The 2023 Nissan Murano bridges the gap between a standard commuter crossover and a budget-conscious luxury ride, focusing heavily on comfort, smooth highway manners, and distinctive exterior styling. Under the hood, it sticks to a traditional V6 formula while many competitors have shifted entirely to turbocharged four-cylinder engines. If you're shopping for a comfortable five-passenger midsize SUV with zero-gravity seats and a quiet cabin, the Murano demands a close look. You'll find it balances plush seating with straightforward tech, though its aging platform and CVT transmission mean it appeals more to cruisers than performance seekers.
Vehicle packaging centers on a single powertrain choice across all trim levels: a 3.5-liter V6 engine pumping out 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with an Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and gives buyers the option of front-wheel drive or intelligent all-wheel drive. Official EPA estimates land at 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, making it competitive for long road trips. The lineup spans five core trims: S, SV, Midnight Edition, SL, and Platinum, allowing you to scale up from basic utility to near-luxury appointments without jumping to a luxury brand price tag.
Powertrain and Performance
Performance in the Murano is defined by smooth, linear acceleration rather than sharp track handling. That 3.5-liter V6 provides ample muscle for highway passing and merging, avoiding the strained buzzing sound common in smaller four-cylinder crossovers paired with CVTs.
- Engine: 3.5L DOHC 24-valve V6
- Output: 260 hp @ 6,000 rpm / 240 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
- Transmission: Xtronic CVT
- Drivetrain Layout: Front-wheel drive or Intelligent All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Economy: 20 mpg city / 28 mpg highway / 23 mpg combined
The suspension tuning prioritizes ride isolation. It absorbs rough pavement and potholes with ease, especially when rolling on standard wheels. Steering weight leans slightly heavy, which gives it a planted feel on straight stretches, though it lacks the sharp agility of sport-oriented rivals. Towing maxes out at a modest 1,500 pounds, so it's best suited for light utility trailers rather than heavy campers. You can check official safety ratings and crash test scores directly through the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Trim Level Breakdown
Choosing the right Murano depends entirely on how much comfort and tech you want baked into the cabin. Nissan keeps the mechanical bits identical across the board, so upgrading steps up the amenities instead of the engine output.
S Trim
The entry-level S handles the essentials. It comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Cloth seating is standard here, along with a six-speaker audio setup.
SV Trim
Moving up to the SV adds considerable everyday convenience. It introduces roof rails, LED fog lights, an 8-way power adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, 4-way power passenger seats, and heated front seats. It also unlocks adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system, making parking significantly easier in tight urban garages.
Midnight Edition
The Midnight Edition builds directly on the SV trim, injecting a darker aesthetic package. It features black 20-inch gloss-black wheels, black exterior accents, black roof rails, and special Midnight Edition badging. Synthetic leatherette seating surfaces replace standard cloth.
SL Trim
If you want genuine leather upholstery, the SL is your entry point. It adds ambient interior lighting, driver memory settings, a heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, and a phenomenal 11-speaker Bose premium audio system. Hands-free motion-activated power liftgate functionality also comes standard on this tier.
Platinum Trim
The flagship Platinum tier represents the peak of Murano luxury. It decks out the interior with semi-aniline leather seats featuring diamond-quilted inserts, ventilated front seats for hot summer days, a massive panoramic moonroof, and dark chrome exterior trim finishes.
Interior Comfort and Cargo Utility
The cabin is where the Murano truly earns its keep. Nissan's signature Zero Gravity seats distribute body weight evenly, reducing fatigue on long multi-hour drives. Rear-seat passengers enjoy generous legroom and reclining seatbacks, ensuring adults won't feel cramped on extended trips.
Cargo capacity measures 32.1 cubic feet with all seats upright, expanding to 67.0 cubic feet when you fold the 60/40 split-rear seats flat. While the sloping rear roofline gives the exterior a sleek, coupe-like stance, it does trim away a bit of vertical clearance for boxy items compared to more blocky traditional SUVs. Review vehicle specifications and pricing history anytime at Edmunds.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Every 2023 Murano rolls off the assembly line equipped with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite. Standard active safety tech includes:
- Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane departure warning with lane keep assist
- High beam assist and rear automatic braking
- Rear parking sensors
Higher trims layer on additional confidence builders like the Intelligent Around View Monitor, giving you a 360-degree bird's-eye view of the vehicle's perimeter.
Common Owner Complaints and Real-World Trade-Offs
No vehicle is perfect, and savvy buyers should weigh a few persistent drawbacks before signing paperwork:
- Aged Infotainment: The 8-inch screen feels small by modern standards, and the software interface lacks the crisp graphics found in newer segment competitors.
- Rear Visibility: Thick rear roof pillars create massive blind spots when changing lanes or backing out of angled parking spaces, making the surround-view camera an absolute necessity.
- No ProPilot Assist: Unlike many other vehicles in Nissan's stable, the Murano misses out on Nissan's advanced ProPilot Assist highway driving aid, offering only standard adaptive cruise control.
- CVT Rubber-Band Feel: While Nissan's CVT is better behaved than older iterations, hard throttle inputs still produce a distinct engine drone before the vehicle catches up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 2023 Nissan Murano require premium fuel?
No, the 3.5-liter V6 engine is tuned to run comfortably on regular unleaded gasoline, keeping daily fuel operational costs reasonable.
Does the 2023 Murano have a third-row seat?
No, the Murano is strictly a two-row, five-passenger midsize crossover. If you need a third row, you'll want to look at the larger Nissan Pathfinder.
Can the Murano handle light off-roading?
With 6.9 inches of ground clearance and available intelligent all-wheel drive, it handles heavy snow, rain, and gravel farm roads easily. However, it lacks dedicated low-range gearing or skid plates, so it isn't built for serious rock crawling.
What changed for the 2023 model year?
Changes for 2023 are minimal, limited primarily to the introduction of Nissan's updated brand logos inside and out, alongside two new exterior paint options: Deep Ocean Blue Pearl and Super Black.
