Compare the2023 Nissan MuranoVS 2023 Chevrolet Blazer

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Blazer doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Blazer 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 Blazer doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Murano has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Blazer’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Murano has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Blazer.

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 Blazer doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Murano and the Blazer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, rearview cameras, 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 Chevrolet Blazer:

	Murano	Blazer
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	242/256 lbs.	104/435 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	266	313
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	25%	43%
Neck Stress	124 lbs.	124 lbs.
Neck Compression	78 lbs.	140 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 Chevrolet Blazer:

	Murano	Blazer
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	102 lbs.	157 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	148	251
Spine Acceleration	31 G’s	45 G’s
Hip Force	299 lbs.	673 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	591 lbs.	695 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 Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 89 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Blazer last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Murano’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Blazer’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Blazer was rated second.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 4 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Murano’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 32 more horsepower (260 vs. 228) than the Blazer’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Murano gets better mileage than the Blazer:

			MPG
Murano
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/28 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/28 hwy
Blazer
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Blazer with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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 Blazer doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Murano’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Blazer are solid, not vented.

The Murano stops much shorter than the Blazer:

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

Passenger Space

The Murano has .1 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 1 inch more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Blazer.

The front step up height for the Murano is 2.6 inches lower than the Blazer (15.8” vs. 18.4”). The Murano’s rear step up height is 3.9 inches lower than the Blazer’s (15.1” vs. 19”).

Cargo Capacity

The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Blazer with its rear seat up (32.1 vs. 30.5 cubic feet). The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Blazer with its rear seat folded (67 vs. 64.2 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Murano’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Blazer’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

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 Blazer can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Blazer doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Murano SV/Midnight/SL/Platinum’s standard wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Blazer’s 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 Blazer’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Murano is less expensive to operate than the Blazer because it costs $509 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Murano than the Blazer, including $95 less for front brake pads, $271 less for a timing belt/chain and $107 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Blazer was rated second.

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