Crossover Nissan Murano has long established itself as a comfortable and reliable car for families and long trips. However, when choosing this model, many potential owners ask themselves: How much fuel does Murano actually consume in the city, on the highway and in the combined cycle?? Official manufacturer data often differs from real figures, and the difference between gasoline and diesel versions can reach 20-30%. In this article, we will analyze fuel consumption by generation, analyze the factors influencing the engine’s appetite, and give practical recommendations on how to save money at gas stations without sacrificing comfort.

We will pay special attention common myths - for example, that Murano with a CVT it is always “gluttonous” or that the diesel version is 100% more economical. We will compare data from the on-board computer, owner reviews from forums and independent test results to give an objective picture. If you are planning to purchase or are already using this crossover, here you will find answers to key questions - from choosing fuel to the optimal driving style.

Official data vs real consumption: comparison by generation

The manufacturer declares fuel consumption for Nissan Murano under ideal conditions, which rarely coincide with everyday use. Let's look at three generations of the model presented on the Russian market and compare the factory figures with the actual performance of the owners.

1. First generation (Z50, 2003–2007) equipped with gasoline V6 3.5 l (VQ35DE) power 234 hp Official expense:

  • 🏙️ City: 14.8 l/100 km
  • 🛣️ Highway: 9.4 l/100 km
  • 🔄 Mixed: 11.5 l/100 km

Real owners report 16–18 liters in the city in winter and 10–12 liters on the highway in summer, especially when using AI-92 instead of the recommended AI-95. The reason is the outdated 4-speed automatic transmission and the lack of fuel saving systems.

2. Second generation (Z51, 2008–2014) received updated V6 3.5 l (VQ35DE) with variator Xtronic CVT. The plant states:

  • 🏙️ City: 13.2 l/100 km
  • 🛣️ Highway: 8.7 l/100 km
  • 🔄 Mixed: 10.4 l/100 km

Actual consumption according to reviews: 14–16 liters in the city and 9–10 liters on the highway. The variator made it possible to reduce appetite by 10–15%, but is sensitive to aggressive driving - with sharp accelerations, consumption increases to 18–20 liters.

3. Third generation (Z52, 2015–present) offers a choice of petrol V6 3.5 l (VQ35DD) with direct injection and hybrid version (only for some markets). Official data for the petrol version:

  • 🏙️ City: 12.5 l/100 km
  • 🛣️ Highway: 8.1 l/100 km
  • 🔄 Mixed: 9.8 l/100 km

Owners note that with a quiet ride, they manage to achieve 12–13 liters in the city, but in winter, with warming up and traffic jams, consumption rises to 15–17 liters. The highway indicator is 8.5–9.5 l - one of the best in the class.

📊 Which generation of Nissan Murano are you interested in?
  • Z50 (2003–2007)
  • Z51 (2008–2014)
  • Z52 (2015–present)
  • I haven't decided yet

Petrol vs diesel: which is more economical in the long run?

In Russia Nissan Murano with a diesel engine - a rarity, but on the secondary market there are copies with 2.5 dCi (R9M) power 190 hp (mostly European versions). The manufacturer declares consumption for them:

  • 🏙️ City: 8.5 l/100 km
  • 🛣️ Highway: 6.2 l/100 km
  • 🔄 Mixed: 7.0 l/100 km

In practice, the diesel version consumes 20–30% less fuel, but there are nuances:

✅ Diesel advantages:

  • 💰 Fuel savings: with a mileage of 20,000 km/year, the difference in costs will be ~50,000 rubles.
  • 🔋 High torque (450 Nm) useful for towing and off-roading.
  • 🛠️ Engine life with proper maintenance is 400,000+ km.

❌ Diesel disadvantages:

  • ❄️ Problems with starting at −20°C and below (winter fuel or anti-gel required).
  • 💸 More expensive maintenance: oil change every 10,000 km, fuel filters - every 20,000 km.
  • 📉 Power drop after 150,000 km due to untimely cleaning of the particulate filter.

⚠️ Attention: Diesel Murano sensitive to fuel quality. Using diesel fuel with a high sulfur content leads to system failure AdBlue and turbines. Check certificates at gas stations!

