Starting at
Starting at
308 | Horsepower (hp): | 260 |
270 | Torque (lb-ft): | 240 |
22/29 | Fuel Economy (city/hwy MPG): | 20/28 |
If you’re in the market for a great midsize SUV, there are several solid contenders for the 2024 year, chief among their matchups being the 2024 Chevy Blazer vs 2024 Nissan Murano. Both of these vehicles offer spacious seating for five passengers, as well as large trunks, making them ideal for drivers who can’t sacrifice space in the main cabin or the cargo area. While compact and subcompact SUVs require you to put down rear seats when you need to carry more belongings, these midsize SUVs have larger trunks, so you can easily load up without giving up a seat.
The Blazer and the Murano both offer sophisticated looks, making them popular among corporate professionals and dwellers of the greater cosmopolitan area—and, since they both start at under $40,000, they tend to attract drivers of comparable budgets. However, we’d like to point out that the Blazer does start at $2,500 less than the Murano—and while, in some cases, paying less means getting less, that is not the case for the 2024 Blazer. We’ll prove it by detailing how these two midsize SUVs compete in the areas of performance, comfort amenities, and technology to help you make an informed buying decision.
Midsize SUVs are excellent vehicles for drivers looking for power that comes close to matching that of a full-size or three-row SUV but who still just need seating for five. This way, you can experience better power and towing abilities than you get from a smaller SUV without having to maneuver the frame of a bigger SUV.
Both the Blazer and the Murano will tackle wet roads nicely, thanks to their available all-wheel drive. When activated, these AWD systems will send torque to the rear wheels to improve traction on slippery surfaces. However, the Blazer takes multi-terrain command possibilities one step further with its drive mode selector, whose modes include Tour (for spirited driving dynamics), Snow/Ice (for more traction on slippery roads), Tow/Haul (for improved gear selection and better torque when trailering), and Off-Road (to get better maneuverability and traction).
Fuel economy is solid in both of these vehicles. However, we can’t discuss fuel efficiency without pointing out that only the Blazer currently comes in an EV rendition. If you want to leave gas pumps in the past for good, the Blazer is your only choice between these two models for now.
If you remain in the gas engine arena, the Blazer still shines because it offers two gas powertrains, whereas the Murano only offers one. The Blazer has a Turbo I-4 and a V6; the Murano just has a V6. The Blazer’s towing capacities also exceed the Murano’s by quite a bit. The Blazer’s two powertrains can tow up to 3,250 and 4,500 lbs, respectively. The Murano can only tow 1,500 lbs. If you need more towing power for your camping and other excursions, the Blazer is the obvious choice.
As for transmissions, the Blazer has a nine-speed automatic, and the Murano has a Continuous Variable Transmission. We can’t say that one is better than the other here, as it’s just about preference. Some drivers like the more interactive nature of the nine gears, while some like the more intuitive nature of the CVT belt. Do note that CVTs tend to cost more to repair than automatic transmissions.
Get ready to enjoy optimal comfort and convenience in these two models, as both vehicles have available power-adjustable driver’s seats, giving you the option to select the ideal driving height and angle to fight body fatigue on long drives. Plus, you can add the available driver seat memory feature to either vehicle, so the model will recall your preferred settings and automatically reset your seat to your form each time you start the ignition.
You’ll also get available power lumbar support on both models, reducing discomfort in the lower back. Enjoy available heated and front passenger heated seats on chilly days, too, as well as an available heated steering wheel. Each of these models is known for its spacious rear seat dimensions. Backseat passengers, including tall ones, will be content with the generous amount of head and legroom to be found in either the Murano or the Blazer.
When your hands are full as you approach your trunk, you can take advantage of a hands-free power liftgate on each model. With this feature, all you have to do is motion with your foot beneath the liftgate and it will automatically open, making it easy to load up your trunk when nobody is around to assist you.
The thoughtful features continue in the Blazer, where you’ll find some goodies not available in the Murano. One of these is the Active Noise Cancellation, which monitors engine and cabin sound and emits opposing signals to create a peaceful environment. If you live and work in noisy places, you’ll love getting into this quiet vehicle at the end of the day.
The Blazer keeps impressing with a cabin humidity sensor, umbrella holders, and even a rear window defogger. Each of these will work together to help you tackle winter and summer days with a bit more ease. Also only available in the Blazer is a center front console organizer; this is the perfect place to keep those small commuting essentials, like snacks and your phone.
We know that most drivers today can’t afford to disconnect from responsibilities and correspondence when they’re on the road. So, we closely assess the technology in every model we carry to see if it will keep up with busy professionals and parents.
So, how do these two models hold up? Right out the gates, you’ll notice that the Blazer has a much larger touchscreen than the Murano, at 10.2 inches compared to the 8.0-inch screen of the Murano. If you want larger graphics so you can easily view your navigation or incoming calls, you’ll prefer the Blazer.
Each vehicle does have Wi-Fi compatibility, so you and your passengers can connect your devices to the internet on the road. If you don’t have unlimited data on your smartphone, having in-vehicle Wi-Fi can be tremendously useful, especially if you have to look up directions or answer work correspondence on the go. Both vehicles also let you sync your smartphone up to your touchscreen. However, only the Blazer lets you do this without cables for both Apple and Android phones. In the Murano, you’ll need to use a USB cord to sync an Android to the infotainment system.
As for charging your device, only the Blazer has available wireless charging. So, between this feature and its full wireless smartphone compatibility, the Blazer simply enables a tidier driver area with fewer needs for cords. If you want the freedom to leave the USB cords at home entirely, choose the Blazer.
Each vehicle impressed us in the driver assistance technology department. They both have standard blind zone monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, rear-vision cameras, surround-vision cameras, and cruise control. However, only the Blazer has Teen Driver mode, a popular Chevy feature that helps parents monitor teen driving habits and encourages conversations about safe driving.