Compare the2022 Nissan MuranoVS 2022 Lexus NX

Both the Murano and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 NX has not been tested, yet.

There are over 4 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Murano’s warranty.

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

The Murano’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 57 more horsepower (260 vs. 203) and 56 lbs.-ft. more torque (240 vs. 184) than the NX 250’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Murano’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 21 more horsepower (260 vs. 239) than the NX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Murano has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (19 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Murano stops much shorter than the NX:

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 NX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Murano has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Murano’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the NX (111.2 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Murano is 1.4 inches wider in the front and .6 inches wider in the rear than on the NX.

The Murano Platinum AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the NX 450h AWD pulls only .79 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 NX 450h AWD (27.8 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

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 NX (.35) 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 NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Murano Platinum AWD is quieter than the NX 350 AWD:

The Murano has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room and 4.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The front step up height for the Murano is 2 inches lower than the NX (15.8” vs. 17.8”). The Murano’s rear step up height is 3.1 inches lower than the NX’s (15.1” vs. 18.2”).

The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (32.1 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (67 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

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

The Murano’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

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 NX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Insurance will cost less for the Murano owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Murano will cost $705 less than the NX over a five-year period.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Murano, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Nissan Murano outsold the Lexus NX by 2471 units during 2020.