Nissan Murano

Nissan Murano: generations compared: what actually changed

Same name, different output: treat 3.5 CVT as a family, not one engine. On 2 generation, restyling 2 alone the name covers 249, 260, 256 and 265 hp. On 1 generation it covers 231, 234 and 248 hp. Distinguish them by horsepower and drive, as the table does.

1 generation (2002–2008) is the only Murano with a Gasoline 2.5 AT (163 hp, 4-speed Automatic, FWD) and the only 3.5-litre cars timed at 7.9 s to 100 km/h (3.5 CVT 234 hp FWD and 3.5 CVT 248 hp FWD). Fuel 92 appears only on that 2.5 AT; the 3.5-litre cars use 95. Tank 82 L. Ground clearance 180 mm on every measured row.

2 generation (2007–2011) drops the Gasoline 2.5 AT and adds 2.5 CVT 170 hp AWD. The 3.5-litre spread is 234 / 249 / 256 / 260 / 265 hp, all Variable. The 234 hp 3.5 CVT AWD is the thirsty outlier: 17.2 / 9.5 / 12.3 L/100 km, 8.9 s, 200 km/h, 1930 kg, Euro 4. The 249 hp and 256 hp 3.5 CVT AWD share 8.0 s, 210 km/h, 14.9 / 8.6 / 10.9 L/100 km, 261 g/km, 1820 kg — 110 kg lighter and 2.6 L/100 km less mixed than the 234 hp car (12.3 − 10.9). FWD exists only as 3.5 CVT 265 hp at 1765 kg (53 kg less than the 1818 kg AWD 265 hp twin). Clearance 180 mm on the 3.5-litre cars with a figure, 185 mm on 2.5 CVT.

2 generation, restyling (2010–2012) and 2 generation, restyling 2 (2011–2015) keep the same named engines and add the only Diesel: 2.5 AT 190 hp Turbo, 6-speed Automatic, AWD. Restyling 2’s 249 hp 3.5 CVT AWD trims mixed use from 10.9 to 10.6 L/100 km and CO2 from 261 to 248 g/km versus 2 generation 249 hp; 0–100 stays 8.0 s, top speed 210 km/h, kerb falls 30 kg (1820 → 1790). Restyling 2’s 256 hp 3.5 CVT AWD matches that 10.6 / 248 set; the same-named 256 hp car in restyling still shows 10.9 / 261. The 265 hp 3.5 CVT AWD in restyling 2 is the heaviest petrol in that body: 2012 kg (222 kg more than the 1790 kg 249 hp car).

3 generation (2016–2018) cuts the tank from 82 L to 72 L (−10 L) and is the only generation with Hybrid: 2.5 CVT 234 hp, Compressor, AWD, 8.3 s, 210 km/h, 1912 kg. Gasoline is 3.5 CVT only: 249 hp FWD 7.9 s / 1737 kg versus 249 hp AWD 8.2 s / 1818 kg (AWD costs 81 kg and 0.3 s). A third 3.5 CVT is 260 hp, 240 Nm (85 Nm less than the 325 Nm 249 hp cars), Front, longitudinal (the only longitudinal engine in the catalogue), 1778 kg, 175 mm clearance (9 mm lower than the 184 mm 249 hp cars), 11.2 / 8.4 / 9.8 L/100 km — the lowest measured mixed figure among petrol Murano with a reading. Eco class Euro 5. Bore × stroke 96 × 81 versus 95.5 × 81.4 on generation 2.

3 generation, restyling 1 (from 2018) collapses to two names: 3.5 V6 CVT FWD and 3.5 V6 AWD CVT, both 260 hp, 325 Nm, Direct injection (direct), fuel 92, Euro 6, tank 72 L, clearance 175 mm. Mixed 10.2 versus 10.5 L/100 km; AWD adds 66 kg (1734 → 1800) and 0.2 / 0.2 / 0.3 L/100 km. 0–100 not measured on either.

