2020 Nissan Murano vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2020 Nissan Murano had the face of the last generation of Nissan products. While its styling was updated for the 2019 model year with a refreshed grille, redesigned LED headlights and taillights, added fog lights, new wheel designs, and additional paint color choices, the Murano’s exterior design remained attractive, just not particularly modern. This became glaringly apparent as the redesigned Nissan Pathfinder and Armada debuted, leaving the Murano as one of the only models without Nissan’s new looks.

Nissan sold the Murano in S, SV, SL, and Platinum grades for 2020. Midrange and higher trim levels received an upgrade to include more standard features. The Murano SV now had heated outside mirrors, adaptive cruise control, and rear sonar. The Murano SL built on that and added traffic-sign recognition technology. The top-tier Murano Platinum had a new leather-wrapped steering wheel. One new exterior paint option was added—Super Black. The Murano rode on standard 18-inch machined aluminum-alloy wheels, with the SL and Platinum trims getting 20-inch wheels in different finishes. The interior, especially in the Platinum grade, featured premium appointments but had dated housings, particularly in the center stack, console, and steering wheel.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey had a familiar look that had been tweaked for the new model year. The grille and front bumper were new, every trim level got standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and a new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretched the width of the taillights. New wheel designs also debuted for the top three trim levels, modernizing the Odyssey by reducing brightwork. Buyers continued to select from five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with base prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820.

The test vehicle was Lunar Silver Metallic with Elite trim, priced at $48,940 including the destination charge. New for 2021, the Odyssey Elite included perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, as well as new dashboard ambient lighting, for an upscale look and feel. Most 2021 Odyssey models received seating material and design improvements, and new tri-color floor mats better hid dirt. With its handsome new 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces, toned-down chrome, and a more luxe interior, the Odyssey Elite was closer than ever to credibly serving as the Acura of minivans.

Despite its age, the 2020 Nissan Murano’s standard 3.5-liter V6 engine was a strong point, delivering 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. Though it wasn’t the quickest off the line, once up to speed on the highway, the Murano had no trouble overtaking other vehicles. The powertrain was completed by a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that acted rather quietly compared to other CVTs, especially from the Nissan family of vehicles. The Murano achieved an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined.

The Murano came with a front-wheel-drive (FWD) drivetrain as standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available. When equipped with AWD, the Murano stuck to the road well but had a tendency to pass on a substantial amount of body lean to the passengers. Bumps and other harsh vibrations caused by the terrain were not felt as much in the cabin thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension. The Murano didn’t deliver a connected drive experience like a premium German automaker’s SUV but sat comfortably in the cruiser category. Nissan rated the Murano as having a 1,500-pound towing capacity.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels, making 280 horsepower. The transmission included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, as well as paddle shifters. The engine featured variable cylinder management, a fuel-saving technology that allowed it to operate on fewer cylinders under certain driving conditions, conserving fuel. The EPA estimated the 2021 Odyssey to get 22 mpg in combined driving, and it averaged 21.8 mpg on testing.

All-wheel drive (AWD) was unavailable, putting the front-wheel-drive (FWD) Odyssey at a disadvantage in snowy regions. Honda added a new electronic brake booster to the 2021 Odyssey, supporting a new stop-and-go low-speed following capability for the adaptive cruise control in heavy traffic situations. The Odyssey’s ride and handling qualities contributed to a pleasurable experience from behind the steering wheel. The steering was perfectly weighted, the ride was firm but not uncomfortable, and body motions were expertly managed. However, the brakes did not withstand much abuse, heating up and suffering a bit of fade during testing.

One of the Murano’s best features was its Zero Gravity seats, providing comfort for hundreds of miles and considered some of the best in the industry. The Murano had more headroom than the Lexus RX but less front legroom. It offered over an inch more shoulder room in the second row compared to the RX. The Murano had 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 2021 Rogue, thanks to differences in hip and shoulder room. The Murano had up to 32.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row upright and up to 67.0 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The Murano’s low cargo floor and easy-to-fold rear seats made storing purchases easy. A power liftgate was standard in the top two trim levels. The Murano also featured standard dual-zone automatic climate control and keyless entry. Available features included leather-appointed seating, a heated steering wheel, steering-wheel position memory, driver’s seat and outside-mirror memory, and remote engine start with climate control functionality. A dual-pane panoramic moonroof was standard on Platinum models and available on the SL.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered legible instrumentation, logical controls, and lots of storage. A 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat was standard in all but the base LX trim level. The Elite trim included a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row seats featured Honda’s Magic Slide layout, allowing for various seating modes. The third-row seats accommodated both children and adults with ease.

Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 32.8 cubic feet, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat tumbled into the cargo well. The maximum volume was 144.9 cubic feet. However, to use the maximum cargo volume, the second-row seats had to be physically removed. For 2021, the seats folded flatter, increasing utility when not removed and making them easier to remove.

The 2020 Murano came standard with an 8-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, four USB ports, Bluetooth, satellite radio, a six-speaker audio system, and voice recognition. Buyers could upgrade to an 11-speaker Bose audio system, HD Radio, and navigation. Murano Platinum buyers had NissanConnect Services capability, including automatic collision notification, emergency call, and stolen vehicle locator. Remote functionalities included start/stop, lock/unlock, flash lights, sound horn, and customizable alerts.

Starting with EX trim, the 2021 Odyssey was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink connectivity, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. Touring trim added a navigation system, HondaLink subscription service plans, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium sound system, multi-zone listening options, and wireless smartphone charging.

Touring and Elite trims were available with HondaLink Security, Remote, and Concierge subscription plans. HondaLink Security included automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, enhanced roadside assistance, and a “personal data wipe” function. HondaLink Remote added safe teen driver functions, Find My Car function, remote operation of the engine and door locks, and Key by Amazon in-vehicle package delivery service. HondaLink Concierge provided access to a personal assistant.

For the 2020 model year, Nissan added its Safety Shield 360 to the Murano’s roster as standard equipment on SV, SL, and Platinum trim levels. The suite included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring and warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Murano earned all "good" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) except in the headlight category and received a "superior" mark in the front crash prevention test. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the Murano with all five-star marks except in the rollover category, where it received four stars.

Honda improved the Odyssey’s safety for 2021, making Honda Sensing standard with base LX trim. Honda Sensing expanded its capabilities with a new radar unit and standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist. The Odyssey added low-speed follow capability to the adaptive cruise control, pedestrian braking, a road-sign recognition system, and a new Honda Sensing menu button. The Odyssey’s ADAS worked accurately but could apply too much or uneven braking. The lane-departure warning system wobbled the steering wheel to notify the driver of potential danger.

The Odyssey earned top five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for every assessment except rollover resistance, for which it earned a four-star score.