Nissan Murano vs Chevrolet Blazer

The 2021 Nissan Murano had a design that was once ahead of its time, but by 2021, its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end were standard fare. Its interior was more conservative, focusing on comfort and ease of use, making it an ideal SUV for commutes and road trips. The cabin's restrained styling ensured that all controls were intuitively placed, minimizing any learning curve for drivers. The Murano came in four trims: S, SV, SL, and Platinum, each adding more features and luxury as you moved up the line.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer offered a more aggressive and sporty design, inspired by the Camaro. The RS trim, in particular, stood out with its V6 engine and sophisticated twin-clutch AWD system. The Blazer's interior featured a mix of hard plastics and sporty red accents, especially in the RS trim. The infotainment and climate control systems were user-friendly, with large round center air vents and an 8-inch touchscreen display. However, some elements, like the black trim on the rear bumper, gave it an unfinished appearance.

The 2021 Nissan Murano was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 provided strong low-speed acceleration, making it great for city driving, but the CVT dulled its power at higher speeds. The Murano's ride was comfort-first, soaking up bumps and providing a refined driving experience, though its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The RS trim featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, also mated to a nine-speed automatic. The V6 engine, available on the 3LT and Premier trims, could tow up to 4,500 pounds. The Blazer RS felt firm and sporty in city and highway driving, but its performance on winding roads was less impressive, with the suspension and transmission struggling to keep up.

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 excelled in ease of use, with a traditional shifter design and a center console full of trays and cubbies. The two-row seating configuration provided ample headroom and legroom, with the second-row seats offering partial reclining functionality.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer, particularly in the RS trim, featured black leather upholstery with red perforations, giving it a sporty look. The front seats were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, though they lacked thigh support. The rear seats were spacious and could slide forward and back to adjust cargo or passenger space. The Blazer offered 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded, which was small for a midsize SUV. Storage options included a large glove compartment, a center bin, and various door pockets and trays.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring a sensible menu layout and hard buttons for easy navigation. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with available upgrades like an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's infotainment system was user-friendly, with an 8-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and physical controls for volume and tuning. Upgraded versions added satellite radio, connected navigation, and enhanced voice recognition. The Blazer also offered wireless smartphone charging, an 8-speaker Bose audio system, and various safety features like rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and a rear camera mirror.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional features like a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition were available.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer featured Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also had a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Available upgrades included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. However, the Blazer's headlights did not receive high ratings from the IIHS.