4 generation (from 2024) replaces the 3.5-litre Variable line with 2.0 VC-Turbo AT and 2.0 VC-Turbo AT AWD: 1997 cm³, 241 hp, 353 Nm, Turbo, 4 Inline, 9-speed Automatic, Direct injection (direct), compression 14, tank 71 L. City / highway / mixed are identical on FWD and AWD: 10.2 / 9.8 / 10.2. AWD adds 39 kg (1902 → 1941). Gross 2540 kg both. 0–100, top speed, CO2, eco class, clearance, wheels: not measured.

Engines and specs

Same name, different output: treat 3.5 CVT as a family, not one engine. On 2 generation, restyling 2 alone the name covers 249, 260, 256 and 265 hp. On 1 generation it covers 231, 234 and 248 hp. Distinguish them by horsepower and drive, as the table does.

Specific output (hp per litre of the stated displacement): 4 generation 2.0 VC-Turbo AT 241 / 1.997 ≈ 121 hp/L; 3 generation Hybrid 2.5 CVT 234 / 2.488 ≈ 94 hp/L; Diesel 2.5 AT 190 / 2.488 ≈ 76 hp/L; 2 generation 3.5 CVT 265 hp ≈ 76 hp/L; 2.5 CVT Gasoline 170 / 2.488 ≈ 68 hp/L; 1 generation 2.5 AT 163 / 2.488 ≈ 66 hp/L; 2 generation 3.5 CVT 234 hp ≈ 67 hp/L. The turbo 2.0-litre therefore makes about 1.8 times the hp per litre of the 170 hp 2.5-litre Gasoline.

Performance, mpg, and what is not measured

Fastest measured 0–100: 1 generation 3.5 CVT 234 hp FWD and 3.5 CVT 248 hp FWD, both 7.9 s; 3 generation 3.5 CVT 249 hp FWD also 7.9 s. Slowest measured: 1 generation 3.5 CVT 234 hp AWD at 9.5 s (1.6 s slower than the FWD 234 hp car in the same generation). Diesel 2.5 AT 10.5 s. Hybrid 2.5 CVT 8.3 s. 4 generation 0–100: not measured. Top speed 210 km/h on the measured 249/256 hp 3.5 CVT cars and on 3 generation 249 hp and Hybrid; 200 km/h on the 234 hp AWD cars of generations 1 and 2; 196 km/h on Diesel 2.5 AT. Many 2.5 CVT Gasoline rows and both 4 generation cars: top speed not measured.

Mixed consumption, where measured: Diesel 2.5 AT 8.0 L/100 km is 2.6 L/100 km below restyling 2 3.5 CVT 249/256 hp at 10.6, and 4.3 below the 12.3 of 1 generation / 2 generation 234 hp AWD. 3 generation 3.5 CVT 260 hp 9.8 mixed is 0.8 below restyling 2’s 10.6. 3 generation, restyling 1 3.5 V6 CVT 10.2 mixed vs 4 generation 10.2 mixed — same mixed number, but generation 4 uses a 71 L tank versus 72 L, and city is 10.2 versus 11.8 on the FWD restyling 1 car (1.6 L/100 km less in town). Highway on generation 4 is 9.8 versus 8.4 on that FWD restyling 1 car (1.4 more on the highway). CO2: Diesel 210 g/km versus 248 (restyling 2 249/256 hp) or 261 (generation 2 249/256/234 hp). Eco class: Euro 4 only on 2 generation 3.5 CVT 234 hp; Euro 5 on 3 generation; Euro 6 on 3 generation, restyling 1; not measured on generation 1, most of generation 2, and generation 4.

2.5 CVT Gasoline 170 hp: 0–100, top speed, and all three consumption figures not measured in every generation that offers it. Buying that version is a weight-and-drive decision, not a timed one.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Lightest measured kerb: 1 generation 3.5 CVT 248 hp FWD at 1588 kg (6.4 kg/hp). Next: 1 generation 2.5 AT 1640 kg (10.1 kg/hp). Heaviest petrol in restyling 2: 3.5 CVT 265 hp AWD 2012 kg (7.6 kg/hp). Heaviest overall kerb in the catalogue: 4 generation 2.0 VC-Turbo AT AWD 1941 kg — except restyling 2’s 2012 kg 265 hp car is heavier still. Diesel 2.5 AT 1895 kg; Hybrid 1912 kg.

