Compare the2025 Nissan MuranoVS 2025 Lexus NX

The Nissan Murano has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 NX doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Murano Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The NX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Murano and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Murano is safer than the NX:

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 Nissan Murano is safer than the NX:

The Nissan Murano has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The NX is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Murano for 1 year and 14,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the NX (2/24,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 4 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Murano’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is rated lower.

The Murano’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 38 more horsepower (241 vs. 203) and 76 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 184) than the NX 250’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Murano’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 1 more horsepower (241 vs. 240) than the NX 350h AWD’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Both the Murano and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Muranos have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 AWD requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Murano has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (18.7 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Murano, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the NX.

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

The Murano stops shorter than the NX:

For better traction, the Murano has larger tires than the NX (255/55R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The Murano’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Murano has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the NX.

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 NX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Murano offers an optional 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 NX; 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.

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

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Murano is 3.5 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than on the NX.

The Murano Platinum AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the NX 450h+ AWD (28 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Murano has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD (8.3 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Murano to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Murano’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the NX (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches).

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

The Murano has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, 4.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 4.4 inches more rear hip room and 4.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (32.9 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

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

The Murano’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Murano to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The NX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Murano Platinum has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the NX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Nissan Murano has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Wireless charging costs extra on the NX.