2020 Nissan Murano vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Though the Jeep Grand Cherokee had been around for a decade by 2020, its design still resonated strongly with consumers. Boasting traditional Jeep styling cues like a 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders, this SUV managed to look equally suitable on a rugged forest trail and at an upscale valet stand. Its balanced appearance made it appealing to buyers from various demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Starting at $32,150 for the Laredo model and climbing up to $52,495 for the Summit, the Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a range of ten variants, not including the high-performance SRT ($68,895) and Trackhawk ($87,400) versions. The mid-range Limited X variant tested came in at $53,275, including destination charges. This model sported a beautiful Slate Blue Pearl paint job, a ventilated hood design, a sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels in Granite Crystal paint, presenting a mildly customized, yet classy look.

However, the interior of the Grand Cherokee, particularly those models going beyond the $50,000 mark, began to show signs of age. Despite the presence of some premium materials, the extensive use of hard plastic detracted from the luxurious feel. While the interior design aimed to offer comfort, it maintained a simplistic aesthetic that might not satisfy buyers looking for high-end sophistication.

The 2020 Nissan Murano carried the design language of Nissan's earlier generation vehicles. Following an update in 2019 that included a refreshed grille, redesigned LED headlights and taillights, added fog lights, new wheel designs, and additional paint color options, the Murano retained a pleasing exterior but didn’t look particularly modern.

Nissan offered the Murano in S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims for 2020, upgrading mid-range and higher trims with more standard features. The SV trim added heated outside mirrors, adaptive cruise control, and rear sonar, while the SL added traffic-sign recognition technology and the Platinum featured a new leather-wrapped steering wheel. A Super Black exterior paint option was also introduced.

Riding on standard 18-inch machined aluminum-alloy wheels, the higher trims of the Murano featured 20-inch wheels with refined finishes, making all the alloy wheels standard with all-season tires. Though slightly dated, the Murano maintained a premium look, especially inside the Platinum trim with its luxe materials. While its interior leaned more towards comfort and ergonomics rather than cutting-edge design, it still managed to offer a user-friendly layout.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, providing satisfying acceleration and an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving. However, real-world driving yielded a slightly lower 19.4 mpg.

For those seeking more power, Jeep offered three V8 engines. The 5.7-liter “Hemi” V8 produced 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, providing significantly more power than the V6. The Grand Cherokee SRT featured a 6.4-liter “Hemi” V8 engine, cranking out 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Topping the range was the Trackhawk, whose supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine from the Dodge Challenger Hellcat churned out 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, bragging a 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

Notably, the Trackhawk was enhanced to handle its monstrous power, turning the Grand Cherokee into a formidable track vehicle. Meanwhile, the Trailhawk trim catered to off-road enthusiasts with features like all-terrain tires, skid plates, and advanced 4WD systems.

Most versions were RWD standard, but there were up to four different 4WD systems available. The test Limited X came with Quadra-Trac II 4WD, featuring a 2-speed transfer case and Selec-Terrain traction control. Despite its large wheels and road-focused tires, this setup allowed the Limited X to handle rugged terrains adeptly.

However, the Grand Cherokee’s ride quality was mixed. While it offered good grip and stability, the combination of its suspension and large wheels could make the ride bumpy and sometimes uncomfortable. The steering and braking system, aiming to balance daily driving with off-road capabilities, left room for improvement in both categories.

Despite its age, the Murano’s 3.5-liter V6 engine remained a strong feature. With 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque, it wasn’t the quickest but performed adequately, especially on highways. Its continuously variable transmission (CVT) worked quietly and contributed to a comfortable driving experience, aligning with Nissan's aim for a “library level” quiet cabin.

Fuel economy was decent for the class, with the Murano achieving an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. It came standard with FWD, while AWD was available and provided good road grip, albeit with noticeable body lean.