AWD weight tax on matched twins: 2 generation, restyling 2 2.5 CVT 170 hp 80 kg (1740 − 1660); 3 generation 3.5 CVT 249 hp 81 kg (1818 − 1737); 3 generation, restyling 1 66 kg (1800 − 1734); 4 generation 39 kg (1941 − 1902). Gross peaks at Diesel 2495 kg, then 4 generation 2540 kg; 1 generation 248 hp FWD gross 2204 kg.

Ground clearance: 185 mm on 2.5 CVT of generation 2 and both restyles; 178 mm on restyling 2 3.5 CVT 249 hp; 180 mm on generation 1 and most generation 2 3.5-litre cars; 184 mm on 3 generation 249 hp and Hybrid; 175 mm on 3 generation 260 hp and both restyling 1 cars. Diesel clearance not measured. 4 generation clearance not measured.

Tank: 82 L through generations 1–2; 72 L generation 3 and restyling 1; 71 L generation 4. Wheels, where listed, are 235/55 R20 and 235/65 R18 (order swapped on some Diesel and 256 hp rows). Many 3.5-litre and both 4 generation cars: wheels not measured. Suspension is Independent, spring front and rear on every row. Front brakes Ventilated disc on every row; rear is Disc or Disc ventilated as in the table source.

Which version to choose

Highway litres and torque. 2.5 AT Diesel, 2 generation, restyling 2 or 2 generation, restyling: 450 Nm at 2000 rpm versus 245 Nm at 3900 on Gasoline 2.5 CVT, and versus 334–336 Nm at 4400 on the 3.5-litre Variable cars of those bodies. Mixed 8.0 versus 10.6 is 2.6 L/100 km. 0–100 is 10.5 s versus 8.0 s on the 249/256 hp 3.5 CVT — 2.5 s slower, 14 km/h less top speed (196 vs 210). Gross 2495 kg is the highest among generation 2. Clearance not measured. Choose this when the arithmetic that matters is Nm and L/100 km, not seconds.

Lightest 3.5-litre FWD with a time. 1 generation 3.5 CVT 248 hp FWD: 1588 kg, 7.9 s, 333 Nm. The AWD twin is 1845 kg and 8.5 s — 257 kg and 0.6 s. Mixed on the AWD twin 12.3 L/100 km; FWD consumption not measured. If the same generation’s 234 hp FWD 3.5 CVT also times 7.9 s but weighs 1915 kg, the 248 hp FWD is 327 kg lighter at the same sprint figure.

Avoid if mixed fuel is the gate. 1 generation 3.5 CVT 234 hp AWD and 2 generation 3.5 CVT 234 hp AWD: 17.2 / 9.5 / 12.3 L/100 km. Versus restyling 2 3.5 CVT 249 hp at 14.8 / 8.3 / 10.6, that is +2.4 city, +1.2 highway, +1.7 mixed, and 8.9–9.5 s instead of 8.0 s. The 234 hp cars are the ones the 249/256 hp restyles replaced on paper.

Four-cylinder Gasoline, smallest kerb. 2.5 CVT 170 hp FWD in 2 generation, restyling and restyling 2: 1660 kg, 185 mm, tank 82 L, 235/55 R20 or 235/65 R18. AWD adds 80 kg. Power 79 hp below the 249 hp 3.5 CVT (249 − 170). 0–100 and mpg not measured — do not invent them. 1 generation 2.5 AT 163 hp is the other four-cylinder Gasoline: 4-speed Automatic, FWD, 1640 kg, fuel 92, 0–100 not measured.

