Pilot vs Murano

[keram]

I'm looking at Pilot and Murano and monitoring both groups. It seems that Murano has lots of problems although Pilot is not short of them either. Can anyone share experience of chosing Pilot over Murano (or the other way) and the reasons. Thanks

[RikiShah]

Here is an annoying problem with some pilots. I have the rare starting problem that has happened to me once in owning the vehicle for 2 months. I'm not trying to discourage you or anything from the Pilot, but that's the one issue that bothers me. Everything else is fine, and for the rattles....Oh man does the Murano suck at that...That thing rattles like crazy, and also the power steering loses power at low rpm's, and I thought the Pilot ride was better than Murano. Although, I like the sporty edge in the Murano, but needed something bigger for trunk room, so I chose the Pilot. Also on the Murano forums...I've read a few people having lemons with their Muranos...Check that out on the Murano forum...

[krygny]

Styling is not really important to me at all; hence, I got a Pilot. But it was the styling of the Murano that really kept me away, especially the interior. I don't like the ultra-modern minimalist design. When I sat in the car in the showroom, the blind spot visibility (or lack thereof) was enough to eliminate it immediately. I didn't even test drive the Murano. I even have second thoughts about the exterior styling. It's an eye-catcher at first, but I don't think it will endure. I figured if I had bought one, two years from now I be saying "What was I thinking?". I'm getting tired of them already.

[keram]

Originally posted by krygny
It's an eye-catcher at first, but I don't think it will endure. I figured if I had bought one, two years from now I be saying "What was I thinking?". I'm getting tired of them already.

The time will show but I think that you're wrong in your assement. Right now 'industry experts' qualify crossover as one build on the car or van platform without full truck suspension. I disagree with this and add to the definition styling of something like Murano, Toureg or Cayenne. These vehicles have significant lower heights without compromising ground clearance and still have same or wider widths + comparable lengths. I believe that Murano/Toureg/Cayenne style will take off and will feed the market segment that does not want to get into current design of urban SUV. Honda being convervative and wanting to keep reliability image will follow in few years with one of their owns.

I think that I've already decided to move on with Pilot mainly for reliability. I don't see the flood of major problems with them wereas Murano site is loaded with lemons. I still don't like Pilot styling but as long as it drives smoothly, is not niosy, is reliable I'd get it. Car and Driver rated it as the best large SUV (it's still mid size but this tells something about the truck).

[tak]

Originally posted by keram
Right now 'industry experts' qualify crossover as one build on the car or van platform without full truck suspension. I disagree with this and add to the definition styling of something like Murano, Toureg or Cayenne. These vehicles have significant lower heights without compromising ground clearance and still have same or wider widths + comparable lengths. I believe that Murano/Toureg/Cayenne style will take off and will feed the market segment that does not want to get into current design of urban SUV. Honda being convervative and wanting to keep reliability image will follow in few years with one of their owns.

I think that I've already decided to move on with Pilot mainly for reliability. I don't see the flood of major problems with them wereas Murano site is loaded with lemons. I still don't like Pilot styling but as long as it drives smoothly, is not niosy, is reliable I'd get it. Car and Driver rated it as the best large SUV (it's still mid size but this tells something about the truck).

I somewhat agree with your view about the trend of the stylish SUV/CUV.

When I first saw Pilot at a Honda dealer in the summer of 2002 I didn't much care about it. I even found it look weird. The main reason I bought Pilot was I needed a car with 8 seats and great reliability. So far I am very satisfied with its quality and getting used to its unique appearance (no more weird). It's funny how I get used to with unconventional style of new cars. I remember when I first saw the new Honda Odessay I didn't like that boxy cornered face. Now I don't feel that way anymore.

I look forward seeing the picture of your Pilot here.

P.S.

Toureg is actually Touareg.

[krygny]

Originally posted by keram
The time will show but I think that you're wrong in your assement.
...

I can't be wrong. It's my opinion.

[cactus_reese]

The Nissan Morano is another competitor to the Pilot that, like the Freestyle, uses a CVT transmission. Personally, I don't tink they are in the same class because the Morano can't tow and has nearly no off-road capability, but while doing comparison research I noticed that many Morano owners had checked into the Pilot during their comparisons. Most of their complaints were:
'Pilot is too boring.'
'Pilot does not have the sporty performance of Morano.'

