2020 Nissan Murano vs Hyundai Santa Fe 2020

The mid-sized sports utility vehicle (SUV) market is highly competitive, and there's no shortage of contenders in the best buy tables. The Nissan Murano has been around since 2002 and has now reached its third generation of design.

How does the latest 2020 Nissan Murano release fare when compared to one of its nearest competitors, the Hyundai Santa Fe?

Engine and Transmission

The Murano comes with a substantially more powerful engine than the Hyundai. Couple this with a smooth, continuously variable transmission, and the drive quality is impressive.  [tbody]

	Nissan Murano	Hyundai Santa Fe
Engine	3.5L V6	2.0L 4-Cylinder
Horsepower	260hp	235hp
Transmission	Continuously Variable Automatic	8-Speed Automatic

Perhaps surprisingly, the larger engine and higher horsepower of the Nissan don't translate into increased fuel consumption. Both cars have a similar typical economy for city driving, while the Murano pushes the Santa Fe into second place when it comes to city driving.

	Nissan Murano	Hyundai Santa Fe
Fuel Economy - Highway	8.3L / 100km	9L per 100km
Fuel Economy - City	11.7L / 100km	11.7L / 100km
Fuel Type	Regular Unleaded Gasoline	Regular Unleaded Gasoline

Safety Features

As you'd expect in a modern SUV, both cars feature the standard complement of driver, passenger, and rear airbags. However, the Nissan comes out on top thanks to its extra rear side-impact airbags for increased safety.

	Nissan Murano	Hyundai Santa Fe
Driver Airbag	Yes	Yes
Passenger Airbag	Yes	Yes
Front Side Airbags	Yes	Yes
Curtain Airbags	Yes	Yes
Read Side Airbags	Yes	--

However, airbags aren't the end of the safety story. Under the NHTSA crash tests, the Nissan Murano scores the maximum five stars throughout. Disappointingly, the Hyundai only musters an overall four, with the front and front driver side ratings letting it down.

	Nissan Murano	Hyundai Santa Fe
Overall Test Score	5 Stars	4 Stars
Front Crash Overall	5 Stars	4 Stars
Front Crash Driver	5 Stars	4 Stars
Front Crash Passenger	5 Stars	5 Stars

In-Car Entertainment Features

Long journeys are made easier by extensive in-car entertainment. Both cars have the basics in place, while the Nissan ups the ante with an extensive entertainment system featuring a front touchscreen monitor, and dual rear LCD monitors.

	Nissan Murano	Hyundai Santa Fe
CD Player	Yes	--
Satellite Radio	Yes	--
Bluetooth Phone Connection	Yes	Yes
Front Touchscreen Monitor	Yes	--
Rear LCD	Dual	--

Starting Prices

Both cars occupy a similar price range, although you can get a stripped down version of the Hyundai with fewer features for a lower starting price. However, once you start moving up through the trims, the price-to-features balance starts to suit the Nissan more.

	Nissan Murano	Hyundai Santa Fe
Price Range	$32,248 to $45,998	$28,999 to $44,999

The Murano and the Santa Fe are aimed at a similar market, namely mid-sized SUVs with a good set of features and highly respectable fuel economy. Both offer good value in a competitive field. However, crossover SUVs are aimed squarely at family driving, and the safety ratings of the Santa Fe let it down in that area.

To arrange a test drive of the 2020 Nissan Murano in Calgary, contact us online or visit our showroom at Royal Oak Nissan, 7690-110 Ave N/W.