Compare the2023 Nissan MuranoVS 2023 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Murano has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Both the Murano and the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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, 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon:

	Murano	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	28%	30%
Leg Forces (l/r)	242/256 lbs.	387/481 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	25%	29%
Neck Compression	78 lbs.	113 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	169/236 lbs.	257/308 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon:

	Murano	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	101	132
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	102 lbs.	149 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	148	215
Spine Acceleration	31 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	299 lbs.	594 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	591 lbs.	836 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Murano 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 35 points higher than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 9 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a CVT.

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Murano has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For greater off-road capability the Murano has a 1.15 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (6.9 vs. 5.75 inches), allowing the Murano to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Nissan Murano may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 700 pounds less than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The front grille of the Murano uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Murano has 2.4 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Murano’s rear seats recline. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s middle row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon with its rear seat folded (67 vs. 64 cubic feet).

The Murano’s cargo area is larger than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s in almost every dimension:

	Murano	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37”/74.4”	46.3”/78.9”
Max Width	54”	43.3”
Min Width	43”	32.2”
Height	33.7”	32.2”

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Model Availability

The Murano is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Murano owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Murano will cost $9455 to $10235 less than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Murano is less expensive to operate than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon because it costs $318 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Murano than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon, including $281 less for a water pump, $520 less for a muffler, $360 less for a starter, $96 less for fuel injection, $259 less for a timing belt/chain and $28 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Nissan Murano will be $29259 to $39251 less than for the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Murano, 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon isn’t in the top three.

The Nissan Murano outsold the Mercedes E-Class/CLS by 60% during 2022.