Compare the2023 Lincoln NautilusVS 2023 Nissan Murano

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lincoln Nautilus have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Nissan Murano doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Nautilus has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Murano doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Nautilus and the Murano have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, 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 Lincoln Nautilus is safer than the Nissan Murano:

	Nautilus	Murano
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	212	342
Neck Injury Risk	22.4%	28%
Neck Compression	21 lbs.	34 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	44 lbs.	78 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	145/201 lbs.	169/236 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 Lincoln Nautilus is safer than the Nissan Murano:

	Nautilus	Murano
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	84	101
Hip Force	192 lbs.	392 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	148
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	16 inches	17 inches
HIC	257	439
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	425 lbs.	591 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Lincoln Nautilus is much safer than the Murano:

	Nautilus	Murano
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	208	286
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	45 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	1.65 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	9 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	112 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Nautilus the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Murano last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Warranty

The Nautilus comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Murano’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Nautilus 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Murano. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Murano ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in long-term dependability. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lincoln 5 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 240) than the Murano’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Nautilus’ optional 2.7 turbo V6 produces 75 more horsepower (335 vs. 260) and 140 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 240) than the Murano’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Nautilus is faster than the Nissan Murano:

	Nautilus turbo 4 cyl.	Nautilus turbo V6	Murano
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	5.8 sec	7.4 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Nautilus’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Murano doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Nautilus has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Murano doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lincoln Nautilus higher (6 out of 10) than the Nissan Murano (5). This means the Nautilus produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Murano every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Nautilus	Murano
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	12.1 inches
Opt Rear Rotors	13.6 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Nautilus has larger standard tires than the Murano (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Nautilus’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Murano (265/40R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The Nautilus’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Murano S/SV’s standard 65 series tires. The Nautilus’ optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Murano Midnight/SL/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Nautilus offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Murano’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Nautilus has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Murano’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Nautilus offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Murano’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Nautilus Reserve AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Murano Platinum AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Nautilus Reserve AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Murano Platinum AWD (27.1 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

Chassis

The Nautilus uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Murano doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Nautilus has 2.3 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front hip room, .9 inches more rear legroom, .4 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Murano.

Cargo Capacity

The Nautilus has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Murano with its rear seat up (37.2 vs. 32.1 cubic feet). The Nautilus has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Murano with its rear seat folded (68.8 vs. 67 cubic feet).

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

	Nautilus	Murano
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	41.5”/75”	37”/74.4”
Max Width	45”	54”
Min Width	45”	43”
Height	31”	33.7”

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Murano is limited to 1500 pounds. The Nautilus offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Nautilus 2.7 Turbo can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Nautilus can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Murano can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Nautilus uses the AdvanceTrac™ sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Murano doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Nautilus’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Murano’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Nautilus’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Murano’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Nautilus’ exterior PIN entry system. The Murano doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its NissanConnect Services can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Nautilus Reserve/Black Label’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Murano SV/Midnight/SL/Platinum’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Nautilus offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Murano doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Nautilus (except Standard) also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Nautilus’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Murano SV/Midnight/SL/Platinum.

The Nautilus’ standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Murano offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Nautilus Reserve/Black Label offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Murano.

The Nautilus Reserve/Black Label offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Murano doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Nautilus (except Standard)’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Murano doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Nautilus is less expensive to operate than the Murano because typical repairs cost much less on the Nautilus than the Murano, including $337 less for a starter, $223 less for fuel injection, $244 less for a fuel pump, $54 less for front struts and $26 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

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