The midsize SUV segment is ultra-competitive. This past few years alone have seen a huge number of models that received a mid-cycle refresh, a complete redesign, or even a new nameplate altogether.

Mazda is about to release a CX-70 two-row midsize crossover SUV for the North American market that will be underpinned by its Large Product Group rear-wheel drive (RWD) architecture, while Hyundai's new Santa Fe is so radically different from past models, it would even make sense if it became a completely different nameplate altogether.

With that in mind, you'd think Nissan would come up with a redesign for its midsize two-row SUV, the Murano, but they haven't. The third generation of the crossover SUV first debuted in 2014 for the 2015 model year, which means it's now a 10-year-old oldie. The question is, is the Nissan Murano still a goldie in 2024?

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Don't Fix What Isn't Broke?

When the third-generation Nissan Murano came out in 2014, critics and customers praised it for its adventurous and sleek styling. It literally looked unlike anything else on the road.

The two generations that came before it were also very striking, which always meant that every succeeding Murano generation would be a tough act to follow, so for Nissan to push the design envelope even further with the 2015 Murano at the time was an amazing design feat. Granted, the Murano is nearly a 10-year-old SUV now, but it still looks fresh overall.

Nissan can simply evolve the third-generation Murano's design, and it will still look good in 2024. Unfortunately, the Murano was last facelifted for the 2019 model year, and at this point, while it still looks good, it's not exciting anyone at this point. Yes, there's nothing inherently wrong with the Murano for the 2024 model year, but other automakers have already pushed the design envelope even further.

Likewise, the interior of the Nissan Murano still looks great and very premium, but by and large, it has remained largely unchanged since its 2014 debut. Even the changes in the 2019 facelift were very modest, as these are limited to the addition of premium semi-aniline leather in the Platinum trim and new interior trim finishes for the entire Murano range.

It also came with a tech upgrade courtesy of a new infotainment system with the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a 2020 model year update has given the Murano a suite of standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 advanced-driver assistance systems (ADAS) that bundled stuff like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, blind spot warning, just to name a few.

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Increasingly Comfortable As The Murano Ages

When the first two generations of the Nissan Murano came out, they were lauded for their sports sedan-like handling that perfectly bode well with its sporty and swoopy 370Z-like looks. For this current third-generation model, the Murano skewed on the comfort side of things, and it was reflected with its sleek and elegant exterior and interior styling as opposed to the sportiness of the past two generations.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this since the majority of buyers in this segment are looking for comfort, after all, but we think Nissan's engineers should dial a bit of fun back into the Murano just to shake things up once again and bring excitement to this crossover SUV.

Currently, the Nissan Murano's motivation comes courtesy of a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 that produces 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. This drives either the front or all four wheels via a CVT.

Fuel economy might be a consideration for you and with the Murano's large capacity engine relative to most of the competition's small-displacement turbocharged engines, it still returns good gas mileage. The Murano averages 20 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and 23 MPG on average.

2023 Nissan Murano Vs. Mid-Size SUV Rivals

But how exactly does the Murano fare against its increasingly more modern two-row midsize SUV competitors? Let's find out through the table below, but we'll establish a few parameters first. We can't include the upcoming 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe just yet, since details for the North American market have not yet been revealed.

The Ford Edge will be discontinued after the 2023 model year, but we'll still add it to this list. Meanwhile, there are still a number of vehicles in this list that are still in their 2023 model years.

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Yes, It's An Oldie, But Not Anymore A Goldie

The 2024 Nissan Murano is still a good two-row midsize SUV, but it's not anymore what you would consider as competitive. There are others models at its price point that are either more modern or more practical with the added flexibility of a third row. In addition, it's not even cheap. At $37,920 for a base Murano, its price is nearly matched to a $40,970 base spec Mazda CX-90 with a nicer 48-volt mild-hybrid 3.3-liter turbocharged straight-six.

Speaking of price, a newer, and significantly more efficient Toyota Venza is also available for you to consider--especially if hybrid propulsion is what you're after. It's not as mightily powerful as the Murano's V-6, but the Venza's class-leading efficiency is unparalleled.

There's also the newer and more premium Jeep Grand Cherokee, which rides on a nicer RWD architecture and is available as a plug-in hybrid, though if that battery gets depleted, it's barely any more efficient than the cheaper V-6 powertrain.

However, the one thing that the Murano probably has going for at this point is its reliability and durability. Since it's soon turning 10 years old, the Murano's quality and production issues will have been ironed out at this point already.

There's another reason why Nissan is probably not exerting any effort in the Murano, and that would be due to the Pathfinder. The Pathfinder is competitive enough to compete in the three-row midsize SUV segment, and in that sense, Nissan actually still has a good seller in that segment.