2007 Nissan Murano Review: A Roomy, Versatile, Powerful Mid-Size SUV

The 2007 Nissan Murano is a very good blend of rugged, off-road SUVs like the Jeep Cherokee, and comfortable daily-drivers like the Honda CR-V. The suspension rides a bit stiff but if you want something that can handle city streets just as well as it handles dirt and mud, all for under $5,000, look no further.

Is the 2007 Nissan Murano a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – If you can’t decide between a practical, comfortable daily-driver SUV, or a rugged off-roader, the Murano offers the best of both worlds with relatively few compromises on either end.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – This is one of the more comfortable, spacious, and high-end cabins in the mid-size market, but the suspension can feel a bit rickety, especially in the SE model, which isn’t quite as bad as a Jeep, but it’s not exactly a Lexus, either.
• Reliability 7/10 – The Murano is, overall, one of the more reliable off-roaders on the market. But, early CVTs are known for early breakdown simply because of owners who didn’t realize that you need to change the transmission fluid a little earlier than you would with a typical automatic or manual transmission.
• Safety 8/10 – Crash test scores are excellent, and anti-lock brakes come standard. Plus, the SUV is built like a fortress on wheels.
• Gas Mileage 6/10 – 20/25 miles to the gallon, city/highway, isn’t terrible, but the SE model comes up an MPG short of that, and the SUV only takes premium fuel.
• Value 8/10 – There are more cost-effective options out there, as refueling a 16-year-old mid-size off-roader can get pretty expensive. But, this may be the best deal you’ll find on an SUV of this type.

What Do Critics Say About the 2007 Nissan Murano?

Consumer Reports praise the Murano as a standout in the crowded late-00s SUV market, noting the powerful, fuel-efficient engine, the agile handling, the strong brakes, and the spacious back seat. But, rigid suspension, poor rear visibility, and the SUV’s need for premium fuel cost it a perfect score.

Kelley Blue Book found the 2007 Murano’s unique, stylish design appealing and they liked the spacious cabin. They knocked the Murano a few points for the big blind spot and limited off-road performance.

Edmunds had strong praise for the Murano’s agile handling and powerful V6 engine. Just like CR and KBB, they loved the spacious, comfortable interior, and they note a long list of standard safety features as a plus. They were less impressed with the car’s continuously variable transmission, and they found the SE model’s ride “choppy.”

What Common Problems Does the 2007 Nissan Murano Have?

The 2007 Nissan Murano has generated 647 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 84 of these are for suspension, with drivers reporting significant corrosion eating through the shocks and leaving the SUV essentially sitting on the axle.

Seating complaints make up around one third of the total, with reports of fractured seat brackets leaving the front driver’s seat rocking back and forth. There are also a few reports of drivers being shocked by the heater wiring in their seats.

There are 60 engine complaints and 62 powertrain complaints on file, with recurring themes being engine stall and shaking while in motion. In some cases, this may have to do with a recall for bad intake air ducts, leaving the engine gasping for oxygen.

The Murano has only been recalled twice, once for the above-mentioned intake duct problem, and once for faulty occupant sensors in the airbag system.

How Long Will the 2007 Nissan Murano Last?

Nissans are known for being fairly reliable, and Murano drivers typically report a minimum of 200,000 miles on the original transmission. Note that the Murano was one of the first CVTs on the market, and these are notorious for early breakdown only because they don’t hold up well to skipped transmission fluid changes.

Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $479, with the most expensive fix being a new engine mount, starting at around $1,205.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the 2007 Murano is pretty basic, even for 2007. No matter your trim level, the only gadget you’re getting is a CD player. The SUV comes pre-wired to plug a DVD player into the back seat, but the DVD player itself is only available as an aftermarket accessory, and why bother in the age of tablets?

Safety technology is fairly generous. Anti-lock brakes, Nissan advanced airbags, and tire pressure monitoring all come standard.

Is the 2007 Nissan Murano a Good Value?

The 2007 Nissan Murano is a very good value. An entry-level S typically lists for around $4,816, and a high-end SL goes for around $5,743. Refueling with premium gasoline can be a bit pricey, but maintenance costs are reasonable, so cost of ownership isn’t bad.

Unless you can find an SL at a really great price, you’re getting a better deal with the entry-level model. The entry-level S is generous enough with the features, while the higher trim level costs about a thousand dollars extra without really adding a thousand dollars worth of additional value.

What are the Different Models of the 2007 Nissan Murano?

The 2007 Murano is offered in three trim levels, from the base S to the off-roading SE.

With the entry-level S you’re getting:

• LCD monitor
• CD player with 4 speakers
• Remote keyless entry
• Dual zone automatic air conditioning
• 4-way power adjust driver seat
• Luxury cloth seating
• Leather wrapped steering wheel with mounted cruise/audio controls

The high-end SL adds:

• 10-way power adjust bucket seats
• Fog lights
• Parking assist
• 2 extra speakers

With an all-wheel drive SE you’re getting:

• All wheel drive
• Manual shift mode
• 16″ sport alloy wheels

What Engines Come In the 2007 Nissan Murano?

• The 2007 Murano comes packed with a 3.5L V6 engine delivering 240 horsepower and 244 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to an automatic CVT transmission in front/all wheel drive in the S and SL models, averaging 20/25 miles to the gallon, city/highway. The all-wheel drive SE model utilizes a manual-shift CVT, averages 19/24 miles to the gallon, and can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

What Colors Does the 2007 Nissan Murano Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2007 Nissan Murano?

The 2007 Nissan Murano is one of the roomier SUVs in its class, with back seats stretching nearly 57 inches across. But, the suspension is pretty rigid, especially in the off-road oriented SE model.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2007 Nissan Murano Have?

The 2007 Nissan Murano packs up to 32 cubic feet of cargo with the seats up, which comes out to nearly a dozen medium suitcases. With the seats down you’ve got 81 cubic feet of storage, which puts the mid-size Nissan in a category with much larger SUVs.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2007 Nissan Murano was the last of the car’s 1st Generation run, launching with the 2003 model year.

2005: The base S model, with its front/all wheel drive configuration, was new for 2005.

2006: New exterior colors were the most noticeable change in 2006.

2007: No big changes for 2007, as Nissan were winding the 1st Generation down for a 2nd Gen relaunch at this point.

2009: Nissan skipped the 2008 model year, launching the 2nd Generation for 2009 in three trim levels, S, SL, and LE, for Luxury Edition, the last of which featuring double-stitched leather seats, rain sensing wipers, and touchscreen navigation.

How Does the 2007 Nissan Murano Compare to the Competition?

The Toyota 4Runner stands as a leading mid-size off-road-capable SUV for 2007. Toyotas are famously reliable, and you won’t have to worry about whether the previous owner skipped some transmission fluid changes, as the 4Runner runs on a 5-speed automatic, not a CVT. But, the 4Runner typically sells for at least $10,000, twice the cost of a Murano.

A 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee sells for around the same price as a Murano, and it is certainly the most capable off-roader of the three. It’s also inefficient, at just 17/22 miles to the gallon, rough-riding, and less versatile than the Murano, being unwieldy and rigid on city streets.

The Nissan Murano may not be perfect, it’s not as efficient as it could be and the suspension rides a bit rough. But it may be your best option if you’re looking for an affordable, roomy mid-size SUV that can handle pavement just as well as it handles dirt and mud.

Do Owners Recommend the 2007 Nissan Murano?