Car and Driver: Is a Nissan Murano Hybrid Coming Soon to the U.S.? The EPA Says Yes

Nissan hasn’t offered a hybrid crossover since it dropped the Pathfinder Hybrid from its lineup last year, but that model’s gas-electric powertrain might soon reappear in the Murano. We last reported on the rumored Murano Hybrid way back in 2013, and now the EPA seems to have spilled the beans by publishing fuel-economy figures for front- and all-wheel drive versions of a 2016 Nissan Murano Hybrid.

A Murano Hybrid is already offered in the Chinese market, and the fact that Nissan has certified this model with the EPA likely means that its U.S. debut is imminent. The Chinese-spec car uses the same 2.5-liter supercharged four-cylinder and electric motor that was found in the Pathfinder Hybrid, and the EPA’s website also lists the Murano Hybrid’s powertrain as a 2.5-liter supercharged four-cylinder hybrid. For what it’s worth, the Murano Hybrid is rated at 29 mpg (combined) with front-wheel drive and 28 mpg with all-wheel drive, notable improvements of 5 and 4 mpg over the regular, V-6–powered Murano [pictured].

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Nissan representatives wouldn’t confirm that the Murano Hybrid is a sure thing for America. If the Murano Hybrid is indeed a 2016 model-year vehicle as the EPA suggests, we should hear some official news sooner rather than later.

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