Hey everyone! I recently picked up a 2021 Nissan Murano and I’ve been absolutely loving the ride so far. However, I just moved from a fairly temperate area to a region where "winter" means five months of sub-zero temperatures and enough snow to bury a mailbox. I’m a bit nervous because this is my first time owning a Murano in these conditions, and I want to make sure I’m fully prepared before the first big blizzard hits.
The AWD system has felt solid during the light flurries we've had, but I know the real test is coming soon. My main concern is protecting the car and making sure it’s reliable when the temperature drops to -20°F. I’ve already been looking into heavy-duty floor liners because I’m terrified of what the road salt and slush will do to the carpets over time. Does anyone have a preference between the Nissan OEM all-season mats or something like WeatherTech or Husky for a perfect fit in the Murano's footwells?
Beyond just the floors, I’m curious about a few specific things for this model. For those of you in the northern states or Canada, have you found an engine block heater to be necessary for the 3.5L V6, or does it usually crank over okay on those brutal mornings? Also, the stock wipers seem a bit flimsy for heavy ice—any recommendations for beefier winter blades that actually fit the Murano's arms without needing a bunch of annoying adapters?
I'm also considering a cargo liner for the back to handle wet gear and maybe some mud flaps to protect the side panels from all the grit and gravel they spray on the roads here. I really want to get everything ordered and installed before I'm stuck digging the car out of a snowbank!
For those of you who have survived a few seasons with your Murano, what are the absolute "must-have" accessories or upgrades you’d recommend for someone facing a harsh winter for the first time?
Ok so I went through this last year. Ngl, I was totally stressed about the salt ruinous my interior, so I looked at both Nissan OEM Murano All-Season Floor Mats and Husky Liners WeatherBeater Series. The OEMs look cleaner but the Husky set has much higher edges for catching that nasty slush... basically saved my carpets when I spilled a whole coffee lol. Mud flaps are also a huge win for protecting the paint from gravel, so definitely grab the A-Premium Splash Guards for Nissan Murano 2021. gl!
Sooo I've been driving my Murano in the Yukon for three years now and honestly, you're gonna be totally fine! The V6 is a beast and starts right up even at -25°F without a block heater, though I lowkey recommend getting the NOCO Genius5 5-Amp Fully-Automatic Smart Charger just to keep the battery topped off if it sits.
For the floors, I'm super happy with WeatherTech FloorLiner DigitalFit because they literally catch every drop of salty slush—way better than the OEM ones IMO. Also, definitely swap those wipers for Bosch ICON Winter Wiper Blades cuz they don't ice up as bad. Basically, just get good mats and you're golden! gl!!
Basically went through this last year after moving to MN. I was torn between the OEM liners and the high-end aftermarket ones. I ended up with the deep-dish aftermarket set cuz they honestly catch so much more slush than the factory ones... like, I can literally see a pool of salt water sitting there instead of soaking my floors. I also put on some basic mud flaps and they've kept the grit from sandblasting the doors. It's been a lifesaver tbh.
TL;DR: Aftermarket deep liners > OEM for heavy salt/slush protection.