Compare the2022 Nissan MuranoVS 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Murano are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Nissan Murano has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Murano has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Murano’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

The Murano SL/Platinum has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Grand Cherokee only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Murano’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Murano and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Murano is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Murano	Grand Cherokee
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	28%	28%
Leg Forces (l/r)	242/256 lbs.	401/317 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	266	298
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	25%	30%
Neck Stress	124 lbs.	170 lbs.
Neck Compression	78 lbs.	122 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	169/236 lbs.	314/94 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Nissan Murano is safer than the Grand Cherokee:

	Murano	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	87	172
Steering Column Movement Rearward	1 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	2.1/.6 kN	4.9/2.3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	3%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Tibia index R/L	.72/.35	1.06/.54
Tibia forces R/L	2.1/.7 kN	2.3/1.3 kN

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Murano is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Murano	Grand Cherokee
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	102 G’s	126 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	31 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	299 lbs.	689 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	591 lbs.	652 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Murano is 1% to 5.3% less likely to roll over than the Grand Cherokee.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Murano its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grand Cherokee is not even a standard “Top Pick.”

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Murano has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Murano’s reliability 22 points higher than the Grand Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Grand Cherokee isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 8th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan 21st in reliability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 6 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Murano is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee V6:

	Murano	Grand Cherokee
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	7.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.8 MPH	88.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Murano gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee:

			MPG
Murano
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/28 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/28 hwy
Grand Cherokee
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Nissan Murano as an “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV). The Jeep Grand Cherokee is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

Transmission

The Murano has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a CVT.

Tires and Wheels

The Murano has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Murano Platinum AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Murano Platinum AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 (27.8 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The Nissan Murano may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 1100 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Murano has an electronically controlled liquid-filled front engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The Grand Cherokee uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The design of the Nissan Murano amounts to more than styling. The Murano has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .31 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Grand Cherokee (.371) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Murano get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Murano uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Murano has 2.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (108.1 vs. 105.4).

The Murano has .2 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee.

The front step up height for the Murano is 4.7 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee (15.8” vs. 20.5”). The Murano’s rear step up height is 5.7 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee’s (15.1” vs. 20.8”).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Murano easier. The Murano’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 32.4 inches.

The Murano’s cargo area is larger than the Grand Cherokee’s in almost every dimension:

	Murano	Grand Cherokee
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37”/74.4”	38.5”/74.2”
Max Width	54”	47.6”
Min Width	43”	41.7”
Height	33.7”	33.5”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Murano’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Murano’s liftgate can be opened just by waving your foot, leaving your hands completely free. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

If the front windows are left open on the Murano the driver can close them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Murano’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Grand Cherokee’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Murano’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Grand Cherokee’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Nissan Murano offers an available wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Murano is less expensive to operate than the Grand Cherokee because typical repairs cost much less on the Murano than the Grand Cherokee, including $214 less for a muffler, $36 less for front brake pads and $45 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Murano, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee isn't recommended.

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