2026 Nissan Murano

The Nissan Murano is a midsize SUV for drivers who prioritize comfort and safety over off-road ruggedness or tire-smoking performance. This is evident in its comfortable seats, modern tech features, and easygoing ride quality that make it remind us of a pricier luxury SUV. The Murano gets some nice improvements for 2026, like standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and an optional hands-free highway driving feature. Another feather in this Nissan’s cap is top-notch safety scores, bolstering its credentials as a family hauler.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the Nissan Murano.

A redesigned Nissan Murano just came out for 2025, and the 2026 model already gets some welcome improvements. For starters, all-wheel drive is now standard on every model. Also, it picks up the ProPILOT Assist 2.1 option, which allows for hands-free driving on highways mapped by Nissan. There’s also a new SL Comfort Package that adds ventilated and massaging front seats, heated rear seats, and a hands-free power liftgate to the mid-range SL trim.

The 2026 Nissan Murano starts at $43,165 for the base SV trim. The top Platinum model kicks off at $51,295.

The starting price of the Nissan Murano is on the higher side of its class because it’s so well-equipped at the base level. The Murano is priced close to the Mazda CX-70 and Honda Passport, while options in this class with lower starting prices include the Chevy Blazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

Before buying a Murano, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Nissan Murano resale value is below average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 Nissan Murano is powered by a 241-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched with a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD).

This powertrain is similar to the one in the bigger and more expensive Infiniti QX60. It’s one of Nissan’s VC-Turbo engines, capable of changing the engine’s compression ratio based on the driver’s inputs. It’s more responsive in spirited driving and more efficient in relaxed highway driving. However, we found it a little noisy when accelerating from a standstill, making us miss the grunt of the V6 that powered all previous Murano generations.

Speaking of relaxed, that’s how we’d sum up the Murano’s driving experience. Comfort has always been the Murano’s calling card, and that hasn’t changed with this generation. The ride is smooth and comfortable, the weight of the steering is just right, and it’s just plain easy to drive.

We were puzzled when the 2025 Murano came out without the ProPILOT 2.1 hands-free driving system on the options list, so we’re glad it’s now available in the Platinum trim of the 2026 model. This allows for hands-off-the-wheel, eyes-on-the-road driving on certain highways, enhancing the serene driving experience of the Murano.

Fuel Economy

The Nissan Murano is rated at 21 city/27 highway/23 combined mpg, which is about average for this class. If you’re looking for something more efficient in this class, consider the plug-in hybrid versions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Mazda CX-70 or the hybrid-only Toyota Crown Signia.

The interior is a strong suit of the 2026 Nissan Murano. The design is lovely, and the materials are nice, especially in the top Platinum trim we tested with its semi-aniline leather upholstery and massaging front seats. We’re especially fond of the Twilight Blue interior color and “Murano glass” trim.

We found climbing into the Nissan Murano’s driver’s seat to be about as easy as getting into a recliner. It’s a nice height for easy ingress and egress. Once inside, we appreciated the Zero Gravity seats, which are present in front and the outboard rear seats. These were carefully engineered to maximize comfort and reduce fatigue on long drives. We can confirm that they’re really that comfortable; we were in no hurry to get out of the Murano when we tested it.

The tech inside the Nissan Murano was thoroughly updated with its 2025 redesign. Dual 12.3-inch displays come standard: a digital gauge cluster and center infotainment screen housed in one big rectangle. It has smartphone connectivity tech like wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and we’re grateful that Google Maps now powers the onboard navigation system.

The rear seats are plenty comfortable for average-sized adults, but most rivals have more legroom in the back. The Murano has 36.3 inches of rear legroom, which is less than almost all of its direct rivals. It’s a similar story with cargo space; enough for most folks in the market for an SUV like this, but less than some roomier midsize 2-row SUVs, like the Mazda CX-70 and VW Atlas Cross Sport.

The Nissan Murano’s design doesn’t look quite like anything else in its class, and we love the optional black contrast roof available with five paint options. In an era when everything is getting boxier to chase a rugged aesthetic, we can appreciate the characterful curvy lines in the Murano’s design.

Zero Gravity seats
These supremely comfortable seats were engineered to reduce fatigue on long drives. They’re standard in front and back, which your passengers will appreciate.

ProPILOT Assist
The standard Nissan ProPILOT Assist system makes highway driving safer and more relaxed with features like adaptive cruise control, steering assist, and lane centering. The ProPILOT 2.1 system available with the Platinum trim even lets you take your hands off the wheel on certain highways.

VC-Turbo engine
The VC-Turbo engine has class-exclusive variable compression engineering, which finds the right balance of power and efficiency based on the driver’s inputs.

Dual 12.3-inch displays
These big displays come standard, contributing to a high-tech feel inside the Murano’s upscale interior. They’re user-friendly and come with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for seamless integration with your phone.

Panoramic sunroof
The SL and Platinum trims have a huge panoramic sunroof, creating an open and airy feel in the premium cabin. We love how it makes sunlight reflect on the “Murano glass” trim on the dash and door panels.

Luxurious Platinum trim
The top Platinum model does a seriously impressive impression of a pricier luxury SUV. Just a few features include semi-aniline quilted leather upholstery; heated, cooled, and massaging front seats; a Bose audio system; 21-inch wheels; and a head-up display.

Power for the 2026 Nissan Murano comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. It’s rated at 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. That’s a little less power and a little more torque than the V6 in the previous generation. The 2026 Nissan Murano can tow 1,500 pounds, which is low for this class. The Honda Passport and VW Atlas Cross Sport can pull 5,000 pounds, while the Jeep Grand Cherokee can lug 6,200 pounds.

This VC-Turbo engine has variable compression engineering, but one of its chief rivals, the Mazda CX-70, is both more powerful and more efficient without needing to change its compression ratio.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Standard for this class, Nissan provides the Murano with limited bumper-to-bumper coverage for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The powertrain limited warranty extends to five years or 60,000 miles. Nissan also provides free 24/7 roadside assistance for the duration of the bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Safety

The Nissan Murano earned the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also gets the top 5-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These safety ratings are as close to perfect as a car can get.