Downsizing Vs. American Muscle: 2025 Dodge Durango Vs. 2025 Nissan Murano

Nissan has unveiled the fourth generation of its Murano crossover, and it looks to be a step up in every single way. Its sleek, modern styling follows in the footsteps of the new Pathfinder and Kicks, and with the interior looking like an oasis of comfort and technology, the Murano aims to give buyers another reason to reconsider that luxury crossover. Arriving in 2025, this model year will also see the end of one of the Murano’s longest-running competitors before it’s replaced in 2026.

The Dodge Durango has been on sale since 2011 and has experienced numerous updates and overhauls over the years that have helped the aging platform to age like fine wine. At some point, Dodge realized that its strength lay in its muscle, and started leaning into it heavily with SRT versions, eventually culminating in the 710-horsepower Durango SRT Hellcat. Still, the Durango is a family hauler first and foremost, and there’s no denying it’s capability. We wanted to see how Nissan’s newest fairs against Dodge’s oldest and help you pick the best SUV for you.

This is an on-paper comparison, since the new Nissan Murano has not yet been driven.

Design: Bold Muscle vs. Sleek Modernity

The 2025 Dodge Durango doesn’t look all that different from the one that debuted 13 years ago, but simple, attractive tweaks over the years have continued to keep it relevant in an already competitive segment. Changes like the DRLs on the headlights that look like fangs, the addition of exciting colors (especially on the SRT trims), and revised front and rear fascias give it a commanding presence. It really does embody the concept of a muscle SUV, especially when covered in racing strips and performance badging, and it goes to show the original Chrysler design was a great one from the very beginning.

The Nissan Murano adopts a decidedly different approach, one that’s firmly grounded in the future with looks from the likes of the Ariya EV. Its flowing lines, split-level LED headlights, and coupe-like profile look much better than the outgoing model, and give the Murano a refined, tech-forward design. The minimalist aesthetic contrasts with the Durango’s aggressive presence, and it’s the perfect car for someone wanting something that isn’t going to be as flashy as the Dodge.

Powertrain Showdown: Muscle vs. Efficiency

The 2025 Dodge Durango offers a range of powertrains that are available with RWD or AWD, from the base 3.6-liter V6 to the high-performance 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 found in the SRT Hellcat. The Durango excels in providing both performance and towing capacity, with even the 5.7-liter V8 in the R/T or Citadel trims delivering 360 horsepower, and capable of towing up to 8,700 pounds. Of course, you can’t forget the bonkers SRT Hellcat, which produces 710 hp and rockets from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. While there are other insanely quick and high-powered SUVs out there, there are only a handful of supercharged (and non-hybridized) SUVs left – and this is one of them.

The Nissan Murano is, unsurprisingly, a completely different animal. Available with either FWD or AWD, there’s only one engine option: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Despite many in the industry going the hybrid route, the model is strictly combustion, but at least it makes a respectable 241 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the new nine-speed auto instead of the outgoing CVT, it should offer a better driving experience than before, but don’t buy this car if you’re thinking of towing, because it doesn’t come even close to the Durango’s 8,700 max towing rating.

Fuel Economy: Efficiency vs. Muscle Thirst

To put it simply, if you care about fuel economy at all, don’t buy a Durango. The best you’ll do is the base Pentastar V6, offering a mediocre 20 mpg combined, and from there, it goes from bad to worse. Of course, no one in their right mind buys a vehicle like that for its fuel economy, but it’s still jarring to see 14 mpg combined in the SRT Hellcat. The Nissan Murano is the clear winner here, but we hope the company has plans for a hybrid at some point that really gives if the fuel economy it deserves.

Interior & Technology: Smart Luxury vs. Comfortable Performance

Inside, the 2025 Dodge Durango delivers a sporty, performance-oriented cabin, especially in its SRT trims. It features premium materials like Nappa leather, a 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 system, an available 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and performance-specific features such as SRT Performance Pages on the infotainment menus. The Durango’s interior is built to provide comfort while complementing its powerful performance, and it can fit six or seven passengers depending on the trim, giving it the edge if you have a larger family.

The 2025 Nissan Murano emphasizes comfort and technology. It offers dual 12.3-inch displays, massaging and ventilated front seats, and a more luxurious cabin with additions like Murano glass on the dashboard and Zero Gravity seats in the rear. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Google built-in are all standard, and a 10-speaker Bose sound system and 3D surround-view camera are both new. The Murano’s quiet, refined interior makes it a perfect family vehicle, and its upper trims offer some genuine luxury features.

Safety Features: Comprehensive vs. Performance-Focused

The 2025 Nissan Murano stands out with its Safety Shield 360 suite, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert as standard. The Murano also offers Rear Automatic Braking and a 360-degree camera, providing added safety for tight parking situations.

The Dodge Durango has a few safety features of its own, like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning, but many are only available on the higher trims like lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking are available. Since it’s an SUV made for towing, it also has towing-related safety features, such as trailer sway control and blind spot monitoring with trailer detection.

Interior Dimensions: Space and Comfort

When comparing interior dimensions, there’s no getting around the fact that the Durango is simply a larger vehicle. It offers three rows, and when two of those rows are folded down, there isn’t much you can’t transport. The 2025 Nissan Murano focuses on two-row comfort instead, but it does best the Durango in front legroom and has a roomy cargo area behind the second row. It all comes down to your needs.

Pricing and Conclusion: Power or Practicality?

* Before options and excluding destination

The 2025 Dodge Durango starts at $41,995 for the V6-powered GT model, with prices reaching six figures for the Hammerhead and limited edition SRT Hellcat Silver Bullet. On the other hand, the 2025 Nissan Murano offers a more affordable range and should start around $41,000, with the fully loaded Platinum trim expected to cost $52,000.

The models are wildly different and serve different needs, but at the lower end of the Durango range, there is some crossover and similar pricing. If you need a vehicle for a family of three or four and value technology, comfort, and fuel economy, the Murano is the one you want. Alternatively, if character, space, towing, and power (serious power) are what you’re looking for, then you need to reach for the Durango – and you’d better jump on it before it’s too late.