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2025 Buick Enclave vs Honda PilotBudget Buy $8,000: Nissan Murano vs Toyota RAV4
When looking for an SUV for 8k, what do you buy? The Nissan Murano vs Toyota RAV4 comparison shows two choices with different personalities.
Nissan Murano vs Toyota RAV4 Specs
When you’re looking for the right used SUV with a modest budget of just $8,000 dollars, it pays to be picky. Fortunately, both Nissan and Toyota have great options at this price point. In the Nissan Murano vs Toyota RAV4 comparison, it’s really a matter of choosing style or practicality. Considering our $8k budget, we’ll take a closer look at the 2007 model years for both of these vehicles as you can find nice examples of both on Carsforsale.com
The 2007 Nissan Murano is more expressive than the 2007 Toyota RAV4. This could be a positive or a negative, depending on your tastes. The Murano is distinctive looking, with a sleek and sporty look. In fact, you could say these early Murano models helped set the stage for swoopy looking crossovers that seem to be everywhere these days.
The front of the 2007 Nissan Murano has aggressive, angular headlights with a large chrome grill. The sides are defined by the fender flares and the large D-pillar that looks cool, but can hinder rear visibility on the road. The 2007 Murano offered a single powertrain option, but it was a good one. Power was provided by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 240 horsepower and 244 lb-ft of torque. The engine was mated to Nissan’s continuously variable automatic transmission that adjusts the gear ratio seamlessly, so you don’t have any perception of shifting, just smooth power.
Front wheel drive is standard on the 2007 Nissan Murano while all-wheel drive was an option and it gives you more confidence in any driving conditions, from dry to wet or snowy. Fuel economy was average for the Murano, with the EPA rating at 17 mpg when driving in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg combined.
The 2007 Toyota RAV4 is the safer choice in this segment. Toyota has a great reputation for building reliable vehicles and the continued popularity of the RAV4 exemplifies this. The 2007 model is certainly less daring in its styling than the Murano, but is still handsome with its clean lines and simpler shapes. If you want to really stand out, go with the Murano, but if you prefer to blend in, the RAV4 is for you.
The 2007 RAV4 has the advantage in the powertrain department, as it offers two engine choices. The base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces a healthy 166 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque. The 4-cylinder engine comes with a four-speed automatic transmission. If you need more power, the other engine choice is a 3.5-liter V6 that produces a more robust 269 horsepower and 246 lb-ft of torque. The V6 came connected to a five-speed automatic transmission. For both engines, power was routed to the front wheels as standard, while all-wheel drive was an option.
The RAV4 has the advantage in terms of fuel economy. The 4-cylinder is rated at 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined for front-wheel drive models, while all-wheel drive models achieved 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. The V6 is less efficient with front-wheel drive models getting 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. The all-wheel drive V6 models get 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. If you’re interested in how a used RAV4 compares to a new one, read our comparison of new vs used Toyota RAV4 here.
Driving and Performance
Between the Murano and the RAV4, the sportier experience will be had behind the wheel of the Murano. As the Murano is based on a car platform and has a sophisticated suspension design, the Murano can hustle pretty well. You won’t mistake it for a sports car, but it offers a firm ride with responsive steering and solid road holding. The RAV4, on the other hand, was built to appeal to a wider spectrum of customers and so it has a more relaxed ride that leans toward comfort rather than sport.
Neither the RAV4 or the Murano is really designed for serious off-road driving, but if you get an all-wheel drive model, you should have no trouble tackling your average dirt road or modest trails. The biggest advantage of the all-wheel drive models is to give you greater confidence when driving in wet or snowy conditions where the extra driven wheels will help you find traction.
When it comes to straight line performance, the V6 RAV4 should just eke out the Murano thanks to its additional horsepower and lighter weight. If you want to maximize efficiency, the four-cylinder RAV4 still has adequate performance while delivering superior fuel economy to the V6s. These two vehicles are not designed to tow a lot, but the Murano has the advantage as it can tow up to 3,500 pounds while the RAV4 is limited to 1,500 pounds.
Comfort and Interior
The interiors of the Murano and RAV4 follow the trend of their exterior design. The Murano has a more daring interior design with a floating dash, infotainment screen, and sporty gauge cluster. The infotainment system was impressive for its time, but might feel dated to anyone who has spent time in a modern car.
The 2007 Toyota RAV4 has a more sedate interior design, that, while less exciting to look at, might prove a bit more intuitive thanks to its large dials and no-nonsense entertainment system. When it comes to materials, the Murano and RAV4 both offered cloth or leather seating. If you are concerned with maximizing seating capacity, the RAV4 wins thanks to the available third-row seats that provide seating for seven.
The 2007 Nissan Murano can only seat five people. The situation reversed, however, when it comes to cargo space, with the Murano providing 81.6 cubic feet compared to the RAV4’s 73.0 cubic feet. If you want to learn about the new RAV4, read our 2020 Toyota RAV4 review here.
Trims and Features
The 2007 Murano was offered in three trims, the S, SL, and SE. The base S model was nicely equipped with cloth seats, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and 18-inch wheels. The SL model benefitted from 10-way power adjustable driver seat, two additional speakers for a total of six, and a rearview mirror with automatic dimming. The top SE trim got sportier suspension, a rearview camera, and high-powered xenon headlights. Other options offered on the Murano included heated front seats, a Bose stereo system, and a DVD navigation system.
The 2007 RAV4 was also offered in three trims, base, Sport, and Limited. The base trim came with simple 16-inch steel wheels, cloth seating, air conditioning, and cruise control. The Sport model upgraded to 18-inch alloy wheels, sportier suspension, heated mirrors, and fender flares. The luxurious Limited trim got 17-inch alloys, dual-zone automatic climate control, power driver’s seat, and a steering wheel wrapped in leather. Additional options for the RAV4 included the third-row seats, a JBL premium sound system, and heated leather seats. You can learn more about the RAV4 by reading our review here.
Final Conclusion
With a budget of just $8k, both the Nissan Murano and Toyota RAV4 make compelling options. The Murano is perfect for someone who likes to stand out a little more thanks to the daring styling. Once behind the wheel, you’ll enjoy a powerful V6 engine and sporty handling, plus more cargo space. The Toyota RAV4, however, takes the advantage in most other categories. The styling is reserved, but the interior is nice, offering nearly as much space as the Murano, but with the advantage of seating for seven. The RAV4 also lets you choose between performance and efficiency thanks to its four-cylinder and V6 engine options. Ultimately, it feels like the Murano appeals a bit more to the heart, while the RAV4 appeals to the head.
