2021 Nissan Murano vs 2022 Nissan Pathfinder

A few years ago, the design of the 2021 Nissan Murano was considered cutting-edge and even futuristic. However, its L-shaped LED headlights and heavily contoured front end had become more commonplace in car design. The interior and dashboard of the Murano were more conservative and less flashy, focusing on comfort and usability. The cabin’s restrained styling meant that controls were intuitively placed, minimizing the learning curve for new drivers.

The Murano was offered in four trims: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. The base S trim came with 18-inch alloy wheels, manual front seats, dual-zone climate control, four USB ports, push-button start, remote keyless entry, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Stepping up to the SV trim added power-adjustable front seats, adaptive cruise control, remote start, fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, black roof rails, heated side mirrors, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The SL trim packed in more features, including 20-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, ambient cabin lighting, a Bose premium stereo system, and navigation integrated into the infotainment system. The top-tier Platinum trimmed added luxurious touches like a dual-panel panoramic moonroof, semi-aniline premium leather with Prima-Tex protection, dark wood interior accents, and ventilated front seats.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder represented a significant evolution, incorporating modern design cues from Nissan’s SUV lineup. Its front end featured a new take on Nissan's signature V-motion grille, which was similar to the Rogue and Armada. The new, refined Nissan logo adorned the Pathfinder’s three-slot grille, an homage to the original Pathfinder. The LED headlights and sleek LED daytime running lights complemented the robust C-pillar, reinforcing a connection to the Pathfinder’s past. The Pathfinder offered a variety of 14 paint jobs and color combinations, with the option of a black roof that extended onto the C-pillar.

The vehicle’s side panels and hood gave the Pathfinder a more rugged and on-trend appearance, akin to the designs of the Kia Telluride. The rear featured sleek taillights wrapping around a large liftgate emblazoned with bold, gate-wide badging. These aesthetic changes imparted a robust and capable look.

Nissan made the Pathfinder 0.6 inches wider and increased its track by 1.2 inches, giving it a more planted look. Despite being 0.2 inches higher and 0.8 inches shorter end-to-end, the new Pathfinder offered better legroom than its predecessor.

Available trims included S, SV, SL, and Platinum. All models featured body-color door handles, chrome badging, and a chrome grille, with privacy glass on rear, rear-quarter, and liftgate windows. A panoramic moonroof and roof rack were standard on the SV trim and higher.

The Pathfinder came standard with eight-passenger seating, except for the Platinum trim, which had second-row captain’s chairs, reducing capacity to seven. SL and SV buyers could opt for the captain’s chairs as well. Cloth upholstery came standard on S and SV trims, while the SL and Platinum grades boasted semi-aniline leather-appointed seats (quilted on the Platinum).

The 2021 Nissan Murano was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), channeling power to either standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD).

The V6 engine provided strong low-speed acceleration, making it effective off the line and during city driving. However, the CVT tended to dampen the engine's power at higher speeds, leading to a slight delay when attempting to overtake on the highway. The Murano prioritized comfort, offering a ride that absorbed road bumps well while maintaining refined driving characteristics. These attributes made it well-suited for commuting and road trips.

One area where the Murano fell short was its towing capacity, maxing out at 1,500 pounds when properly equipped. This was one of the lowest towing capacities in its class, with several compact SUVs outperforming it in this respect.

Though Nissan retained the same 3.5-liter V6 engine in the 2022 Pathfinder as in previous models, it provided ample power with 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. The key upgrade was the replacement of the old CVT with a new nine-speed automatic transmission. This new transmission, borrowed from ZF, coupled with an electronic shift-by-wire drive selector and paddle shifters, offered a smoother gear transition.

The Pathfinder was available in FWD and AWD configurations. FWD models featured a five-position drive mode selector, while AWD models came with seven drive and terrain modes. Standard hill-start assist and hill descent control (exclusive to AWD models) further enhanced its capabilities.

With the new powertrain setup, the FWD Pathfinder achieved an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. The AWD variant increased highway fuel efficiency by one mpg while maintaining 23 mpg combined. The fully-equipped AWD Pathfinder Platinum had the lowest fuel efficiency in the lineup at 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. A new capless fuel filler added convenience for owners.

