AUTONEWS

MURANO vs ROGUE

Sitting roughly in the center of all that activity is a pair of unibody machines, the Rogue and Murano, both of which are available with all-wheel drive.
The company has found success with the Rogue thanks to its smart packaging and attractive price. Touches like rear side doors that open a vast 77 degrees for easy access to the back seat (great for parents buckling in little ones) make it popular with families.
A step up the Nissan ladder in terms of exterior size and sticker price is the Murano. Freshened for the 2019 model year, this rig offers snappy styling and a palette of bold colors. It seeks to capture customers who are looking for a well-equipped and spacious rig that won’t break the bank. Cabin Space
Rogue: Volume of the passenger compartment in the smaller of these two machines measures 105.8 cubic feet. Headroom up front is an agreeable 41.6 inches but note that the addition of a moonroof carves 2.1 inches from that quota, more than enough to be noticed by tall drivers. Headroom in the back shrinks to 38.5 inches thanks to a slightly sloping roofline – and yes, the glass roof option eats a couple of inches back here, too. The Rogue used to be available with a third row, but that option has been discontinued.

Murano: Perhaps unsurprisingly given the fact it is several inches longer than the Rogue, the larger Nissan boasts more usable legroom and a great deal more hip/shoulder room thanks to its beefier dimensions. Headroom is surprisingly comparable, with front seat measurements being virtually identical to the Rogue. Rear seat passengers will be able to wear their hair a bit taller in the Murano. The Murano is only available with two rows of seats. Bottom Line: If your brood includes future NBA stars, it might be a good idea to pop for the Murano. Its more commodious second row of seats will be appreciated by those long of leg and tall of torso while its so-called Zero Gravity seats provide all-day comfort. Total passenger volume is 2.3 cubic feet greater than the Rogue.


Cargo Capacity
Rogue: With the second row of seats folded down, Rogue is good for an even 70.0 cubic feet of cargo space. Flipped up and ready to accept three passengers abreast, a total of 39.3 cubes is yours for the taking behind the rear seat. The Rogue also has a “Divide and Hide” cargo system with a hidden underfloor storage compartment and the ability to set up a shelf in the trunk to keep your things separate or hide them under the shelf.