[humanoid]

The Murano has a lot less carrying capacity than the Pilot and also doesn't have the 3rd row seating. Not quite sure about the performance comparison though either. Also, my friend has the FX 35, the Infinity clone to the Murano, the rear ingress and egress is very difficult if you need to carry a load in and out ofter from the back seat (i.e. if you have a car seat or baby carrier that you need to move). The doors do not open very wide and the rear wheel well gets in the way when getting in and out.

[kemosabe]

Merged cactus_reese's thread "Pilot vs Morano" with this one...

[Larryl]

If you can't choose between a Pilot and a Murano then your list of wants and needs might need a little work. Some make a purchase into a science project and others pick the 'pretty' one. Someone else, here is looking at a Pilot and a Tahoe. What your question shows is that you are on the front end of the process and have some more looking to do. My advise, keep looking, have some fun and at least do what you are doing, that is checking forums and sources so you have an idea of what to expect after you drive your purchase home. I had fun with the process and I can say that I would do it over, again.

[GreenMachine]

Originally posted by humanoid
the FX 35, the Infinity clone to the Murano,

While both are nice vehicles, they aren't quite clones like the Pathfinder/QX4 were.

FX35 is a RWD based SUV, while the Murano is FWD based SUV. The frames are not the same either.

The FX has very limited cargo capacity with its shorter roofline. The FX's are quick though.

[Mjones5]

I too looked at Murano, drove it and loved it. Then did serious research. The most troubling issue with the Murano is the alternator issue which at this time there is still no recall for. The alternator can die at any time (less that 20k miles). The brake light and engine light come on simultaneously. You then have approximately 50 miles before the engine shuts off and you lose complete power. There are complaints filed with NHSTA (sp?) and a push on the Murano forum for people to logde a formal complaint. Imagine the danger of suddenly losing complete power while driving on a highway!!!

I have now narrowed my search to either a Pilot or Odyssey. I did love the Murano, but it seems plagued with issues.

Mjones

[little-al]

The Murano is indeed a trendy and "edgy" design, but I think it may risk being "dated" in a few years, as many of this type do


But more importantly, and a definite issue... in my mind the Pilot and Murano play to different niches, and as such really shouldn't be the final two contestants in anyone's choices, unless one hasn't thought through their requirements clearly.

... they really are different vehicles.

One might consider asking some hard questions of one's vehicle needs, and then the choice would become clearer.

The Murano is an "inflated" sport sedan, where the Pilot is a SUV'd mini-van to some degree

al

[Sportymonk]

Originally posted by cactus_reese
The Nissan Morano is another competitor to the Pilot that, like the Freestyle, uses a CVT transmission. Personally, I don't tink they are in the same class because the Morano can't tow and has nearly no off-road capability, but while doing comparison research I noticed that many Morano owners had checked into the Pilot during their comparisons. Most of their complaints were:
'Pilot is too boring.'
'Pilot does not have the sporty performance of Morano.'

Yeah, that CVT transmission is an issue for me. Looked at the Freestyle but the interior quality was poor and middle seats couldn't adjust on tht model and then there was the CVT transmission. Know it works ok with four cylinder engines in Europe but haven't heard of any powerful V-6 mated to one. Wonder if that is why the Ford 500 and Freestyle are so underpowered?

I also looked at the Murano and was wowed with some of the tech stuff like the key but when I consider the room and everything overall, I wouldn't think of having a Murano over a Pilot. Love my Pilot.

[ecsw]

Similarly equipped Murano (SE AWD) in Canada is $5000cdn more than Pilot EX-L Navi and yet it seats 5 only. Same price as fully equipped Nissan Pathfinder but seats 7.

I like the look of Murano, but $5000cdn more doesn't not give me anything more significant over Pilot other than look. I'd take MDX over Murano anytime for the similar price or stay with much cheaper but similar features Pilot EX-L Navi.

Well, I guess I am never a Nissan guy anyway. They used to have very nice interior quality but I see that fading away. When I was comparing TSX and the current generation Maxima, I found the interior seat belt stitching on the Maxima I looked at has very weird color matching. seat belt being some light brown color and the stitching thread was black or some very dark color. Not to mention the "leather" shift knob felt very plastic. A $5000cdn cheaper TSX has much better interior than that Maxima IMO.