The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Murano doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Murano doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Highlander AWD's standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Murano doesn't offer Downhill Assist Control.

The Highlander Limited's optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Murano doesn't offer a lane departure warning system.

The Highlander Limited offers optional Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it's stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Murano doesn't offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you're involved in an accident and you're incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Highlander and the Murano have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Nissan Murano:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Nissan Murano:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the Murano.

There are over 11 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Highlander's warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 9th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 12th.

The Highlander's optional 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 10 more horsepower (270 vs. 260) and 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (248 vs. 240) than the Murano's 3.5 DOHC V6.

For better stopping power the Highlander's brake rotors are larger than those on the Murano:

For better traction, the Highlander has larger tires than the Murano (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

The Highlander's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Murano's standard 65 series tires.

The Highlander's front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Murano's (56.3% to 41.2%). This gives the Highlander more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Murano (8 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Murano can only carry 5.

The Highlander has 36.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Murano (144.9 vs. 108.1).

The Highlander has .8 inches more front headroom, 3.7 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Murano.

The Highlander's cargo area provides more volume than the Murano.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Murano's rear cargo window doesn't open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Murano is limited to 1500 pounds. The Highlander offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Highlander Limited/Platinum's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Murano's rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Highlander Limited detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Murano doesn't offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Highlander's standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Murano SL/Platinum.

The Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Murano doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $635 less than the Murano over a five-year period.

The Highlander will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The Intellichoice estimates that the Highlander will retain 58.27% to 61.09% of its original price after five years, while the Murano only retains 46.17% to 49.66%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $3971 to $5211 less than for the Nissan Murano.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Nissan Murano by almost three to one during the 2015 model year.