Generation history
Nissan Murano generations and next redesign.
The Nissan Murano has been through 4 generations, starting in 2002, 2007, 2015 and 2025. The gaps were 5, 8, 10 years, an average of 7.7. The pace has been steady. The current generation began in 2025. On that cadence the next full redesign points to 2032 through 2034, centered on 2033. This is a projection. It comes from the model's own past redesign years, not from the manufacturer. A mid-cycle refresh usually lands in between. Public records describe the current generation this way: The fourth-generation Murano was unveiled on October 16, 2024, for the 2025 model year. Specifications, trims and the NHTSA safety record are on the Nissan Murano model page.
Every generation
The Nissan Murano, generation by generation.
| Generation | Code | Years | What changed |
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| First generation | Z50 | 2002–2007 | The first generation Nissan Murano was unveiled in production form for the 2003 model year, at the 2002 New York International Auto Show. |
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| Second generation | Z51 | 2007–2015 | The second generation Murano made its debut at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show in November, and sales began in January 2008 as a 2009 model – the 2008 model year was skipped. |
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| Third generation | Z52 | 2015–2025 | In April 2014, Nissan unveiled the third generation Murano at the New York International Auto Show, with production in Canton, Mississippi and featuring the VQ-Series 3.5-liter V6 which produces up to 260 hp (194 kW). |
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| Fourth generation | Z53 | 2025–present | The fourth-generation Murano was unveiled on October 16, 2024, for the 2025 model year. |
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The Nissan Murano spent 7.7 years per generation on average. The current one is 1 years old. Treat 2032 to 2034 as a range, not a date.
Source: Nissan Murano (Wikipedia). The estimate is our arithmetic on those start years.
Open the Nissan Murano model page for specifications, trims, safety record and answers.
In more detail
What each Nissan Murano generation changed.
First generation, 2002 to 2007
The first generation Nissan Murano was unveiled in production form for the 2003 model year, at the 2002 New York International Auto Show. It is powered by a 3.5-liter (VQ35DE) V6 producing 183 kW (245 hp) and 334 N⋅m, also used in several other Nissan models like the Altima, Maxima, and Nissan 350Z, but specifically tuned for use in the Murano. Available with standard front-wheel-drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel-drive (AWD), the Nissan Murano is one of the largest vehicles using a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Second generation, 2007 to 2015
The second generation Murano made its debut at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show in November, and sales began in January 2008 as a 2009 model – the 2008 model year was skipped. The exterior and interior were redesigned. The second generation Murano was initially offered in three trim levels: the base S, the mid grade SL, and the top level LE (Luxury Edition). The performance oriented SE model was discontinued.
Third generation, 2015 to 2025
In April 2014, Nissan unveiled the third generation Murano at the New York International Auto Show, with production in Canton, Mississippi and featuring the VQ-Series 3.5-liter V6 which produces up to 260 hp (194 kW). The third-generation Murano is not marketed in Japan, Australia and New Zealand, as it is not produced in right-hand drive. The nameplate was discontinued in those regions due to sluggish sales, with the more compact X-Trail taking its place.
Fourth generation, 2025 to today
The fourth-generation Murano was unveiled on October 16, 2024, for the 2025 model year. The updated model bears a strong resemblance to the Ariya electric crossover, and incorporates many modern features that were not previously available on the Murano, including ventilated and massaging front seats, dual 12.3-inch instrument cluster and infotainment displays, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Nissan ProPilot Assist 1.0 and 1.1, and a color heads-up display.
Generation notes adapted from Nissan Murano (Wikipedia).
Today's Nissan Murano
What the current generation is, and how it has held up.
Nissan Murano at a glance
- Production
- 2002–present
- Model years
- 2003–present
- Class
- Mid-size crossover SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Nissan R'nessa (Japan)
- Successor
- Nissan Pathfinder (China)
NHTSA rated the 2025 Nissan Murano overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (3 campaigns across the latest model years)
- November 2025, Back Over Prevention:Software. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Murano, 2025-2026 Armada, and Infiniti QX80 vehicles. A software error may occur in the In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying when the vehicle is… Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- March 2025, Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Murano, Pathfinder, and INFINITI QX60 vehicles. One or both front brake caliper assemblies may have reduced strength and could break. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor… Consequence: A broken front brake caliper can cause a loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
- January 2024, Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Murano vehicles. The incorrect primer may have been used on the quarter glass, resulting in the left and right quarter glass detaching from the vehicle. Consequence: Detached glass panels can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 22 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Nissan Murano, most often about electrical system (7), power train (5), forward collision avoidance (4).