Nissan Murano vs. Lexus RX 300
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Nissan Murano and Lexus RX 300 contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Nissan Murano and the Lexus RX 300.
When we compare the Nissan Murano's and the Lexus RX 300's specifications and ratings, the Nissan Murano has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Nissan Murano's and the Lexus RX 300's specifications and ratings, the Nissan Murano is a better car than the Lexus RX 300.
Pricing: A used 2003 Nissan Murano ranges from $1,900 to $7,995 while a used 2003 Lexus RX 300 is priced between $2,528 to $8,997.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Nissan Murano’s base engine makes 245 horsepower, and the Lexus RX 300 base engine makes 220 horsepower. The Murano is rated to deliver an average of 20 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 483 miles. The RX 300 is rated to deliver an average of 18 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 399 miles. This gives the Nissan Murano the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Lexus RX 300. Both models use gasoline.
Safety Ratings: The Nissan Murano has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
28739
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Midsize SUVs)
24461
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Midsize SUVs)
16825 - 28739
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
35700
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
N/A
Category Starting MSRP Range:
N/A
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
5103
Price Range:
1900 - 7995
Category Avg Price:
(Midsize SUVs)
6207
Category Avg Price Range:
(Midsize SUVs)
4626 - 12420
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
3
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
143683
# Good or Great Deals:
0
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
5859
Price Range:
2528 - 8997
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
11
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
200934
# Good or Great Deals:
4
Nissan Murano Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.7 / 10
Reliability:
7.7 / 10
Retained Value:
7.4 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
Lexus RX 300 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Nissan Murano
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Lexus RX 300
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
4.58402094147307
Typical Category Recalls:
(Midsize SUVs)
2.7
Category Range for Recalls:
(Midsize SUVs)
1.0 - 15.6
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
0.878988548723322
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Nissan Murano Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 31Ranking
1 out of / 31Ranking
1 out of / 2Ranking
2 out of / 66Ranking
2 out of / 66Ranking
2 out of / 31Ranking
2 out of / 7Ranking
4 out of / 26Ranking
6 out of / 66Ranking
6 out of / 31Ranking
7 out of / 66Ranking
7 out of / 31Ranking
9 out of / 31Ranking
11 out of / 66Ranking
12 out of / 66Ranking
13 out of / 31Ranking
17 out of / 31Ranking
18 out of / 26Ranking
21 out of / 54Ranking
24 out of / 66Ranking
28 out of / 31Ranking
29 out of / 31Ranking
31 out of / 31Ranking
31 out of / 31Ranking
31 out of / 31Ranking
35 out of / 66Ranking
40 out of / 66Ranking
41 out of / 66Ranking
45 out of / 66Ranking
48 out of / 54Ranking
53 out of / 66Ranking
64 out of / 66Lexus RX 300 Rankings
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Nissan Murano Trim Levels
SE, SL
Lexus RX 300 Trim Levels
Base
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
6 years / 70000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
245 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque:
246 foot-lbs @ 4400 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.064 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
3500 lbs
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
220 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque:
222 foot-lbs @ 4400 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.059 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
3500 lbs
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT Automatic)
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
18 / 23 / 20
Range (city/hwy):
378 / 483 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
17 / 21 / 18
Range (city/hwy):
323 / 399 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bluetooth:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Ignition:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Power outlet:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Satellite radio:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bluetooth:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Ignition:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Power outlet:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Satellite radio:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Available
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.7 inches
Front Leg Room:
43.4 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
59.6 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.7 inches
Rear Leg Room:
36.1 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
59.1 inches
Cargo Space:
Not yet available
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
Not yet available
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.1 inches
Front Leg Room:
40.7 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.8 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.6 inches
Rear Leg Room:
36.4 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
57 inches
Cargo Space:
Not yet available
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
Not yet available
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3801 lbs
Width:
74 inches
Height:
66.5 inches
Length:
187.6 inches
Wheelbase:
111.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
7.1 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3715 lbs
Width:
71.5 inches
Height:
65.7 inches
Length:
180.1 inches
Wheelbase:
103.1 inches
Ground Clearance:
7.7 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P235/65R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
16.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P225/70R16
Exterior Colors
Black
Super Black
Blue
Midnight Blue Pearl
Gold
Luminous Gold Metallic
Gray
Polished Pewter Metallic
Orange
Sunlit Copper Metallic
Red
Deep Bordeaux Metallic
Silver
Sheer Silver Metallic
White
Glacier Pearl
Green
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Onyx
Blue
Blue Vapor Metallic / Indigo Ink Pearl
Gold
Burnished Gold Metallic
Gray
Not available
Orange
Not available
Red
Not available
Silver
Millennium SIlver Metallic
White
White Gold Crystal
Green
Mineral Green Opalescent / Woodland Pearl
Interior Colors
Beige
Cafe Latte
Gray
Charcoal
Red
Cabernet
Black
Not available
White
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Not available
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
Black
Black
White
Ivory
