2019 Nissan Murano Pros vs Cons

The 2019 Nissan Murano has received a good number of exciting updates for the model year. First and foremost, the Murano gets a redesigned front fascia that looks extremely contemporary and upscale with its narrowed LED headlights and bigger grille. Also, door-to-door navigation is new, and the telematics system is offered as standard on the SL trim and higher. Another new item is Safety Shield 360, which hosts six driver aids.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2019 Nissan Murano – The Pros

1. The New Safety Shield 360 System

Driver aids might seem like a dime a dozen, but the 2019 Nissan Murano ups the ante this year with the all-new Safety Shield 360 System. This suite is composed of multiple helpful driver aids, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, high beam assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and lane departure warning. While it debuts on only a few Nissan models this year, the Safety Shield 360 is projected to be a standard feature by the 2021 model year.

2. High-quality Interior Materials

The Nissan Murano has no trouble competing with more expensive luxury vehicles thanks to its cut-above interior design. The materials that are used throughout the cabin are high-quality, and the craftsmanship is superb. There are plenty of soft touch surfaces, and the leather upholstery is eye-catching and comfortable. There is also some gorgeous double stitching that lets you know how much work went into trying to perfect the Nissan Murano's cabin.

3. Plenty of Space in the Rear Seat

Taller passengers often find themselves ducking their heads down while sitting in the rear seats of other vehicles in this class. This is not the case with the 2019 Nissan Murano. There is a surprising amount of head room in the front as well as in the rear. Of course, there is a lot more leg room up front, but even in the rear, it feels rather generous. Combined with the comfy seats, this amount of space creates a pleasing experience during even long car rides.

4. Comfortable Front and Rear Seats

No matter where you decide to sit inside of the Nissan Murano, you will find yourself in a comfortable seat. Up front, the seats are incredibly plush. Even though they do not have a lot in the way of lateral support, they do not necessarily need to since the Murano is not meant to perform many sporty cornering maneuvers. The rear seats are surprisingly just as comfortable and still manage to give just enough firmness to keep you from sinking down into your seat.

5. A Strong Powertrain

Regardless of which trim level (the S, SV, SL, or Platinum) you decide to buy, you will get the same standard powertrain. This powertrain is composed of a 3.5-L V6 engine that generates 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque paired up with a CVT transmission. For a vehicle its size, the 2019 Nissan Murano receives plenty of power. The CVT works incredibly well at keeping the engine hushed and appropriately reactive. While this powertrain cannot create a sporty feel for the Murano, it does its job of bringing comfort to the ride.

6. Excellent Climate Control

Although the Nissan Murano's dual-zone climate control system might seem a bit simplistic, it is extremely effective at heating and cooling the vehicle. There are vents throughout the vehicle, including vents in the rear seats. Additionally, the set-up is pretty user-friendly. The system is controlled by buttons (which change the speed of the manual fan) and knobs (which allow you to set the temperature). Overall, it is one of the better climate control systems that you will find in this class.

7. Controls Are Easy to Use

As is the case with the climate control buttons and knobs, all of the controls on the 2019 Nissan Murano are easy to use. They can all be accessed without much effort, and everything seems to be laid out in an intuitive fashion. Even the secondary controls are well-placed, and finding controls on the touchscreen's interface involves a small learning curve for most drivers. Everything on the touchscreen menus is clearly labeled and situated in a common sense manner.

8. Installing Child Safety Seats is Simple

In some vehicles, trying to get child safety seats installed is a time-consuming hassle that involves a good amount of work. In the Nissan Murano, installing a child seat is relatively simple. Finding the LATCH attachments takes no time at all, and there is plenty of space in either of the outboard rear seats for installing a child safety seat. Doing this does not require the driver or front seat passenger to have to move their seats up at all, which is not something you find in all vehicles in this segment.

9. The Optional Bose Sound System

If there is one thing you might want to spend extra money on for the upgrade, it is the Bose sound system. Available on the SV trim and higher, the Bose sound system has eleven speakers and produces sharp, high-quality sound throughout the entire cabin. Two of the eleven speakers are actually subwoofers, which do an excellent job of enhancing the overall sound quality. The system is optional on the SV and comes standard on the SL and Platinum trim levels.

10. The Chic Exterior Design

While the 2019 Nissan Murano has a lot of great design elements on the interior, the exterior design cannot be ignored. This model year, Nissan slapped some new spokes onto both the 18- and 20-inch wheels in order to spruce things up. The LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights have also been re-sculpted. Any of the color palettes you choose look striking, and the addition of the Sunset Drift paint option makes for quite a bold statement. There are also some classy dark blue and brown tones that might speak to those who crave a more muted but still elegant palette.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2019 Nissan Murano – The Cons

1. Limited Cargo Space

Unfortunately, one of the minor downsides to owning the 2019 Nissan Murano for many people will be the lack of available cargo space. Although it is about average for a mid-sized SUV, the 31.1 cubic feet of cargo space you get with all seats in place does not always feel like enough. Thankfully, the seats can be folded down to give a total of 67 cubic feet of cargo space, and the seats do manage to fold completely flat. In other words, while the amount of space could be better, accessing what is there could be a lot worse.

2. Poor Outward Visibility

Outward visibility is something that not all auto manufacturers get right on mid-sized SUVs. And, truth be told, Nissan really misses the mark with it on the Murano. There are two massive roof pillars up front that obscure the driver's view, and the height of the hood makes matters even more complicated. The window in the rear is fairly small in size, and with the thick roof pillars back there, it limits the amount of rear visibility. The surround-view cameras and blind-spot monitoring system will have to be relied upon quite heavily than they would be in some of the Nissan Murano's competitors.

3. The Towing Capacity

Looking for a mid-sized SUV with a decent towing capacity? The 2019 Nissan Murano is not that SUV. It only has a tow rating for up to 1,500 pounds, whereas most of the Murano's rivals in this segment can easily tow 2,000 pounds or greater. This places the Murano pretty far behind its competition and can be a deal-breaker for those who need to tow small trailers.

4. Lack of Small Item Storage Spaces

Looking around the cabin of the Nissan Murano, you might notice that there are not a lot of well-crafted small item storage areas. The center console is basically all that is available up front, and it is far from being huge. You cannot place anything at all in front of the shifter, and the cubby area in front of the console cannot even fit a large cell phone or small tablet. The driver and passengers will have to find more creative ways to store their small items in the Murano.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2019 Nissan Murano vs. 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

As is usually the case every model year, the 2019 Nissan Murano has a major competitor in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This model year's Grand Cherokee has a cozy interior design and is laden with all the latest and greatest in infotainment features and driver aids. The optional V8 engine is incredibly powerful, and beating the maximum tow rating of 7,400 pounds is next to impossible in this class. However, the Grand Cherokee does not get good acceleration from the V6, and there is limited cargo space.

2019 Nissan Murano vs. 2019 Toyota Highlander

Another top contender for the model year is the 2019 Toyota Highlander. The Highlander has a third row of seating, but it is a lot smaller than what you find in other vehicles. Also, smartphone app integration via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is conspicuously absent. However, the V6 engine provides plenty of fuel efficiency and power, and the ride quality is smooth and well-mannered. Also, there are a ton of desirable safety features available.

Conclusion

The 2019 Nissan Murano is not the biggest seller among the automaker's line-up, and it is a shame that this mid-sized SUV gets ignored in favor of other vehicles. The Murano actually has a lot to offer in terms of ride quality and interior comfort, and it serves well as a family-friendly daily driver despite the lack of cargo space and small item storage areas. It is more user-friendly than most vehicles in its class, and it has a lot of standard and optional features that make the Murano worth its price tag.