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2021 Nissan Murano Earns Top Safety Pick+ Rating From IIHS, Here’s Why

Recently, the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) announced that it awarded the 2021 Nissan Murano its top safety rating. Let’s explore the crossover SUV's safety features and understand why it earned this distinction.
2021 Nissan Murano 16 photos
Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
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First unveiled in 2014, the current, third-generation Murano is one of the oldest members of Nissan’s current model lineup. It got some exterior and interior upgrades in 2019, but for the most part, it remained unchanged.

However, in terms of safety, the Japanese carmaker has continually improved it, and the 2021 model comes with the largest amount of standard safety features.

That helped the Murano join the Rogue, Maxima, and Altima in the Top Safety Pick+ club. This rating is awarded to vehicles that earn “good” ratings in all six IIHS crashworthiness tests. They also have to be equipped as standard on all trims with a front crash prevention system that earns "advanced" or "superior" ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations as well as "good" or "acceptable" ratings for the headlights.

2021 Nissan Murano
Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
For 2021, the crossover SUV’s list of standard equipment includes signature LED headlights that the IIHS deemed “good.” The institute also gave the Murano the same rating for its crashworthiness and advanced safety features, making this seemingly outdated model one of the safest vehicles you can buy today.

The addition of the Safety Shield 360 suite of advanced driver-assistance systems to the list of standard features is another reason why the vehicle is an excellent choice for those who prioritize safety.

First introduced as standard equipment in the U.S. on the SV and SL grades of the 2019 Rogue, it comes with six key advanced systems that utilize front, side, and rear sensing technologies to improve safety and the overall driving experience of Nissan vehicles.

Arguably the most important system in this suite is the automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection assist, which helps avoid or mitigate crashes with oncoming vehicles and crossing pedestrians.

Automatic Emergency Braking display
Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
According to the carmaker, an imminent collision can be accurately predicted using a front-facing radar and a high-resolution camera. The driver will be notified audibly or through vibrations in the steering wheel, and if he (or she) fails to react, the system will automatically engage the brakes.

This advanced safety assist earned a “superior” rating in both above-mentioned IIHS evaluations, helping the Murano earn the Top Safety Pick+ distinction.

Additionally, the Safety Shield 360 also includes lane departure warning that senses the lines in the road and alerts drivers if the vehicle veers out of its lane.

Lane Departure Warning display
Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
The third system, called high beam assist, automatically switches to low beams if it detects a vehicle ahead and will turn the high beams back on when needed.

Blind-spot monitoring is also included. It helps detect vehicles in the driver's blind spot areas using rear sensors along with rear-facing cameras and illuminates a warning light in the side mirror.

Moving on, the suite offers rear cross-traffic alert, a system that utilizes the same tech but is designed to warn drivers about oncoming vehicles when reversing out of a parking spot.

The latter system is also designed to assist Nissan's owners when backing up. As the name implies, rear automatic braking will detect any stationary objects in the path of the vehicle and apply the brakes automatically if it deems necessary.

Of course, all the new standard features on the 2021 Murano come at a price. Compared to the 2020 model, the base FWD S trim is about $1,000 more expensive. But let’s be honest; this is a small price to pay for a Top Safety Pick+ rated vehicle.
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About the author: Vlad Radu
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Vlad's first car was custom coach built: an exotic he made out of wood, cardboard and a borrowed steering wheel at the age of five. Combining his previous experience in writing and car dealership years, his articles focus in depth on special cars of past and present times.
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