2021 Nissan Murano vs 2021 Honda CR-V

In 2021, the Honda CR-V was often grouped with other compact crossovers due to its conservative design. People who grew up in the 1950s might have felt a sense of déjà vu, recalling when they claimed that all cars in the 1990s looked alike. The CR-V featured styling that was nearly identical to most other compact crossovers in the market, characterized by a similar "daylight opening" – the shape of the side windows.

Despite these similarities, the CR-V had a few distinctive features. Its grille and some chromed plastic elements provided a bit of differentiation. Honda offered the CR-V in eight exterior colors, though the variety was somewhat misleading. Three shades of gray, black, and white were the dominant choices, with more vibrant hues like Obsidian Blue Pearl, Aegean Blue Metallic, and Radiant Red Metallic limited to higher trims. Finding one of these vibrant colors proved challenging; popular dealers often stocked more conventional tones like white, silver, and black.

The interior of the CR-V varied with the trim levels, available in black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather. Higher trims added wood panels and extra chrome, providing a more upscale appearance. The front and rear seats were notably angular and modern, with sharp edges and detailed stitching. However, competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinct styling, especially at mid-tier levels, posing a challenge for the CR-V's aesthetic appeal.

The Nissan Murano, however, had a different story to tell. A few years back, it was ahead of its time with cutting-edge design. By 2021, its L-shaped LED headlights and heavily contoured front end had become more standard in contemporary car design. The Murano’s interior boasted conservative yet practical styling, focusing on comfort and ease of use rather than innovative design. It ensured that all controls were positioned intuitively, promoting minimal learning curves for the user, further cementing its role as a commuter-friendly, road-trip-ready SUV.

The Murano lineup included four trims: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. The base S trim came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, manual front seats, dual-zone climate control, four USB ports, push-button start, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The higher trims offered more luxurious features, such as the SV's power-adjustable front seats and the SL's leather upholstery. The range-topping Platinum trim indulged riders with semi-aniline premium leather, dark wood accents, and a dual-panel panoramic moonroof, providing a more luxurious ride experience.

Under the hood, the 2021 Honda CR-V offered a consistent drivetrain across all trims. Powered by a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the CR-V delivered steady acceleration and predictable handling, suitable for highway merges and cornering. It clocked approximately 7.8 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, which was respectable though not extraordinary for its class.

The CR-V's continuously variable transmission (CVT) facilitated smooth and efficient driving but lacked the engagement provided by conventional transmissions. This was one area where competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, with their eight-speed automatics, had an edge. The CR-V's standard front-wheel drive (FWD) could be upgraded to all-wheel drive (AWD) for better traction, paralleling most offerings in its segment but falling short of Subaru Forester's standard AWD.

The CR-V featured a unitized body structure with MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension, ensuring a comfortable ride quality free of surprising hiccups. It was a vehicle designed for reliability and smooth driving rather than spirited performance.

In contrast, the Nissan Murano boasted a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, churning out 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. This offered more power than the CR-V, making for excellent low-speed acceleration, perfect for urban driving. However, its CVT also dampened some of the engine's vibrancy at higher speeds, delaying power delivery during high-speed maneuvers.

The Murano's FWD came standard, while AWD was optional. Like the CR-V, its suspension catered to comfort, providing a refined ride suitable for commutes and long trips alike. However, its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, lower than many midsize and even some compact SUVs. This limited its utility for towing needs.

The Honda CR-V, staying true to its roots, centered its design around accommodating five passengers comfortably while maximizing cargo capacity. It offered a generous 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo space with the rear seats folded, slightly more than some competitors like the Toyota RAV4. The CR-V's cargo area was accessible via a standard manual liftgate on the base trims, while higher trims like the EX-L and Touring featured power and hands-free options respectively.

Roof rails were limited to the top Touring trim, a drawback for those needing extra storage functionalities often included in competitive models.

In the Nissan Murano, cargo space was a clear compromise for its design focus. It provided up to 67 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with them in use. This lagged behind competitors like the Hyundai Santa Fe and the cargo king Honda Passport. However, it redeemed itself in ease of use and passenger comfort. The Murano’s interior was filled with convenient storage solutions, and the generous headroom and legroom in the second row underscored its two-row seating design. Rear seats with partial recline added to passenger comfort, a testament to its commuter-friendly design.

In the 2021 Honda CR-V, technology varied significantly by trim level. The base LX trim provided minimal tech features with a 5-inch color screen, offering Bluetooth connectivity but little else. However, higher trims came equipped with a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen integrated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Audio systems also upgraded as you ascended the trim ladder, culminating in a 300-watt system with a subwoofer in the Touring trim.

The CR-V, from the Special Edition trim upwards, featured a range of charging options including front USB ports, a 12-volt outlet, and 2.5-amp USB ports in the rear, with the Touring trim adding a wireless phone charger for added convenience.

The Nissan Murano stood out with its standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, complemented by easy-to-use hard buttons and dials. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a user-friendly interface. Higher trims added luxury with an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and an integrated navigation system.

2021 was a standout year for the Honda CR-V in the safety domain. It earned accolades like the five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. Notably, it didn't clinch the Top Safety Pick+ due to divergent headlight performance and an "Acceptable" rating in the LATCH system's usability.

Where the CR-V excelled was its comprehensive standard safety features offered even at base trim levels. The Honda Sensing suite included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high beams. Only blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were reserved for trims EX and above.

The Nissan Murano also equipped itself well in the safety department with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite. Newly standard features for 2021 included reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. It matched the CR-V with forward automatic emergency braking, collision warning, and driver drowsiness monitoring as standard.

However, premium safety features like a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front-and-rear parking sensors required higher trim levels, making them less accessible to base-trim buyers.