Although built on the existing architecture, Nissan significantly improved the Pathfinder's platform and equipment, resulting in a stable ride that absorbed road imperfections well. The steering was reasonably connected, and the Pathfinder's tight turning radius made it more maneuverable than rivals like the Highlander, Pilot, Explorer, Telluride, and Palisade. The Pathfinder boasted a 6,000-pound maximum towing capacity and featured a Class II tow hitch and trailer harness (standard in the Platinum grade). Stabilizing trailer sway control technology improved towing stability, rivaling that of the Subaru Ascent.

The 2021 Murano offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down, and 32.1 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. This was lower than some competitors; for instance, the Hyundai Santa Fe offered up to 72.1 cubic feet, and the Honda Passport provided a whopping 100.7 cubic feet. The SL and Platinum trims compensated somewhat with a hands-free power liftgate for easier access.

Despite its less competitive cargo space, the Murano excelled in usability. The traditional shifter design and a center console filled with trays and cubbies made storing small items convenient. The Murano was particularly commendable for its spacious two-row seating. Front and rear passengers enjoyed ample headroom and legroom, and the second-row seats even had partial reclining functionality, enhancing long-trip comfort.

Nissan engineered the 2022 Pathfinder with family comfort and functionality in mind. Sound insulation improvements to carpeting, doors, and floors, along with front-row acoustic laminated glass and thicker second-row glass, minimized road noise infiltration into the cabin.

The Pathfinder’s design focused on flexibility, aiding in loading and unloading people and goods. The use of Intelligent Key on rear doors, wide-opening doors, optional second-row captain’s chairs, and the ability to fit three car seats across the second-row bench were all consumer-driven additions. The Pathfinder could accommodate up to five car seats and claimed best-in-class front-seat legroom plus five extra inches of third-row hip room.

A highlight was the EZ Flex Latch and Glide second-row seat tech, featuring a button on the outboard seats enabling easy access to the third row without removing a forward-facing car seat. An equally nifty feature was the removable second-row center console, facilitating easier movement and accessible storage.

The front center console provided 13.4 liters of storage space, more than doubling traditional capacity thanks to the electric shifter. Behind the third row, the Pathfinder offered 16.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity, enough for substantial luggage. Folding the third row flat revealed 45.0 cubic feet, and folding both second and third rows flat yielded 80.5 cubic feet. A flush rear cargo space accommodated large items like four-foot-wide plywood sheets without hassle, and under-floor storage added further utility.

Comfort was ample across the board, although three adults in the 60/40 split-folding rear seat could feel cramped unless they were of average size or smaller. Front and second-row seats offered space and comfort, with heated seats standard on all but the base model, and ventilated seats standard on the Platinum. An eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support was available, along with a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat in higher trims.

Tri-zone automatic climate control ensured comfort across all rows, and the Pathfinder included 16 cup and bottle holders. The front doors could accommodate plus-sized bottles. A manual liftgate was standard on lower trims, while power and motion-activated liftgates were available and standard on higher trims.

The 2021 Murano featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with an easy-to-use interface, sensible menu layout, and hardy physical buttons and dials flanking the screen. This setup complemented the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, allowing for seamless access to connected smartphone apps. Higher trims could be equipped with an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and integrated navigation.

The 2022 Pathfinder came loaded with user-friendly technology. Standard features included a six-speaker audio system, 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, Siri Eyes Free, Google Assistant Voice Recognition, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, voice recognition, Bluetooth, satellite radio, hands-free text messaging, a 7-inch digital driver-information display, two 12-volt DC power outlets, and four USB ports spanning Type-A and Type-C configurations.

For S, SV, and SL trims, the analog speedometer, tachometer, coolant temperature, and fuel level indicators were mixed with digital odometer and clock displays. The Pathfinder Platinum boasted a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument panel and head-up display.

Further tech for higher trims included a 13-speaker Bose Premium Audio system, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, a wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay, door-to-door connected navigation, up to two additional USB ports, HomeLink, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and NissanConnect Services.

The 2021 Murano featured an extensive array of standard driver assistance options under Nissan Safety Shield 360. Notable additions in 2021 included reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams.

These complemented pre-existing systems like forward automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), forward collision warning, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Additional features like a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front-and-rear parking sensors were available but required extra investment.

Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 was standard on every 2022 Pathfinder, packing in automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear automatic braking. It also featured a driver alertness monitor, rear door alert, and forward-collision warning.

A rearview camera was standard, with a surround-view monitor available on higher trims. Every Pathfinder included ten airbags, with the Platinum trim gaining an additional airbag for a total of 11. As of the time of writing, the Pathfinder had not yet been crash-tested by either the IIHS or NHTSA.