Nissan Murano vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2025 Nissan Murano showcased a completely revamped front design, featuring a next-generation lighting signature with a wing motif composed of horizontal lines that seamlessly integrated into the grille's slats. This new face bore little resemblance to its predecessor, presenting a wider appearance not only due to its horizontal design elements but also because it was nearly seven and a half centimetres wider and had an additional 3.5 centimetres of ground clearance. The chrome arch lining the tops of the windows and the winged LEDs were standout styling elements, although not entirely original, as they were reminiscent of the Hyundai Tucson's introduction to the crossover segment in 2022. The Murano's exterior was complemented by standard 20-inch wheels, with the Platinum trim boasting a 21-inch style.

Inside, the Murano's interior updates were less dramatic but still modernized, featuring a sleeker, horizontally oriented dash layout. The infotainment screen was now part of a single housing shared with the driver information display, and the steering wheel adopted a more streamlined design. The push-button gear selector replaced the old lever-style shifter, enhancing the centre console's functionality. The new "Murano glass-inspired" treatment on the dash and door cards added a visually appealing ombre effect, although the SL trim's shift from genuine leather to leatherette seating surfaces was a notable downgrade.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look, with only slight styling changes that made the front end resemble a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV. The model continued to straddle the line between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV, with the EUV body style being the sole offering for 2027. The Bolt's tall and narrow stance prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty appearance, with the RS model adding gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair.

Inside, the Bolt's cabin underwent a more significant makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector was relocated to the steering column, freeing up storage space in the centre console. Despite the abundance of hard plastic surfaces, the cabin offered adequate comfort with padded elbow touch points. The RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching, while the rear seating area maintained a utilitarian feel with hard plastics and minimal padding.

The 2025 Nissan Murano introduced a new powertrain, featuring 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. Standard all-wheel drive in Canada provided added traction, while higher trims offered Transparent Hood View for improved visibility at slow speeds. Noise cancellation was a standout feature, with the Platinum AWD test vehicle effectively reducing external sounds.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. The new motor, sourced from Chevy's Equinox EV, delivered 210 horsepower and 169 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels, achieving a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. The Bolt's acceleration was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, with one-pedal driving available for enhanced brake regeneration. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and the Bolt's low centre of gravity contributed to its agility on curvy roads. The 2027 Bolt offered an estimated range of up to 422 kilometres on a full charge, with improved charging speed allowing for a 10% to 80% recharge in 25 minutes.

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. Both front and rear seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity design, providing comfort despite the rear seats being firmer. Interior dimensions improved in the front row, with increased leg and headroom, but the second row lost 6 cm of legroom. Cargo volume was competitive, with 931 litres of storage space behind the rear seats and a power liftgate standard across trims.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt offered an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants, although taller drivers might have wished for more telescopic extension from the steering wheel. The rear seats provided plenty of headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor reducing the penalty for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt's cargo capacity was 459 litres behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, enhancing luggage space. Up front, ample storage options included a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin.

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

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, requiring Bluetooth pairing for personal music libraries. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system assisted in finding charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging rates. Vehicle-to-load charging capability allowed the Bolt to serve as a backup power source for a home.

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 higher trims offering ProPILOT Assist 1.1 for enhanced navigation-based speed adjustments. The Murano's safety offerings were bolstered by a passenger's side airbag, reinforced seating, and a 3D version of the Intelligent Around View Monitor with moving object detection.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were pending, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost, making the Bolt one of the few budget EVs to offer such an advanced system.