For an objective comparison, consider payback of the diesel version with a mileage of 100,000 km:

Parameter Gasoline (V6 3.5 l) Diesel (2.5 dCi)
Average consumption, l/100 km 13.0 8.5
Fuel cost (average for the Russian Federation), rub./l 50.00 (AI-95) 52.00 (DT)
Fuel costs, rub./100,000 km 650 000 442 000
Add. maintenance costs, rub. 150 000 250 000
Total costs, rub. 800 000 692 000

Conclusion: diesel will be more profitable with a mileage of 150,000 km, but only if you are prepared for higher maintenance costs and potential problems with the fuel system in winter.

5 main reasons for increased fuel consumption

If your Murano started to “eat” gasoline or diesel fuel in excess of the norm, first check these factors. Often the problem lies not in the engine, but in small things that are easy to fix yourself.

1. Tire pressure

Wheels lowered by 0.5 bar increase rolling resistance by 10–15%, which immediately adds 1–1.5 liters to consumption per 100 km. For Murano optimal pressure:

  • 🚗 Front wheels: 2.3–2.5 bar
  • 🚙 Rear wheels: 2.5–2.7 bar (fully loaded)

Check with a tire pressure gauge once every 2 weeks - a flat tire is not always visually noticeable.

2. Clogged filters

An air filter with a mileage of 30,000+ km creates additional resistance, enriching the fuel mixture. When a fuel filter (especially on a diesel engine) gets clogged, it causes the pump to work with increased load. Replacement regulations:

  • 🔄 Air filter: every 15,000 km (or once a year)
  • ⛽ Fuel filter (petrol): every 60,000 km
  • ⚫ Fuel filter (diesel): every 20,000 km

3. Malfunctions in the ignition system

Worn spark plugs, high-voltage wires or ignition coils lead to misfires. The engine compensates for this by increasing the fuel supply. Signs:

  • 🔥 Troubleshooting at idle
  • 💥 Popping sounds in the exhaust system
  • 📉 Power drop during acceleration

On Murano with VQ35DE candles NGK PLFR5A-11 serve 60,000 km, but when using AI-92, their service life is reduced to 30,000 km.

4. Failures in the injection system

For gasoline versions, dirty injectors are critical, and for diesel versions, wear of the injection pump or plunger pairs is critical. Symptoms:

  • 🛢️ Strong smell of gasoline/diesel from the exhaust
  • 📈 Floating idle speed
  • 🚗 Jerks when moving at constant speed

Ultrasonic cleaning of injectors costs RUB 8,000–12,000, but can reduce consumption by 10–20%.

5. Electronic failures

Faulty sensors (oxygen, air flow, temperature) transmit incorrect data to the computer, causing the control unit to over-enrich the mixture. For example, dirty mass air flow sensor (MAF) can add 2–3 liters to consumption. Check error codes via OBD-II (For example, P0171 or P0174 indicate a lean mixture).

Check tire pressure|Inspect air filter|Scan for OBD-II errors|Listen to engine for vibration|Check oil level (overfilling increases consumption)-->

How to reduce fuel consumption: proven methods

Even serviceable Nissan Murano can be done more economically if you follow these recommendations. We have selected only those methods that are confirmed by the owners and do not require expensive modifications.

1. Optimize your riding style

Aggressive acceleration and braking increases consumption by 20–30%. Use smooth acceleration and engine braking. On Murano With a CVT, avoid “pedal to the metal” - this causes the CVT to simulate lower gears, burning excess fuel. Optimal speed for economical driving: 1,800–2,500 rpm.

2. Use cruise control on the highway

The system maintains a constant speed, eliminating unnecessary acceleration. According to tests, cruise control reduces fuel consumption on the highway by 5–7%. On Murano Z52 adaptive cruise (ProPILOT Assist) additionally optimizes acceleration and braking in traffic.

3. Reduce weight and resistance

Every 50 kg of cargo adds 1-2% to consumption. Remove unnecessary items from the trunk and remove the roof rack when not in use. When driving at a speed of 100 km/h, open windows increase air resistance by 5%, which is equivalent to +0.5 l/100 km.