The Murano's suspension system offered a smooth ride, effectively isolating passengers from bumps and road imperfections, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension. Although it didn’t deliver the connectivity and engagement of higher-end German SUVs, it provided a somewhat laid-back, cruiser-like driving experience, placing it in the same category as the Lincoln Nautilus. Its steering was straightforward, accurately placing the vehicle without much fuss.

In terms of towing capacity, Nissan rated the Murano at 1,500 pounds, suitable for lighter towing needs.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee seated five and offered cargo space of 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down, placing it at the smaller end of the midsize SUV spectrum.

Front occupants enjoyed heated, 8-way power-adjustable seats, although ventilation was not available in the Limited X trim. The leather-wrapped steering wheel provided a comfortable grip, and soft padding ensured arm and elbow comfort. Rear passengers, including children, found the seating adequate with sufficient air conditioning and USB ports.

Interior storage was practical, with a useful tray in the center console, sizable door pockets, and seatback grocery bag hooks, compensating for a lack of glovebox space.

The Murano’s Zero Gravity seats stood out for comfort, especially over long distances, and were standard in the front row and for rear outboard passengers. It generally offered more headroom compared to competitors like the Lexus RX, though front legroom was less ample. Shoulder room was particularly generous, giving the rear seats over an inch more space than the Lexus RX.

Passenger volume was about 3 cubic feet more than the Nissan Rogue, with significant gains in hip and shoulder room.

However, the Murano sacrificed some cargo space for style, offering up to 32.1 cubic feet with the second row upright and 67.0 cubic feet with it folded. While these figures fell short of the class average and the Rogue’s more flexible cargo space, the Murano’s low cargo floor and easy-fold seats provided daily usability. High trim levels included a power liftgate.

Standard features included dual-zone climate control and keyless entry, with options for leather seats, heated steering wheel, memory functions, and remote engine start. A dual-pane panoramic moonroof added to the upscale feel in higher trims.

The design of the center console revealed its age, offering limited storage for smartphones, with power cords awkwardly positioned in front.

Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system, located centrally on the dashboard, had been a front-runner in speed and usability. However, recent competitors began to outpace it. The Grand Cherokee’s occasionally bouncy ride could make touchscreen interactions difficult, though the voice recognition was user-friendly.

In the Limited X trim, the system included an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Guardian connected services, with a 4G LTE WiFi data plan available for up to eight devices. The test model also featured a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, while higher trims offered a more premium 19-speaker Harman Kardon system.

Unique to Jeep, the Uconnect had an Off-Road Pages app, displaying off-road related data like altitude and power distribution. Performance Pages on SRT and Trackhawk models tracked specific performance metrics.

While technologically behind some competitors, updates kept the Murano relevant. Standard across all trims was an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, four USB ports, and a six-speaker audio system. It presented options in a user-friendly, colorful layout.

Rear seats featured two USB ports for convenient charging. Optional upgrades included an 11-speaker Bose audio system, HD Radio, and navigation with enhanced features.

Murano Platinum models came with NissanConnect Services, offering collision notification, emergency call, and vehicle locator similar to GM’s OnStar, with remote capabilities for various functions. Activation required a SiriusXM contract. An Amazon Alexa skill was available, adding another layer of convenience.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Standard on all trims was ProTech I, including a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProTech II added low-speed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Advanced ProTech II offered full-speed forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers.

Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee earned only 4 stars overall from the NHTSA, with a concerning 3-star rating for rollover resistance. The IIHS tests rated it Marginal for driver protection and Poor for front passenger protection, particularly criticizing the headlights unless upgraded to HID in higher trims.

For 2020, Nissan added Safety Shield 360 to the Murano’s SV, SL, and Platinum trims, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking, along with a standard rearview camera.

The Murano lacked the advanced driver-assistance technology seen in rivals, including Nissan’s own Rogue with its ProPilot Assist technology.

The IIHS gave the Murano good marks for all tests except headlights (unrated) and front crash prevention (superior). The NHTSA awarded the Murano with five stars across most categories, except for a four-star rating for rollover resistance.