Compare the2022 Nissan MuranoVS 2021 Mercedes GLC

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
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 GLC 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 GLC 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 GLC 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 GLC.

Both the Murano and the GLC 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Mercedes GLC:

	Murano	GLC
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	34 lbs.	87 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	242/256 lbs.	378/445 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	78 lbs.	115 lbs.

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

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 Mercedes GLC:

	Murano	GLC
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	102 G’s	117 G’s
Hip Force	392 lbs.	409 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	31 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	299 lbs.	784 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	591 lbs.	787 lbs.

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

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 GLC has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

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

There are almost 3 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Murano’s warranty.

Reliability

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 20 points higher than the GLC.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The GLC 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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 7 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Engine

The Murano’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 5 more horsepower (260 vs. 255) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

The Murano has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC (19 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 GLC doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Murano stops much shorter than the GLC:

	Murano	GLC
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

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 GLC doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Murano Platinum AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the GLC 300 4MATIC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Murano has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC (6.9 vs. 5 inches), allowing the Murano to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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 GLC 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 GLC (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Murano get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Murano has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC.

The front step up height for the Murano is 4.2 inches lower than the GLC (15.8” vs. 20”). The Murano’s rear step up height is 7.4 inches lower than the GLC’s (15.1” vs. 22.5”).

Cargo Capacity

The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (32.1 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (67 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

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

	Murano	GLC
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37”/74.4”	36.6”/61.3”
Max Width	54”	49.4”
Min Width	43”	43.3”
Height	33.7”	31.1”

Ergonomics

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Murano has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLC only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Murano owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Murano will cost $35 to $1060 less than the GLC over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Murano is less expensive to operate than the GLC because it costs $364 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Murano than the GLC, including $364 less for a water pump, $213 less for a muffler, $160 less for front brake pads, $191 less for a starter, $128 less for fuel injection, $182 less for front struts and $203 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

The Nissan Murano outsold the Mercedes GLC by 11% during 2020.

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