full-size SUV and entry-level Nissan Kicks subcompact SUV.

Fashionistas take note.

Larry Printz is an automotive journalist based in South Florida.

The 2025 Nissan Murano is powered by Nissan’s Variable-Compression Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

James Lipman / Nissan / TNS