Compare the2025 Nissan MuranoVS 2025 Mazda CX-5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Nissan Murano 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 Mazda CX-5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 CX-5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 CX-5 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Compared to metal, the Murano’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mazda CX-5 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Murano and the CX-5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 CX-5 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Murano for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-5.

There are almost 2 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Mazda 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 Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 66 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

The Murano’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 more horsepower (241 vs. 187) and 75 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 185) than the CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Murano is faster than the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl.:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-5 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Murano has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-5 (18.7 vs. 15.3 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 a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-5.

For better stopping power the Murano’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-5:

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 CX-5 are solid, not vented.

The Murano stops shorter than the CX-5:

For better traction, the Murano has larger tires than the CX-5 (255/55R20 vs. 225/65R17).

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 CX-5’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Murano has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CX-5. The CX-5’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

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 CX-5 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Murano’s wheelbase is 5 inches longer than on the CX-5 (111.2 inches vs. 106.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Murano is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 3.9 inches wider in the rear than on the CX-5.

The Murano Platinum AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-5 (28 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Murano has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-5 (8.3 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Murano to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Murano’s minimum ground clearance is .4 inch higher than on the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo (8.3 vs. 7.9 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 CX-5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Murano has 8.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-5 (112 vs. 103.6).

The Murano has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room and 3.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-5.

The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-5 with its rear seat up (32.9 vs. 29.1 cubic feet). The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-5 with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 59.3 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Murano. The CX-5 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Murano Platinum’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Murano’s standard Intelligent Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the CX-5 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Pushbutton Start is not available on the CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium.

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 CX-5’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Murano to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CX-5 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Murano’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the CX-5 Premium/Turbo.

When the Murano SL/Platinum is put in reverse, the rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The CX-5’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 CX-5.

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 CX-5 Select/Preferred/Carbon Edition/Premium/Turbo.

Both the Murano and the CX-5 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Murano has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The CX-5 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to traditional radio, the Nissan Murano’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo.

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. Only the CX-5 Carbon/Premium Plus/Turbo offers wireless charging.

The Murano is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-5 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.