2021 Nissan Murano vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda’s fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior featured curvy, car-like lines with a family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup, giving it a station wagon-like appearance rather than a traditional SUV look. Inside, the CR-V’s interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery in higher trims clashing with some low-quality plastics. This contrast reminded drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were still upgrades of a commodity car rather than true premium products.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Murano had a design that was once cutting-edge but had become more mainstream. Its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end were no longer unique but still attractive. The interior and dash design were conservative, focusing on comfort and ease of use, making it an ideal vehicle for commutes and road trips. The Murano’s restrained cabin styling meant that all controls were intuitively placed, minimizing the learning curve for new drivers.

The 2020 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine across all trims, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain provided a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency, with the CR-V feeling quick, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V’s car-like road manners, nimble handling, and low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its excellent driving dynamics. Fuel economy was impressive, with FWD models rated at 30 mpg combined and AWD models at 29 mpg.

The 2021 Nissan Murano, on the other hand, was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque, also paired with a CVT. This V6 engine provided strong low-speed acceleration, making it great for city driving, though the CVT could dull its power at higher speeds. The Murano’s ride was comfort-focused, with refined driving characteristics that allowed it to handle corners well while absorbing road bumps. However, its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, which was lower than many competitors.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The cargo area was also spacious, offering 75.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The CR-V featured a smart two-position load floor and large door pockets, making it easy to store and access items. The center console had a deep well with a sliding cover, inspired by Honda’s Odyssey minivan, providing ample storage space.

The 2021 Nissan Murano offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with the seats in use. While this was less than some competitors, the Murano made up for it with ease of use. The interior featured a traditional shifter design and a center console with trays and cubbies for small items. The Murano’s focus on two rows of seating provided ample headroom and legroom for all passengers, with the second-row seats offering partial reclining functionality.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 5-inch screen in the LX trim that lacked features. Higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, which still felt small compared to competitors. The system was challenging to operate, with no hard buttons and a cumbersome interface. However, the CR-V did offer plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was easy to use, with a sensible menu layout and hard buttons and dials for quick access. It also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features. Available tech upgrades included an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the “Honda Sensing” system, which included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. EX trims and above added blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, though only the Touring trim had LED headlights that scored well in testing.

The 2021 Nissan Murano featured Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard, including reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional standard features included forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Optional safety features included a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front-and-rear parking sensors.