2025 Nissan Murano vs. 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Comparison – Kelley Blue Book

The 2025 Nissan Murano and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport are midsize SUVs with two rows of seating and an emphasis on style and comfort. They both have exterior designs that stand out from more square-shaped rivals yet still deliver the extra degree of passenger space and cargo volume SUV shoppers demand.

The Murano is all-new for the 2025 model year. The next-gen model features a more contemporary-looking exterior, a new engine, as well as several tech upgrades.

The Atlas Cross Sport is a more rakish take on VW’s 3-row Atlas SUV. In Cross Sport guise, gone is rear-most seating, and in comes a tapered tail for a sportier, more coupe-like profile. 

Let’s look at the highlights of the Murano and Atlas Cross Sport to see how they compare.  

2025 Nissan Murano

All-new for 2025, the Murano is offered in three trims: SV, SL, and Platinum. A starting price of $41,860 (including the destination charge) places the Murano above several direct competitors, though it does come nicely equipped with many standard features. 

These include synthetic leather seating upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, remote start, ambient LED interior lighting, and the Nissan Safety Shield 360 bundle of driver aids.  

Nissan Murano Highlights

Zero Gravity seats: Nissan took inspiration from NASA — yes, really — when it came to engineering the Murano’s cosseting front perches. Dubbed “Zero Gravity” seating, we’ll admit the name is pretty cutesy, but the results are extremely impressive. The cushioning and support they provide remove the pain from extended highway drives or arduous daily commutes. 

Tech foward: The new Murano enjoys plenty of technological upgrades including dual 12.3-inch displays, Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, active lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition and more.  

Smooth and quiet ride: The Murano delivers superb ride quality. The 241-horsepower engine also fades nicely into the background in both city and highway driving. We’ll be the first to admit that many other midsize SUVs have sharper handling and quicker acceleration times. But the Murano is among the best when it comes to a calming and relaxed driving experience.

Read our Nissan Murano Expert Review or see 2025 Nissan Murano models for sale near you. 

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

2024 model shown

The Atlas Cross Sport received a notable redesign last year, including a 269-horsepower turbo 4-cylinder engine, a redesigned front grille, and more standard tech and comfort features. For no additional cost, the base Atlas Cross Sport comes with heated and ventilated front seats, a 12-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, and a basket of adorable puppies. OK, we’re only kidding about the puppies, but we wanted to ensure you’re paying attention.

This year there are six trims, including the new SEL R-Line Black with blacked out wheels and other accents as well as stainless steel pedal caps. The SEL Premium R-Line gets 4-way lumbar support and a massage function. Meanwhile, wireless charging is now available on all trim levels. Pricing starts at $38,615, including factory-to-dealer destination fees.

Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Highlights 

Turbo 4-cylinder: Previous versions of the Atlas Cross Sport were plagued by two less-than-inspiring powerplants. That changed with the 269-horsepower turbo 4-cylinder engine coupled to an 8-speed automatic and choice of front- or all-wheel drive (AWD) introduced last year. The new powertrain offers more torque and better fuel economy than either option.

Smarter vehicle: IQ.DRIVE driver assistance tech features add safety and convenience to the Atlas Cross Sport. It includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-centering, and more.

Larger infotainment touchscreen: The new 12-inch touchscreen in the Atlas Cross Sport looks excellent and has a user-friendly interface. With six USB-C ports, everyone will be kept happy and fully charged up. 

Read our Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Expert Review or see 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport models for sale near you. 

Similarities

The Murano and Atlas Cross Sport take similar paths in appealing to SUV shoppers who don’t mind a little extra indulgence. Sure, there are more practical midsize SUVs with lower prices and additional seating. Yet these two have roomy seating for five onboard, available all-wheel drive, strong powertrains that don’t guzzle fuel, and a long roster of comfort touches.  

Pricing

The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors.
The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for vehicles and vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership.
These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.

Specifications

Conclusion

With this year’s complete makeover of the Nissan Murano, this is now a much tougher choice to make. It’s time to head to the dealer, get a good look at them in person, including a lengthy test drive. Make your choice after that.