The 2024 Toyota Venza and Nissan Murano take a more premium approach in appealing to car shoppers looking for a 2-row SUV. This translates to a quieter ride and more upmarket cabin trim rather than the ultimate in cargo space and cup holder count.
This isn’t to suggest that the Venza and Murano lack practicality. Each comes standard with a long lineup of driver aids, and both have more than enough headroom and legroom for tall adults seated in the front or back.
During miles and miles of road testing, we were most impressed by these two SUVs’ relaxed driving manners, supple rides, and luxury-like interior design.
Want to see how they compare? Let’s dive into the highlights of the 2024 Venza and Murano.
2024 Toyota Venza
The Toyota Venza starts at $36,465, including destination fees, and is offered in four trims: LE, XLE, Nightshade Edition, and Limited. Each comes with a 219-horsepower 2.5-liter gas-electric hybrid 4-cylinder, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and all-wheel drive.
Now in its fourth and final model year, the 2024 Venza has no notable changes or updates. The Venza will be discontinued after this year. However, in the current Toyota SUV lineup, it sits above the smaller and less expensive RAV4 Hybrid and below the larger and pricier 3-row Highlander Hybrid.
Toyota Venza Highlights
Class-leading fuel economy: Thanks to its outstanding fuel economy, we’ve called the Toyota Venza the Toyota Prius of SUVs. It returns an EPA-rated 40 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway. That’s not just better than the Murano; it’s better than pretty much anything, well, this side of a Prius.
Lexus-like cabin quality: The interior of the Venza is also a cut above many competitors. It has the style and build quality we’d expect in a vehicle from Toyota’s luxury division, Lexus. Front passengers benefit from extremely supportive and comfortable seating. Those in the second row will enjoy 37.8 inches of legroom, plus the seat back can recline.
Nightshade Edition: While it has the same powertrain as every other Toyota Venza, the Nightshade Edition packs more visual punch. It rides on 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels and features blacked-out roof rails, front grille, and side mirrors. There are three eye-catching exterior colors: Celestial Black, Wind Chill Pearl, and Ruby Flare Red.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Venza models near you.
2024 Nissan Murano
The 2024 Nissan Murano is available in four trims — SV, SL, Midnight Edition, and Platinum — and has a starting price of $39,580, including destination charges. That’s nearly $5,000 higher than the price of the 2023 model. Why the spike upward? Nissan dropped the base S trim from the lineup, making the better-appointed (and more expensive) SV the new entry point.
The good news is that the Murano comes packed with standard features like an 8-inch touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ambient interior lighting, four USB ports, and remote start.
Nissan Murano Highlights
Mellow driving manners: We love the calm driving dynamics provided by the Murano. The ride is relaxed but not floaty, and the steering is light but not listless. Under the hood is a smooth 260-hp 3.5-liter V6 and continuously variable automatic transmission. This tried-and-trusted V6 has been powering the Murano since the first generation arrived back in 2003, but it’s not as efficient as the hybrid system in the Toyota Venza.
Spacey seating: Called Zero Gravity seating in Nissan-speak, the front seats in the Murano were developed using technology gleaned from NASA. While we don’t suggest attempting a low-Earth orbit in the Murano, at least you can relax and get cozy knowing the seats coddling you were developed with this in mind.
Luxurious Platinum model: Bedecked in Platinum trim, the Murano is on par with midsize luxury SUVs in terms of its feature content. The Murano Platinum comes with diamond-quilted leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a moonroof, a surround-view camera, and an 11-speaker Bose audio system.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see Murano models near you.
Similarities
The Toyota Venza and Nissan Murano are a slightly more indulgent take on the typical midsize 2-row SUV. Hide their badges, and you could mistake them for a luxury vehicle. This applies to how they get down the road, too. An unflustered ride that easily soaks up road imperfections is a significant trait they both share.
Conclusion
We think the Toyota Venza and Nissan Murano will appeal most to car shoppers who want a richly appointed SUV but could care less about things like maximum towing or off-road adventuring. The emphasis here is on providing a calm driving experience and an interior ambiance that’s a cut above more family-focused midsize rivals.
Of the two, we think the Toyota Venza is the better option. It’s equally as comfortable as the Murano, plus it returns outstanding fuel economy and has a lower starting price.
| 2024 Toyota Venza | 2024 Nissan Murano | |
| Starting Price | $36,465 | $39,580 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter gas-electric 4-cylinder | 3.5-liter V6 |
| Horsepower | 219 hp @ 5,700 rpm | 260 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm | 240 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT/AWD | CVT |
| Fuel economy | 40 city/37 highway/39 combined mpg | 20 city/28 highway/23 combined mpg |
| Also Available | AWD | |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 105.9 inches | 111.2 inches |
| Overall Length | 186.6 inches | 192.8 inches |
| Width | 73.0 inches | 75.4 inches |
| Height | 65.9 inches | 67.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 36.1 feet | 38.7 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.6 inches | 39.9 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 39.0 inches | 39.8 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 40.9 inches | 40.5 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 37.8 inches | 38.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.4 inches | 59.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 56.9 inches | 58.8 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 28.8 cubic feet | 32.1 cubic feet |
