How the 2025 Nissan Murano Ensures Passenger Safety

Crashes happen in a blink—but building a vehicle that protects its occupants takes years of precise engineering, relentless testing, and an unwavering commitment to safety. That’s exactly what went into the all-new 2025 Nissan Murano, recently awarded the prestigious TOP SAFETY PICK+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Nissan safety engineers explain how they elevated their testing procedures when designing the all-new 2025 Murano.

Behind the accolade is a powerful story of innovation and care from the engineers at Nissan’s $40 million Safety Advancement Lab near Detroit. Here, safety is more than a checklist—it’s a mission. With around 400 crash simulations a year, this high-tech facility recreates the harshest real-world scenarios to push every design to its limits.

“During our entire development process, we always think about the customer,” says Derrick Diver, Senior Safety Performance Engineer at Nissan. “We set targets to achieve the highest possible ratings for Murano.”

A rear-seat crash dummy in the middle of a front crash test. The paint on the side-curtain airbag indicates where the dummy’s head contacted the airbag. Meanwhile, the lap portion of the belt has remained in the proper position.

Safety Starts Long Before the Crash

The 2025 Murano is equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360—a suite of technologies designed to help drivers avoid accidents. But if the unavoidable happens, the SUV is engineered to protect every passenger, from front to back.

To meet IIHS’s demanding crash test standards, including the updated moderate front overlap test, engineers ran internal crash simulations multiple times. Data collected from sensors inside crash-test dummies and vehicle monitoring systems provided critical insights. Adjustments were made, then retested—until the performance was right.

Inside the cabin, seat belts and airbags were fine-tuned for maximum effectiveness. High-speed cameras recorded every impact, helping engineers understand how passengers move during a crash and how safety features respond.

“Nissan safety and design engineers collaborate extensively to ensure the Murano’s body structure deforms as intended to absorb energy during a crash and protect passengers,” Diver explains.

Rear-Seat Safety in the Spotlight

A major focus in Murano’s development was improving rear-seat protection. Engineers tackled the issue of “submarining,” where passengers slide under the lap belt during a crash—a potentially dangerous scenario.

“That’s where we put our younger family members,” says Jeff Sitko, Safety Performance Manager at Nissan. “So we engineered it to be as safe as possible.”

The result? In the latest IIHS moderate overlap test, the Murano earned a “Good” rating—the highest possible—for rear-seat protection. Testing confirmed that the seat belt system held firm and airbag contact was both precise and effective.

Pole Position in Side-Impact Safety

Another intense trial is the side oblique pole test, simulating a vehicle striking a narrow object like a utility pole. It’s a brutal, highly revealing test that stresses a car’s side structure and curtain airbags. The 2025 Murano passed with flying colors—earning a five-star overall safety rating from the federal New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

“The Murano’s robust side-impact body structure design limits pole intrusion,” notes Adam Gohl, Safety Performance Engineer. “We check paint transfers on dummies’ heads to ensure airbags deployed exactly as intended.”

Engineers also ensure that doors stay latched and no fuel leaks occur—critical factors in post-crash survivability.

Built for Families—Including Theirs

One of the most grueling tests is the side oblique pole test, which simulates the vehicle hitting a top-down view of the Murano absorbing the impact during the side oblique pole test—a key measure of structural strength.

Nissan’s safety engineers don’t just design for anonymous drivers—they build for their own families.

“I trust the vehicles I design to help keep my family and friends safe,” Sitko shares. “They don’t have to worry about safety because I do.”

The 2025 Murano’s safety accolades aren’t just milestones—they’re proof of Nissan’s dedication to protecting real people in real-world scenarios. Through advanced testing, smart design, and heartfelt purpose, the Murano delivers more than peace of mind—it delivers crash-tested confidence.

Information Provided By: Eric Ruble, Senior Specialist, Storytelling and Content, Nissan, USA