Compare the2023 Nissan MuranoVS 2023 Toyota Rav4

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
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 Rav4 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 Rav4 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 Rav4 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 Rav4’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 Rav4.

Both the Murano and the Rav4 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, 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 Toyota Rav4:

	Murano	Rav4
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	28%	29.3%
Neck Stress	223 lbs.	306 lbs.
Neck Compression	34 lbs.	56 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	242/256 lbs.	400/388 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	266	284
Neck Injury Risk	25%	37.4%
Neck Stress	124 lbs.	258 lbs.
Neck Compression	78 lbs.	95 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	169/236 lbs.	340/190 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 Toyota Rav4:

	Murano	Rav4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	102 lbs.	138 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	31 G’s	49 G’s
Hip Force	299 lbs.	508 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	591 lbs.	835 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 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Rav4 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Murano has a 130-amp alternator. The Rav4’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 33 points higher than the Rav4.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Rav4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Engine

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 Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Murano is faster than the Toyota Rav4:

	Murano	Rav4
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	8.8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	16.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.8 MPH	83.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Murano has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rav4 (19 vs. 14.5 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 Rav4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Murano’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4:

	Murano	Rav4
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	11.1 inches

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 Rav4 are solid, not vented.

The Murano stops much shorter than the Rav4:

	Murano	Rav4
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Murano has larger tires than the Rav4 (235/65R18 vs. 225/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Murano S/SV has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Rav4 LE/XLE. The Murano Midnight/SL/Platinum’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Rav4 XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited.

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 Rav4 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Murano has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Rav4 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Murano’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the Rav4 (111.2 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Murano is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Rav4.

The Murano Platinum AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Rav4 Limited pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Murano Platinum AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Rav4 Limited (27.8 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Murano Platinum AWD is quieter than the Rav4 Limited 4WD (75 vs. 77 dB).

Passenger Space

The Murano has 9.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rav4 (108.1 vs. 98.9).

The Murano has .4 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, 7.5 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Rav4.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Murano’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Rav4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Servicing Ease

The Murano uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Rav4 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Murano SL/Platinum’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Rav4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Murano’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Rav4’s power window (except driver window), power lock and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Murano’s standard variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Rav4 LE’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

When the Murano SL/Platinum is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Rav4’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Murano has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Rav4 XLE/Adventure/Limited/TRD Off-Road.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Murano is less expensive to operate than the Rav4 because it costs $264 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Murano than the Rav4, including $1 less for front brake pads, $22 less for a starter and $190 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Nissan Murano and the Toyota Rav4, 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 Rav4 isn’t in the top three in its category.