Luxury brands draw a lot of attention, especially when it comes to SUVs. Thoughts of leather, wood, high-end sound systems, and other luxury appointments dance in the heads of those buyers — until they get a look at the price.
However, several upmarket or premium offerings can give consumers a luxurious feel without the hefty price tag. Among the best examples of this big value are the 2024 Buick Envision and 2024 Nissan Murano.
The Envision offers a near-luxury experience at a price comparable to many well-equipped mainstream brands. Meanwhile, the Murano can be contented to give you a luxurious experience. These two 5-passenger SUVs offer plenty of value, so let’s learn more about both.
2024 Buick Envision
The near-luxury Buick Envision received an exterior facelift for 2024, with the front end receiving most of the updates. The SUV seats five passengers very comfortably. It’s built to be a comfortable ride with great technology, which aligns it with the rest of the Buick portfolio.
Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the Envision puts out 228 hp, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard. It comes with plenty of nice touches, such as wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a hands-free tailgate. A slew of advanced driver safety technology is available in the mid and upper trim levels. Available in three trim levels — Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir — pricing starts at $37,295, including the destination fee.
Buick Envision Highlights
Tech help: The standard Technology 1 package includes a head-up display and a Bose 9-speaker audio system. We love seeing these tech features standard on every trim.
Elegant interior: The first thing you’ll notice in the new Envision’s interior is a digital instrument cluster mounted flush with an expansive infotainment touchscreen. It stretches 30 inches diagonally and wouldn’t look out of place in a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Genesis product. Upper trims have niceties like perforated leather upholstery and a digital rearview camera.
Massaging seats: Available as an option in the Avenir trim, massaging front seats knead their occupants into full-on luxury vehicle territory. These seats, covered in perforated leather, also have heating and ventilation.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Envision models near you.
2024 Nissan Murano
The 2024 Nissan Murano attracts attention. If “really nice” was the lead characteristic for being a top recommendation, the Murano would be at or near the top of that list. However, it gives more than that, including contemporary exterior styling, a spacious cabin, and a potent powertrain.
Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 putting out 260 hp, it offers more than enough acceleration to navigate city traffic while handling freeway runs with aplomb. However, much like the Buick Envision, it prioritizes comfort over performance. The nicely designed cabin features seating for five with better-than-average legroom in the back seat. The Murano is a utility vehicle aimed at adults, and it hits the mark, even in its last year before an expected redesign. Pricing starts at $40,130.
Nissan Murano Highlights
Platinum treatment: Adults like nice things, and the Murano can be just that with its luxurious Platinum trim level. It’s loaded with premium features like extra-soft, semi-aniline leather seats with diamond-quilted inserts, heated and cooled front seats, a panoramic moonroof, and stylish 20-inch wheels.
Safety tech: The standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite combines desirable driver assistance features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and more. As with the Envision, adaptive cruise control is also standard.
Great seats: Nissan developed zero-gravity seats for the Murano to reduce driver fatigue on long drives. The seats are even better on the higher-end trim levels.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Murano models near you.
Similarities
The Buick Envision and Nissan Murano are great examples of upmarket offerings without an eye-popping price. They feature polished exteriors, a spacious, well-appointed cabin, and a reasonable price tag.
Conclusion
The Buick Envision is a borderline luxury vehicle. It offers a great ride and a comfortable, tech-heavy interior that gives buyers an experience similar to a pricier luxury SUV, and we like that AWD comes standard. For a bit more cash, the larger Murano will give you a similar experience with additional space and 32 more horses under the hood. The Buick is a bit more modern and high-tech, but the Murano has practical advantages and more power. Setting a budget and figuring out your priorities can land you in the right one.
| 2024 Buick Envision | 2024 Nissan Murano | |
| Starting Price | $37,295 | $40,130 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 3.5-liter 6-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 228 hp @ 5,000 rpm | 260 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm | 240 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic/AWD | CVT/FWD |
| Fuel Economy | 22 city/29 highway/25 combined mpg | 20 city/28 highway/23 combined mpg |
| Also Available | AWD | |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | N/R | 5-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 109.0 inches | 111.2 inches |
| Overall Length | 182.7 inches | 192.8 inches |
| Width | 74.1 inches | 75.4 inches |
| Height | 64.6 inches | 67.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.0 feet | 38.7 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.6 inches | 39.9 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.9 inches | 39.8 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 40.4 inches | 40.5 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 39.3 inches | 38.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 56.7 inches | 59.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 55.9 inches | 58.9 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 25.2 cubic feet | 32.1 cubic feet |
