The Nissan Murano has always been the comfort-first entry in Nissan’s SUV line: a two-row midsize crossover, bigger and calmer than the Rogue, without the third row of the Pathfinder. If it is on your shortlist, the smart way to shop is to verify three things yourself before you ever talk price — the safety record, the real fuel economy picture, and what each trim actually adds. This guide walks through those three checks using the same public sources dealers use, so the numbers you negotiate around are ones you have seen firsthand.

Check one: read the Nissan Murano safety ratings where they are published

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests vehicles independently and publishes detailed ratings by model year. Its page for the 2025 Nissan Murano breaks performance down by test: crashworthiness categories such as the small overlap front and side tests, crash avoidance and mitigation, headlights, and seat belt and child seat evaluations. Do not rely on a seller’s summary or a single overall label. Open the IIHS page, confirm it matches the exact model year you are shopping, and read the individual categories — a vehicle can be strong in most areas and merely acceptable in one, and that one might be the test you care about most. If you are comparing against the smaller sibling, our Nissan Rogue value analysis uses the same check-first approach.

Check two: get fuel economy from the official source

FuelEconomy.gov, the federal fuel economy site, lists the 2025 Murano’s official figures and lets you compare configurations side by side, including the difference between front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. Look at the combined figure first, then the city and highway split, and think about which matches your driving. The site also estimates annual fuel cost and lets you personalize it with your own mileage and local fuel price, which turns an abstract rating into a monthly number you can budget. Treat any MPG claim in an advertisement or a listing as unconfirmed until you have seen it on that page for that configuration — drivetrain and trim change the figures.

Check three: separate trim value from trim marketing

Nissan’s own Murano page is the reference for the current trim lineup, standard and available features, and how the versions stack. Work through it with a simple discipline: list the features you will actually use weekly — driver assistance, seating comfort, cargo flexibility, connectivity — then find the lowest trim that includes them as standard. Features bundled into higher trims only create value if you would have paid for them separately. Cross-shopping a smaller crossover? Our overview of Chevy Trax features and offers shows how the same trim-by-trim method works at a lower price point. And if your budget points you toward the used market instead, our guide to finding used cars for a few thousand dollars covers how to verify older vehicles the same careful way — ratings and figures are published by model year, so the checks above work for used Muranos too, using that year’s pages.

The test drive: what to confirm in twenty minutes

The Murano’s reputation rests on ride comfort and a quiet cabin, and those are exactly the things to test personally. Drive it on the highway long enough to judge wind and road noise, and over a rough surface to feel how the suspension settles. Sit in the back seat — two-row crossovers live or die by rear legroom and seat comfort on real trips. Fold the rear seats and picture your actual cargo: strollers, luggage, a dog crate, hardware-store runs. Test the driver-assistance features in a safe setting and make sure their alerts feel helpful rather than irritating, because you will live with them daily. Check visibility at the rear quarters, where crossover styling often steals glass.

Buying used instead: the same three checks, one model year at a time

Everything above works for a used Murano too — you just run the checks per model year instead of per trim walk. Pull up the IIHS ratings page for the exact year you are considering, because testing standards and scores change as the institute tightens its protocols, and a strong score for one year does not transfer to another. Do the same on FuelEconomy.gov, where older model years keep their own pages with their original figures and cost estimates. Then spend your remaining effort where used cars actually differ: service records, tire condition and matching, accident and title history, and a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic. A well-kept used Murano with documented maintenance will usually serve a family better than a newer one with a mysterious past, and the public ratings let you confirm the safety and efficiency side of the bargain in minutes.

Ownership costs beyond the sticker

The purchase price is only the down payment on owning any vehicle. Before you sign, get an insurance quote on the exact trim and drivetrain — premiums vary by version and by where you live, and the quote takes minutes online. Ask the dealer or your mechanic what routine maintenance looks like for this vehicle: fluid services, brake and tire replacement intervals, and what the larger scheduled services involve. Tires deserve a special look on crossovers, since a full set in these sizes is a real expense and all-wheel-drive vehicles prefer them replaced together. Finally, drive your likely commute in your head with the FuelEconomy.gov annual cost estimate for your configuration, not the brochure’s best case. If the total monthly picture — payment, fuel, insurance, and a maintenance reserve — fits your budget with room to spare, the Murano’s comfort pitch becomes an easy yes.

A calm way to decide

The Murano makes its case quietly: two rows, an emphasis on comfort, and a size that splits the difference between compact and three-row SUVs. Verify the safety categories on the IIHS page, confirm the fuel figures for your drivetrain on FuelEconomy.gov, and price the lowest trim that carries what you truly use from Nissan’s own lineup. If those three checks come back the way you hoped, the test drive is a confirmation rather than a gamble — and you will know exactly what you are paying for.

Sources

• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — 2025 Nissan Murano Ratings: https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/nissan/murano-4-door-suv/2025
• FuelEconomy.gov — 2025 Nissan Murano: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2025_Nissan_Murano.shtml
• Nissan USA — Murano: https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/crossovers-suvs/murano.html