The Nissan Murano is a estate built from 2002 to 2026 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 88.7% of those on record. Between 2003 and 2026 it grew 12 cm longer and gained -49 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Murano is
The Nissan Murano is a estate that Nissan built from 2002 to 2026 — 25 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2015. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6 power. Its closest sibling in the Nissan range: Altra.
Where the Murano is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 4,823 Muranos on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JN8, JNB | 2003-2016 | |
| the United States | 5N1 | 2005-2026 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Nissan VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Murano belongs to. What every character in a Murano VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Nissan Murano adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Murano generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Murano's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Murano that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-2014 | 477 cm | 283 cm | 1803 kg | - | - |
| 2015-2026 | 489 cm | 283 cm | 1754 kg | +12 cm | -49 kg |
Between 2003 and 2026 the Murano gained 12 cm in length (+2.5%) and -49 kg in weight (-2.7%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Murano that is -49 kg against 12 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Nissan Murano tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Murano owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Nissan Murano have? Power & range
The Nissan Murano is offered with 3 powertrains — 3.5L 6-cyl, 2L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 3 for the Nissan Murano, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.5L · 6-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S9) | AWD | Regular |
| Hybrid | 2.5L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Murano by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Nissan Murano. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Murano | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 70 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 5,839 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,393/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 1,970 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Nissan Murano?
The Murano is a estate, built from 2002 to 2026 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid, V6.
Where is the Nissan Murano made?
Across 4,823 cars in our records the split is: Japan (88.7%), the United States (11.3%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Murano have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2015. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Murano grew 12 cm longer and gained -49 kg.
What is the Nissan Murano warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Murano reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Murano?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Nissan
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Rogue | 2008–2026 | 94 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan GT-R | 2009–2026 | 9 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Nissan Altima | 1993–2026 | 146 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan Frontier | 1998–2026 | 142 | 22 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 1986–2026 | 149 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan Sentra | 1982–2026 | 158 | 41 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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