4. Choose the right fuel

For petrol Murano manufacturer recommends AI-95. The use of AI-92 leads to detonation and an increase in consumption by 3–5%. On diesel versions in winter, be sure to use fuel with additives (Arctic or Winter>) or add anti-gel (for example, Liqui Moly Diesel Fliess-Fit).

5. Monitor technical condition

Check regularly (every 10,000 km):

  • 🔧 Condition of spark plugs
  • 🛢️ Oil level and quality (synthetic 5W-30 or 5W-40)
  • 🔗 Alternator belt tension (slippage increases engine load)

After 100,000 km, diagnose the catalyst - its clogging can add up to 2 l/100 km.

💡

On Murano Z51/Z52 When coasting (for example, downhill), move the variator selector to position N - this will reduce the load on the engine and save 0.2–0.3 l/100 km.

Fuel consumption in different conditions: winter vs summer

Seasonal fluctuations in consumption Nissan Murano can reach 20–25%. Let's figure out why the engine's appetite increases in winter and how to compensate for it.

Winter factors:

  • ❄️ Warming up the engine: 5–10 minutes idling = +1 liter of fuel.
  • 🔋 Battery: A dead battery makes the generator work harder.
  • 🛣️ Snow and ice: slipping and driving in lower gears increases consumption by 15%.
  • 🧊 Thick oil: if not replaced 5W-30 on 0W-20, cold starts are more difficult.

Summer factors:

  • ☀️ Air conditioning: climate control on adds 0.5–1 l/100 km.
  • 🌡️ Overheating: at temperatures above +30°C, the engine runs on a rich mixture.
  • 🛣️ Dust: a clogged air filter worsens dynamics and increases appetite.

Let's compare the consumption Murano Z52 (V6 3.5 l) under different conditions:

Terms City, l/100 km Route, l/100 km Mixed, l/100 km
Summer, +20°C, AI-95 12.5 8.2 9.8
Winter, −10°C, AI-95, warming up 15.8 9.5 12.0
Winter, −20°C, diesel, antigel 10.2 7.8 8.7
Summer, +35°C, air conditioning 13.7 8.9 10.6
⚠️ Attention: At temperatures below −25°C, it is not recommended to use autostart at intervals of less than 20 minutes - this leads to incomplete heating of the oil and increased wear of the cylinders. Optimal mode: 1 start per hour for 10–15 minutes.

To reduce winter consumption:

  • 🔥 Use preheater (For example, Webasto or Eberspächer) - it will save up to 30% of fuel during warm-ups.
  • 🔋 Keep the battery charged (voltage not lower than 12.4 V).
  • 🛢️ Refuel at proven gas stations - in winter the risk of running into diluted fuel is higher.

Owner reviews: real consumption figures

We analyzed reviews from forums Drive2, Nissan-Club And Drom.ruto collect up-to-date data from owners Nissan Murano different generations. The figures are for petrol versions with automatic transmission.

Murano Z50 (2003–2007, V6 3.5 l, automatic transmission):

  • 🏙️ City: 15–18 l/100 km (in winter up to 20 l)
  • 🛣️ Highway: 9.5–11 l/100 km
  • 🔄 Mixed: 12–14 l/100 km
Owner review (Drive2, 2023): “On the highway at 110 km/h the consumption is 9.8 liters, but as soon as you accelerate to 140 - immediately 12-13 liters. In a city with traffic jams 17 liters is the norm.”

Murano Z51 (2008–2014, V6 3.5 l, CVT):

  • 🏙️ City: 13–16 l/100 km
  • 🛣️ Highway: 8.5–10 l/100 km
  • 🔄 Mixed: 10–12 l/100 km
Owner review (Nissan-Club, 2026): “After changing the CVT oil (every 60,000 km), consumption in the city dropped from 16 to 14.5 liters. The CVT requires maintenance!”

