The 2025 Nissan Murano Aims To Be Zen On The Road

You could make the case that the all-new 2025 Nissan Murano was given a complete makeover by zen gardeners. It’s a more minimalist interpretation of Nissan’s crossover staple. The only argument against this case is that the Murano is kind of blingy. I mean, it’s subtly blingy, but it’s got some flair that I doubt a zen gardener would edit it out. I got to take a look at the new Murano, but will not have the opportunity to drive it until it gets closer to being on sale in early 2025.

The 2025 Murano will have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission that generates 240 horsepower. This replaces the V6 of the previous generation of Murano. That V6 cranked out 260 horsepower. The 2025 also comes with paddle shifters that, should you crave a bit more action with your zen, will accomplish that task. The Murano comes in front- or all-wheel drive, though SL and Platinum trim levels have all-wheel drive as a standard feature. 

The exterior of the Murano has been completely redesigned. It is curvier than I expected, as its Rogue and Kicks siblings are more squared off. The front of the Murano says goodbye to the chrome-laden grille and V-shaped headlights.

In their place are cool horizontal LED headlights and daytime running lights embedded in the grille that, when lit, look like they were created by the sweep of a zen gardener’s rake. The overall shape of the grille is reminiscent of the former grille shape, tapering in from top to bottom.

The rear of the Murano has received just as much attention as the front. It’s got a sleek set of LED taillights that extend across the entire width of the back. This car looks almost windswept, with a chrome trim piece that runs from the top of the car, front to back. Your eye follows it as it drops down in the back, where the top of the car gets an optional, two-tone gloss black rear color scheme. So in actuality, it’s a bit angled in the back but the black trim piece makes it look rounded. It’s a cool visual detail. The metal curves down on either side of the rear, into the black-trim and metal lower bumper.

The 2025 Murano is 2.6 inches wider and attention has been given to the cabin to make it feel more open. It’s got a horizontal design focus across the dash. Even the interior color themes are relaxing and zen-y, and very 2025 as they are named for the “golden hour” along California’s coast. The Murano seats five people, The cargo area is a smidge bigger, going from 32.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats to 32.9 cubic feet in the 2025. If those seats are folded, the Murano has 63.5 cubic feet of space.

The 2025 Murano has a lot of interior features that are firsts for this SUV. Two 12.3-inch displays, mounted within the dash It has optional ventilated and massaging front seats for starters. 64-color ambient lighting, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a color head-up display, Invisible Hood View (which provides a camera view out the front for ease of navigation), 3D around-view monitor, Pro-Pilot assist 1.1 (which is Nissan’s group of driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist). The Murano also has Google built in, and wireless charging.

The interior design cues inside follow a horizontal focus, like the exterior does. The dash runs the length of the cockpit, uninterrupted. The two 12.3-inch screens are housed in a single piece of glass, and are mounted on the dash with a cool, leather-like finishing piece on top. Gone is the horizontal center area where the stereo, climate controls, and screen used to live.

Instead, the climate controls are housed in a ledge below the touch-screen multimedia system, it’s buttons look flat but when you touch them, they activate and have a haptic-type of response. 

Below the dashboard, Nissan has made the gear shifter into a series of flat buttons and this creates more room in the center console for devices and cupholders. Below that center console is an open space that looks like it will be great for a purse or small tote.

The Murano has a “Murano Glass” design feature that “incorporates color-shift graphics and textures that play with light.” This design feature creates interest in the cockpit and adds some additional dimension to the tiered dashboard.

The 2025 Nissan Murano has a flat-bottomed steering wheel. We’re used to seeing that on performance cars, but Nissan says that in the Murano it’s for easier ingress and egress. The seats offer more adjustments than ever, allowing more flexibility for drivers of different statures.

Additionally, the rear doors open even wider to accommodate child car seats and ease installation. The quilted seats are two-toned in the front and rear, a gorgeous upscale combination. The rear seats are heated, too. Nissan even says that occupants bodies will “touch only soft materials.” That sounds wonderful.

The reward of simplicity is that you can be as stress-free on the road. The new Murano is beautifully simple and streamlined. We can’t wait to drive the zen crossover to see if it’s as enjoyable behind the wheel as it is on stage.