Murano: Cargo space in the Murano with all five seats deployed is 32.1 cubic feet, a measure that grows to 67.0 cubes with the rear seat folded flat. Total interior volume is 140.2 cubic feet, 6.2 more than the Rogue. It is important to note that the optional moonroof intrudes into this number significantly, bringing it down to just 133.9 cubic feet. Bottom Line: Alert readers will note that the dimensionally smaller Rogue somehow manages to best the Murano in cargo carrying capacity. Blame a combination of the Murano’s slinkier styling choices and greater emphasis on carrying passengers in stretch-‘em-out comfort. Both vehicles are available with motion-activated liftgates. Technology
Rogue: The big news for Rogue in 2019 is the expanded availability of the ProPilot Assist suite of tech designed to ease driver workload. When clear lane markings are detected, steering assists will engage along with adaptive cruise control. Utilizing a network of cameras, sensors, and radar, ProPilot assist can be a boon to those who frequently face heavy freeway traffic during their morning commute. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available.
Murano: In spite of being more expensive, Murano makes do with a more traditional set of driver assists. Lane departure warnings, traffic sign recognition, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, high beam assist, and automatic emergency braking (front and rear) all conspire to help give the driver the information they need to stay safely on the straight and narrow. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available. Bottom Line: Without a doubt, the Rogue wins this round thanks to the availability of Nissan’s ProPilot Assist system. Rogue was the first of two Nissan vehicles (the other being the all-electric Leaf) to offer the system, easing driver workload by reducing the amount of acceleration, steering, and braking input under certain driving conditions. Presumably, Nissan is working on developing the tech for its more expensive cars like the Murano.
Powertrains
Rogue: Nissan makes decision time easy in the Rogue by offering a single powertrain: a 2.5L inline-four producing 170 horsepower and roughly an equal amount of torque. Its transmission type is a CVT, programmed here with Sport and Eco modes. Multi-port fuel injection isn’t as modern as some direct-injected units but does allow the engine to operate safely on cheap 87-octane fuel.
Murano: A single engine is available in the 2019 Nissan Murano, appearing in the form of Nissan’s ubiquitous 3.5L V6 engine making 260 horses and 240 lb-ft of torque. It is lashed, as are most Nissan products these days, to a continuously variable transmission bearing the name ‘Xtronic’. Like a pair of well-behaved brothers, both the front- and all-wheel drive variants share just about all their underpinnings. Bottom Line: It is tough to go wrong with either of these tried-and-true powertrains. Neither is going to set the heart of any gearhead aflutter but they will serve as reliable and largely invisible methods of propelling either car to soccer practice. Fuel Economy
Rogue: Thanks to all-wheel drive componentry adding a higher percentage of total weight compared to the heavier Murano, the 2019 Rogue receives two separate fuel economy estimates from the EPA. Front-wheel drive units should see a performance of 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Ding yourself 1 mpg in both environments if you select all-wheel drive.
The Rogue is also available as a hybrid model that is rated to get 33 mpg in the city, 35 on the highway and 34 mpg combined. Murano: That both front- and all-wheel-drive versions of the Murano are rated with exactly the same fuel economy numbers tells you all you need to know about the efficiency a continuously variable transmission brings to the party. The EPA estimates this rig will return 20 mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway. The Murano is not available as a hybrid.
Bottom Line: Physics wins, as it always does. The Murano outweighs the Rogue by a consistent 500 lbs when comparable trims are paralleled, meaning the larger machine has to push more weight through the wind. Customers keeping an eye on their fuel bill should consider the Rogue or Rogue Hybrid. Capability
Rogue: Overall height of the Rogue, including its roof rack, is only 68 inches, so the unit will fit easily into the vast majority of suburban garages and underground car parks. Adding all-wheel drive increases that measure by just half an inch with most of that going to extra ground clearance – 8.4 inches versus 7.8 inches for the all- and front-drive Rogues respectively.
Murano: Despite being about the same height as its brother at 67.8 inches, the Murano has significantly less ground clearance at a minimum of just 6.9 inches. According to information from Nissan, adding all-wheel drive makes absolutely no difference whatsoever in terms of height. Its breakover angle is a paltry 15.8 degrees, so watch that concrete bollard at the end of the parking lot.
Bottom Line: To twist a popular turn of phrase, capable things come in small packages. Even though the Rogue is less commodious and features smaller exterior dimensions, there’s an excellent chance it will climb over a few snowbanks that the Murano will not. Style
Rogue: While not an unattractive car, it would be a stretch to call the Rogue anything close to unique or distinctive. Think of it as the vehicular equivalent of the handsome but unassuming father who stoically goes about the business of raising his family without making a fuss or calling attention to himself. You’d be hard-pressed to describe his features to the cops if called upon to do so – a trait our fictional father shares with the 2019 Nissan Rogue. Pricing
Rogue: Front-wheel drive models in base S trim are attractively priced at just $24,800. Popping for the more lavishly equipped SV and SL versions will set customers back $26,220 and $31,390 respectively. Adding all-wheel drive is a $1,350 proposition no matter where you land on the Rogue totem pole. The SL-trim option of a natty brown Platinum Reserve interior is possibly the auto industry’s best deal at a paltry $250.
Murano: Sending power to just two wheels, a front-drive Murano S basically picks up where the Rogue leaves off, starting at $31,270. Trim levels are the familiar SV and SL for $34,440 and $39,230, plus a top-spec Platinum model for a heady $43,530. All-wheel drive adds $1600 to any trim. A costly Premium Package for the SV helps bridge the vast, yawning financial chasm that separates it from the pricier SL.
Bottom Line: Compared to its competitors, both the Rogue and Murano are very competitively priced. If outright space rank high on one’s shopping list, consider the base Murano instead of an opulently-spec’d Rogue. The larger car is hardly a penalty box, and you’ll get a lot more room for your hard earned dollar. The Verdict: Nissan Rogue vs Murano
Unless one absolutely needs the extra passenger space afforded by the Murano, it behooves the smart shopper to take a close look at the Rogue. Its cargo carrying capacity surpasses its bigger brother thanks to more practical (if slightly boring) styling cues, and the availability of ProPilot Assist is a big plus. Combines with a lower price and more ground clearance, the Rogue makes an excellent case for itself in this battle royale. Matthew Guy