Murano Z52 (2015–present, V6 3.5 l, CVT):

  • 🏙️ City: 12–15 l/100 km
  • 🛣️ Highway: 8.0–9.5 l/100 km
  • 🔄 Mixed: 9.5–11 l/100 km
Owner's review (Drom.ru, 2023): “With a quiet ride and a tire pressure of 2.5 bar, we manage to achieve 12.3 liters in the city. But as soon as you turn on all-wheel drive, you immediately get +1.5 liters.”

How do owners save fuel?

Many people use applications to monitor consumption (for example, Fuelio or Car diary) to track dynamics. A popular life hack is flashing the ECU for Euro 2 (removes the catalyst and lambda probes), but this is illegal and leads to increased engine wear. A safer way is to install lambda probe decoys (cost ~3,000 rubles), which reduces consumption by 5–7% without harm to the engine.

Frequently asked questions about Nissan Murano fuel consumption

We have collected the most popular questions from owners and potential buyers Nissan Muranoto provide clear and practical answers.

❓ What is the real gas consumption of the Murano Z52?

Installation of 4th generation gas equipment on Murano Z52 increases gas consumption compared to gasoline by 10–15%. Real numbers:

  • 🏙️ City: 14–16 l/100 km (gas) vs 12–14 l (petrol)
  • 🛣️ Highway: 9–10 l/100 km (gas) vs 8–9 l (gasoline)
Important: Engine VQ35DD sensitive to gas quality. Use only highly purified propane-butane (at least GOST R 52087-2003). The payback period for gas equipment is from 50,000 km.

❓ Why did the consumption in the variator increase after changing the oil?

This is a temporary phenomenon associated with the adaptation of the variator to the new fluid. After changing the oil (NS-2 or NS-3) The ECU is retrained within 200–300 km. If the flow rate has not returned to normal:

  • Check the oil level in the variator (should be between HOT MIN/MAX at +60°C).
  • Reset adaptations via Consult-III Plus (cost ~1,500 rubles in service).
Warning: If consumption increases by more than 2 l/100 km, the solenoids or filter may have been damaged during an oil change.

❓ Is it possible to fill in AI-92 instead of AI-95?

The manufacturer allows short-term use of AI-92, but does not recommend this is on an ongoing basis. Consequences:

  • 🔥 Detonation under high loads (especially at Murano Z50 with high compression ratio).
  • 📉 Power drop by 5–7%.
  • 🛢️ Increase in consumption by 3-5% due to less efficient combustion.

If you have to refuel with 92, add an octane corrector (for example, Liqui Moly Oktan Plus) in the proportion of 1 bottle per 40–50 liters of fuel.

❓ What is the consumption of Murano with a trailer?

Towing a trailer weighing 1,000–1,500 kg increases consumption by 20–30%. Examples for Murano Z52 (V6 3.5 l):

  • 🏙️ City: 16–18 l/100 km (+3–4 l)
  • 🛣️ Highway (90 km/h): 11–12 l/100 km (+2–3 l)
Tips:
  • Use the mode Tow Mode (if any) to optimize gear ratios.
  • Check the pressure in the trailer tires (should be 0.2–0.3 bar higher than in the car).
  • Avoid speeds above 100 km/h - air resistance increases quadratically.

❓ Why does the on-board computer show consumption lower than real?

On-board computer Murano calculates the flow rate based on data from the injection and speed sensors, but does not take into account:

  • 🔧 Mechanical losses (engine wear, transmission).
  • 🛣️ Road inclines (when going down, the consumption is underestimated, when going up, it is overestimated).
  • 🌡️ Air temperature (in winter the error is up to 10%).

To get accurate data, use control filling method:

  1. Fill the tank full to the cut-off point.
  2. Reset the daily mileage odometer.
  3. Drive 200–300 km as usual.
  4. Fuel up to the cut-off again and divide the number of liters by the kilometers traveled, multiply by 100.

The difference between the on-board computer and actual consumption is usually 0.5–1.5 l/100 km.

💡

Real consumption Nissan Murano 10–20% higher than official data. Gasoline versions consume 12–18 l/100 km depending on conditions, diesel versions consume 8–11 l/100 km. The main factors for saving: driving style, tire pressure and timely maintenance.