Compare the2023 Nissan MuranoVS 2023 Ford Edge

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Model Availability
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 Edge doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Edge 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 use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Edge doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Murano SL/Platinum has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Edge only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Murano and the Edge have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and available all wheel drive.

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 Ford Edge:

	Murano	Edge
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	223 lbs.	229 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	242/256 lbs.	165/596 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	266	282
Neck Injury Risk	25%	35.2%
Neck Stress	124 lbs.	197 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, results indicate that the Nissan Murano is safer than the Ford Edge:

	Murano	Edge
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	102 lbs.	190 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	31 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	299 lbs.	635 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 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Edge is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Reliability

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 3 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The Murano’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 10 more horsepower (260 vs. 250) than the Edge’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Murano is faster than the Ford Edge turbo 4 cyl.:

	Murano	Edge
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	8.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	19.4 sec	23.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.6 sec	9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.8 sec	4.3 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.9 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	86 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Murano
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/28 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/28 hwy
Edge
	AWD	2.7 turbo V6	19 city/25 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Edge requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Murano has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Edge. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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 Edge 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 standard on the Edge AWD are solid, not vented.

The Murano stops much shorter than the Edge:

	Murano	Edge
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	187 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	129 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 Edge doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Murano Platinum AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Edge Titanium pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Murano Platinum AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Edge Titanium (27.8 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Murano’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Edge’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

Chassis

The Nissan Murano may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Ford Edge.

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 Edge uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Murano Platinum AWD is quieter than the Edge Titanium (66 vs. 68 dB).

Passenger Space

The front step up height for the Murano is 1.7 inches lower than the Edge (15.8” vs. 17.5”). The Murano’s rear step up height is 2.9 inches lower than the Edge’s (15.1” vs. 18”).

Ergonomics

The Murano’s front power windows 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 Edge’s passenger windows don’t open or 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 Edge can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Edge’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

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 Edge’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Model Availability

The Murano is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Edge doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Murano is less expensive to operate than the Edge because it costs $155 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Murano than the Edge, including $205 less for a muffler, $31 less for front brake pads and $115 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

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

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2016 issue and they ranked the Nissan Murano Platinum AWD higher than the Ford Edge ST.

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 Edge isn’t in the top three.