What is the 2016 Nissan Murano safety rating?
Since its release the Nissan Murano has received plenty of acclaim, topping no only Kiplinger’s 2015 Best New/Redesigned Midsize Crossover list but those of many other publications. Most recently the 2016 Nissan Murano continued the tradition by earning top marks in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests. So what is the 2016 Nissan Murano safety rating? For this sophisticated crossover it came down to four, gold stars.
The NHTSA conducts front, side and rollover crash tests and records a vehicle’s performance in each on a scale of one-five stars with five being the highest. Like the 2015 model, the 2016 Nissan Murano took home a four out of five-star rating. It earned four stars in front and rollover crash tests and a five-star rating in the side crash test.
Before you disregard the 2016 Nissan Murano as a top performer, it’s important to seek another opinion. Indeed the 2015 Nissan Murano also received a four-star rating from the NHTSA, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had something very different to say about the Murano. It conducts a small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints and seats tests. It also evaluates vehicles for the level of front crash prevention.
In fact, the IIHS gave the 2015 Nissan Murano its highest award: Top Safety Pick+. Not only did the 2015 Nissan Murano earn the highest rating in all IIHS crash tests, it also received a “superior” rating in front crash prevention. An official safety rating for the 2016 Nissan Murano has not yet been released by the IIHS, but it is expected to be the same as the 2015 model.
So which rating is more valuable? It’s important to recognize that the IIHS and NHTSA are both independent of the other so both ratings provide insight and expertise. While the IIHS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to scientific research and education, the NHTSA is run by the federal government. For more information, visit the agencies online at www.iihs.org and www.safercar.gov.