3 generation if you want Hybrid or Euro 5 and a 72 L tank. Hybrid 2.5 CVT 234 hp AWD: 330 Nm, 8.3 s, 210 km/h, 1912 kg, Compressor, Euro 5. Consumption not measured, so it cannot be ranked on L/100 km against the Diesel. Among petrol in this generation, 3.5 CVT 249 hp FWD is the timed pick (7.9 s, 1737 kg); AWD is 8.2 s / 1818 kg. The 260 hp 3.5 CVT AWD has the lowest petrol mixed figure in the whole catalogue (9.8) but 240 Nm — 85 Nm below the 249 hp cars’ 325 Nm — and 175 mm clearance. 0–100 on that 260 hp car: not measured.

3 generation, restyling 1 if you want Euro 6 and Direct injection (direct) with fuel 92. Only two versions. FWD 3.5 V6 CVT 1734 kg, 10.2 mixed; AWD 3.5 V6 AWD CVT 1800 kg, 10.5 mixed. Same 260 hp / 325 Nm. 0–100 not measured. Versus 3 generation 249 hp FWD you gain 11 hp (260 − 249) and lose the 7.9 s figure (not measured). Versus that generation’s 260 hp car you gain 85 Nm (325 − 240) and 0.4 L/100 km mixed (10.2 vs 9.8 on FWD vs the older 260 hp AWD — different drive, so the mixed gap is not a like-for-like tax).

4 generation if you want Automatic 9, Turbo, and matching FWD/AWD fuel figures. 2.0 VC-Turbo AT 241 hp, 353 Nm from 1997 cm³, compression 14, tank 71 L, 1902 kg FWD / 1941 kg AWD. Mixed 10.2 matches restyling 1 FWD mixed and beats restyling 2 3.5-litre mixed 10.6 by 0.4 L/100 km, with 11 L less tank (82 − 71). Nm 353 is 19 below Diesel 450 and 19 above restyling 1’s 325. kg/hp: 1902/241 ≈ 7.9 versus restyling 1 FWD 1734/260 ≈ 6.7 — generation 4 is heavier per horsepower. 0–100 not measured; do not rank it against the 7.9–8.2 s 3.5-litre cars on sprint.

Same-name 3.5 CVT ladder inside restyling 2. 249 hp: 1790 kg, 8.0 s, 210 km/h, 10.6 mixed, 178 mm, wheels not measured. 256 hp: same 1790 kg, 8.0 s, 210 km/h, 10.6 mixed, clearance not measured, wheels 235/65 R18 and 235/55 R20. 260 hp: 1850 kg (+60), 336 Nm (+2), 0–100 / top speed / mpg / CO2 not measured, 185 mm, wheels listed. 265 hp: 2012 kg (+222 vs 249 hp), 8.0 s, top speed / mpg / tank not measured, 183 mm. The measured sprint does not improve from 249 to 265 hp; the kerb does. If the 8.0 s figure is the buy gate, 249 hp and 256 hp already have it at 1790 kg.

FWD versus AWD when both exist. Extra mass is 39–81 kg depending on generation, as above. Timed gaps exist only where both were measured: 1 generation 234 hp 7.9 vs 9.5 s; 1 generation 248 hp 7.9 vs 8.5 s; 3 generation 249 hp 7.9 vs 8.2 s. 4 generation FWD and AWD share 10.2 / 9.8 / 10.2; the 39 kg is the only measured AWD difference.

Problems and reliability are not in this dataset; they are not measured here. The choice that the numbers support is: Diesel 2.5 AT for torque and mixed L/100 km; 1 generation 3.5 CVT 248 hp FWD for kg and a 7.9 s time; 2.5 CVT 170 hp FWD for lowest restyle kerb if you accept consumption not measured; 3 generation Hybrid 2.5 CVT for the only Hybrid; 3 generation, restyling 1 3.5 V6 CVT for Euro 6 and fuel 92; 4 generation 2.0 VC-Turbo AT for 9 gears, 121 hp/L, and FWD/AWD fuel parity.