Compare the2022 Nissan MuranoVS 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Murano are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Land Rover Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Range Rover Velar 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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Murano has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Compared to metal, the Murano’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Land Rover Range Rover Velar has a metal gas tank.

Both the Murano and the Range Rover Velar have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Range Rover Velar has not been tested, yet.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Murano 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Land Rover covers the Range Rover Velar. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Range Rover Velar ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 6 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Murano’s warranty.

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 52 points higher than the Range Rover Velar.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Range Rover Velar isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

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 Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan 21st in reliability. With 116 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is ranked 33rd.

The Murano’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 13 more horsepower (260 vs. 247) than the Range Rover Velar P250’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Murano gets better mileage than the Range Rover Velar:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Range Rover Velar requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Murano stops much shorter than the Range Rover Velar:

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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Murano Platinum AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Range Rover Velar pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Murano Platinum AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Range Rover Velar (27.8 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Murano has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and 3.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Range Rover Velar.

The Murano’s cargo area is larger than the Range Rover Velar’s in almost every dimension:

The Murano has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Murano has standard extendable sun visors. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Murano is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Murano owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Murano will cost $3465 to $8395 less than the Range Rover Velar over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Nissan Murano will be $23379 to $31993 less than for the Land Rover Range Rover Velar.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Murano, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Land Rover Range Rover Velar isn't recommended.

The Nissan Murano outsold the Land Rover Range Rover Velar by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.