2026 Toyota bZ vs 2025 Nissan Murano

The 2025 Nissan Murano presented a bold new front design, featuring a next-gen lighting signature with a wing motif composed of horizontal lines that seamlessly integrated into the grille. This fresh face was a departure from its predecessor, giving the Murano a wider appearance, not just due to its design elements but also because it was nearly seven and a half centimetres wider with an additional 3.5 centimetres of ground clearance. The chrome arch along the windows and the winged LEDs were standout styling elements, although not entirely original, as they were reminiscent of the Hyundai Tucson. However, the Murano's design was more cohesive and sophisticated. The interior saw a modern update with a sleeker dash layout and a new infotainment screen integrated with the driver information display. The push-button gear selector replaced the old lever-style shifter, streamlining the centre console. The new "Murano glass-inspired" treatment on the dash added a visually appealing ombre effect, enhancing the interior's aesthetic.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, available in XLE and Limited trims, offered a choice between single-motor FWD and dual-motor AWD, with two battery sizes. The larger battery provided more power, performance, and range, with Canadian prices ranging from $47,920 to $63,620. The restyled bZ looked better with body-colour trim, and the interior featured a cleaner dashboard and centre console, imparting a higher sense of quality. The 14-inch centre touchscreen integrated climate control, and the dual-zone automatic setup included large temperature adjustment dials and buttons for essential functions. However, the digital instrument cluster was mounted far from the driver, making it challenging to read. The bZ's interior was well-organized, with fabric seats featuring an upscale pattern. Despite some design quirks, the bZ's overall look and feel were improved from previous iterations.

The 2025 Nissan Murano introduced a new powertrain with a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, known as VC-Turbo, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine delivered 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, offering a torquier performance compared to the previous V6. The nine-speed automatic transmission was a significant improvement over the old CVT, enhancing acceleration and highway passing capabilities. AWD remained standard in Canada, and the Transparent Hood View feature provided better visibility at slow speeds. Noise cancellation was effective, especially in the Platinum AWD trim, which featured an enhanced version with the Bose audio system.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered a single electric motor with a 57.7-kWh battery pack in the FWD XLE, producing 168 horsepower and 198 lb-ft of torque, with a range of 380 kilometres. The dual-motor AWD models came with a 74.7-kWh battery, delivering 338 hp and a range of up to 468 km. Recharging the bZ using a DC fast charger took about 30 minutes to reach 80% battery capacity. The bZ's performance was agreeable for city driving, with good visibility and standard parking sensors. However, the FWD model lacked robust mid-range passing power on the highway, and the ride could be choppy on uneven pavement. The bZ was not ideal for winding roads due to its all-season tires and lifeless steering.

The 2025 Nissan Murano continued to offer impressive comfort features, with standard heated and power-adjustable front seats. The Platinum trim added massage functionality, easily accessible via a button near the seat-adjustment controls. The Zero Gravity seats in both rows were comfortable, though the rear seats were firmer. Front-row legroom increased to 1,124 millimetres, and headroom to 1,000 mm with the panoramic moonroof. However, the second row lost 6 cm of legroom, now at 922 mm. Cargo volume was 931 litres behind the rear seats, with a power liftgate standard and foot-activated in the Platinum trim.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on a skateboard-style EV platform, offered 21.1 cm of ground clearance with FWD and 20.6 cm with AWD. The front seats featured standard height adjustment, with eight-way power adjustment in both XLE and Limited trims. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated exterior mirrors were standard, with ventilated front seats and a front radiant foot and leg heater in the Limited trim. The bZ lacked a traditional glove compartment but compensated with ample storage options. Rear seat passengers enjoyed plenty of legroom, though foot space was tight. Cargo space was 784 litres behind the power rear liftgate, with an underfloor storage well providing extra room.

The 2025 Nissan Murano was well-equipped with tech features, including wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The monolith-style display paired two 12.3-inch screens, with infotainment on the right and driver information on the left. The SL trim added Google Built-In, a 10-speaker Bose audio system, and a 64-colour ambient lighting system. The Murano Platinum added a head-up display, enhancing the tech offerings.

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a new 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The 7-inch display was challenging to read due to its location and data density. The 14-inch display ran the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, which was generally easy to use but lacked a home screen for simultaneous data panels. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with complimentary connected service plans. The Intelligent Assistant voice command system worked well, enhancing the tech experience.

The 2025 Nissan Murano came standard with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. ProPILOT Assist was added, with the SL and Platinum trims featuring ProPILOT Assist 1.1 for more advanced navigation-based speed adjustments. The Murano earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with improved safety offerings in the new model.

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including high beam assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane centring assist, and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist added subtle braking and steering inputs. The Limited trim included Traffic Jam Assist, lane change assist, and Advanced Park. The IIHS rated the bZ's front crash avoidance tech as Good, but the headlights received a Poor rating, and frontal-impact crash tests earned Acceptable ratings.