They say looks can be deceiving, and that has never been proven to be more true than in the auto world. It might look like a dream, but it drives like a log. And let’s not discuss how reselling it can become a nightmare due to the drop in value.

Consumer Reports has one such SUV that you need to be wary of. The 2020 Nissan Murano may look sleek and agile, but it isn’t. Here’s what we were able to find out, and what you should buy instead.

The 2020 Nissan Murano

The 2020 Nissan Murano comes with 3.5-liter V6 engine, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Both of these are great on their own, but Consumer Reports felt that the combination of the two only created a lackluster combination.

The Murano also fails to stand out in terms of fuel economy. It gets 21 mpg overall, which isn’t bad by any means, but also isn’t great.

The interior is where you’ll fall in love. Nissan offers a lot of standard features such as an 8.0-inch color touchscreen display that runs Nissan’s NissanConnect infotainment system, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM with Travel Link weather and traffic updates.

You’ll also get USB-A and USB-C ports, including a pair on the back of the center console. Your passengers will love this feature, especially on long road trips when their cell phone batteries are dying.

Nissan wasn’t as giving with the standard safety features. You’ll get forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking standard, but will have to upgrade to get blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist.

Why did Consumer Reports shoot it down?

Critics usually don’t give out bad reviews unless they’re well earned, and that’s the case with the 2020 Nissan Murano. Consumer Reports summed up the matter well when it stated,

“The Murano has many curves and angles that make it stand out, for better or worse. But those swoops interfere with outward visibility and the mundane driving experience doesn’t live up to the promises of the styling.”

It’s easy to forgive a vehicle for being a little on the ugly side if it drives well, but it’s harder to overlook the fact that you can’t see long enough to back out of your driveway. The lack of driving ability only adds to the list of reasons why the 2020 Murano may not be well reviewed five years from now. 

The road test only earned it a 77 out of 100 in Consumer Reports rating. The 4 out of 5 in predicted reliability isn’t that bad, but again, there are better vehicles out there. The predicted owner satisfaction score of 3 out of 5 is perhaps most telling of all. Add in the fact that there’s not much in the way of cargo space and the Murano can’t go off-road, and there’s not much there to love.

What you should buy instead

The Ford Edge may not be perfect, but it does have all the strengths that the Murano lacks. It’s bigger, has more agility, and powerful engines. The area that the Edge falls behind in is that it has a rough ride. 

The Chevy Blazer is not only a great looking SUV, but it’s also cheaper. It starts at $34,800, which is about $2,000 cheaper. That being said, the engine isn’t that powerful, and it can’t go off-road either.

The Nissan Murano starts at $31,530. That’s about average for its division, so that’s not a terrible price. If your heart is set on driving a Murano, go for it. It’s a perfectly decent vehicle. There are just other options out there that might make you happier in the long run.