How Nissan engineered the safest Murano ever

​Crashes happen in an instant. Designing a safe vehicle takes years.

Enhanced safety in every seat

Part of earning the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award requires a vehicle protects its occupants well when it crashes into a deformable, offset barrier at 40 mph. To achieve this result, Nissan engineers replicated the crash test at its own facility several times. They studied the results after each crash, and if something needed adjustment, engineers found a solution and implemented it in the next test.

Advanced monitoring equipment on board and in crash dummies provided data about how the vehicle absorbed the crash energy – lessening the impact on passengers. Meanwhile, high-speed cameras captured how seat belts work to position passengers to optimally interact with Murano's air bags, helping to reduce the risk of injury.

"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 said.

When developing the all-new Murano, there was an intensified focus on enhancing rear-seat passenger safety. Crucially, the seat belt system must help prevent "submarining" – when the passenger partially slips under the lap portion of the belt, increasing the risk for injury.

"Having a safe rear seat is important in any vehicle," said Jeff Sitko, Nissan safety performance manager. "That's where we're going to put our younger family members, and so we engineered it to be as safe as possible."

To achieve the IIHS's highest individual test rating of "Good," rear-seat occupants must be well-protected in the updated moderate front overlap test.

"The Murano performed very well," Sitko said. "Rear-seat passengers' interaction with the seat belt and air bag was excellent."