Comparison Test: 2016 Ford Edge vs. 2016 Nissan Murano
Story and photos by John LeBlanc
Let’s be clear: If not for the success of Nissan’s original Murano, there would be no Ford Edge to battle for the hearts of midsize crossover buyers. Arriving for 2003, the five-passenger, four-door Murano was one of the pioneers of the car-based crossover utility vehicle craze. Based on a Nissan Altima sedan platform, the stylish Murano’s tall-wagon formula has been mimicked by a slew of rivals that have flooded into showrooms over the past decade, not just the Ford that arrived four years later.
As both the Nissan and Ford were redesigned in the last 12 months, we wanted to examine which one is the better overall buy:
SECOND PLACE: 2016 Ford Edge Titanium 2.0 EcoBoost AWD
If you’ve been through a Timmies’ drive-thru, shopped at a Canadian Tire store or have kids in hockey, you’ve probably come across an Edge or three. For almost a decade, Ford’s riff on the first-to-market five-passenger midsize Nissan Murano has become a crossover stalwart. In 2015, more than 16,500 copies of the Ford were sold in Canada, compared to just over 10,000 Muranos.
While the first-generation Edge was based on Mazda6 midsize sedan nuts and bolts, the second-gen model introduced for 2015 uses the current Ford Fusion chassis (as does the Lincoln MKX crossover).
One of the key benefits of the redesigned Edge is the five-passenger crossover’s improved space efficiency; with 1,110 litres of cargo space behind its rear seats, the Ford offers over 200 litres more room than the Nissan. And Edge rear seat passengers will find more room overall than in the tighter Murano.
The Ford also offers more variety under its hood than the Nissan. The Murano only comes with a naturally aspirated V6, while the Edge can also be had with a V6, along with a pair of so-called EcoBoost turbocharged engines, all matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.
One rung down from the top-of-the-line $46,399 Edge Sport (with the 315 horsepower, 2.7-litre turbo-six) was our all-wheel-drive 2016 Ford Edge Titanium ($41,899; front-wheel-drive versions start at $33,099), powered by a 245-horse 2.0-litre turbo-four.
We found plenty of goodies normally associated with luxury brand SUVs in our Edge Titanium. One of the most impressive was the new Sync 3 infotainment system. A massive improvement over the old Ford MyTouch, Sync 3 was developed by Canada’s QNX (a Blackberry company), and now comes with a touchscreen that is quicker to respond to inputs, and with a more intuitive design.
With its roomy cabin, plenty of motor choice and available luxury gear, the 2016 Ford Edge should continue to make a lot of midsize crossover buyers happy. But we think the vehicle that inspired the Ford is the better buy.
FIRST PLACE: 2016 Nissan Murano SL AWD
Arguably more of a styling statement than the groundbreaking original 14 years ago, the third-generation Nissan Murano brings plenty of exterior drama — from its so-called “V-Motion” nose, floating D-pillars and the Japanese automaker’s distinctive boomerang-shaped head- and taillights — compared to the more conservatively-styled Ford competitor.
But the Nissan crossover doesn’t rely on its looks alone. One rung down from the top-dog $43,998 Murano Platinum, our $40,298 SL AWD tester offered loads of features to rival the more expensive Edge Titanium, including navigation, upgraded Bose audio system, moonroof, 360-degree parking camera, heated steering wheel and heated leather front seats.
The interior of the all-wheel-drive, five-passenger, four-door Nissan feels and looks more upscale than the Ford. For safety-conscious crossover consumers, the Murano SL trim also includes blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert safety systems — features available on the Edge part of an expensive Equipment Group 302A ($3,800) that combines a host of luxury items as well.
The Edge may offer a bit more practicality, but the Murano is the better drive. Nissan added acoustic laminated glass and plenty of sound deadening in the attempt to eliminate road noise, making the Murano much quieter than the Edge. The Nissan also offers a nice balance between a comfortable ride and relatively athletic handling.
The Murano is quicker, too. With its 260-horsepower (20 more than the Ford) 3.5-litre six-cylinder and continuously variable automatic transmission combo, the Nissan is a second faster than the Ford in a straight line in the 0-100 km/h run, taking just 7.5 seconds.
Marketed for its fuel economy, the Edge’s EcoBoost 2.0 is rated at 8.4 L/100 km in the city, a near match for the Murano’s 8.3 rating. But out on the highway, the Ford is more miserly, estimated at 10.3 L/100 km, compared to the Nissan’s estimated 11.2.
In the end, the 2016 Nissan Murano SL AWD is our pick because it has a nicer interior, offers a better balance between ride and handling, and has more standard kit than the 2016 Ford Edge Titanium 2.0 EcoBoost AWD.