The 2025 Nissan Murano Arrives With Turbo-Four Power, Ditches CVT

Well, it was about time, Nissan finally debuted the fourth-generation variant of its popular midsize crossover SUV, the 2025 Murano. It replaces the old, outgoing third-generation “Z52” version, which crested the age of 10 years old this year, meaning it was well overdue for its successor.

And because it enters a completely new series production generation, that means the new 2025 Nissan Murano comes loaded with a whole bunch of much needed and welcome improvements, such as completely new and updated styling both inside and out. But many of the changes also address the previous model’s shortcomings.

New Styling, More Tech And Upscale Features

The first and most notable change with the new Nissan Murano is the styling, which embodies the company’s latest corporate design language that also inspired the latest second-generation Kicks subcompact crossover SUV. With its widened and muscular shoulderline that contributes to a nearly 2.6-inch increase in overall width, a new raked and rather low-slung roofline, new multi-slot corporate grille, “Crystal Cube” headlights, and “”V-motion” LED daytime running lights integrated into the front bumper, the Murano, in essence, visually comes across as a much larger version of the Kicks, playing into Nissan’s latest design themes for its crossover SUVs.

When compared to the outgoing model’s rather discombobulated and 10-year-old design that featured an unusual mixture of odd angles and curves, the new Murano ultimately appears far more refined, cohesive, and even upscale aesthetically. And the elevated theme also carries over into the interior as well.

Replacing the old model’s compartmentalized dashboard is a much cleaner and minimalistic layout that appears much more upscale in its execution. Like some other newer vehicles, the Murano’s interior takes on a much more premium appearance on the inside, with a new singular dashboard display unit that incorporates two massive 12.3-inch high-definition digital displays.

Physical buttons for the HVAC and infotainment system are replaced by haptic touch-sensitive controls, all of which contribute to a much cleaner look and overall layout, all of which were inspired by the Nissan Ariya electric crossover SUV.

The list of standard features also grows with the new Murano. Such includes optional heated and cooled massage front seats, Google built-in and Google Maps integration for the infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adjustable 64-color interior ambient lighting, a new 3D Intelligent Around View Monitor 360-degree camera system with Invisible Hood View, and Nissan’s latest ProPilot Assist driver aids.

So Long CVT, Hello Turbo-Four Power

The other most notable change to the new fourth-gen Murano is the discontinuation of the crossover’s V-6 powerplant. In its place is Nissan’s latest and ubiquitous VC-Turbo gasoline 2.0-liter four-cylinder that we’ve all become accustomed too in some other models.

In the Murano’s application, it churns out 241 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which is about 19 horses less than the old “VQ35” 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V-6’s 260 hp, but 20 more torques than the six-cylinder’s 240.

Buyers would be excited to hear that Nissan’s continuously variable transmission is no longer part of the Murano’s equation and is replaced by a new ZF-sourced nine-speed conventional automatic. Fuel-saving automatic engine stop-start is also now standard as well as a maximum tow rating of around 1,500 pounds.

Also on the Murano’s tech roster are new “frequency sensitive” adaptive dampers along with a transition over to electrically assisted power steering, all of which seek to improve the new Murano’s overall ride quality and handling over the outgoing model.

Pricing has yet to be released, but such information will be made available when the Murano begins to reach dealers in early 2025.