Nissan’s 2026 Murano Is An Entry-Luxury Crossover In Mainstream Brand Disguise

That’s what happened with the Nissan Murano. It’s not that the previous Murano was bad - it wasn’t - but it was getting old and its age was showing. Nissan then gave the Murano a thorough makeover and modernized its five-seat mid-size crossover.

The styling is thoroughly improved and the vehicle drives pretty well. Unfortunately, it all comes at a price.

Let’s get to the nitty gritty.

Nissan Redid the Murano In 2025, Made Minor Changes For 2026

For this year, the only changes involve the availability of ProPilot Assist and expanded availability of certain comfort features.

My test unit arrived in top-trim Platinum guise with all-wheel drive. The Murano’s sole powertrain is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It mates to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Standard features on the Platinum trim include 21-inch alloy wheels, remote start, dual-zone climate control, leather seats, heated and cooled massaging front seats, heated steering wheel, power til/telescope steering column, wireless device charging, power liftgate, ambient lighting, heated rear seats, head-up display, ProPILOT assist, traffic-sign recognition, rain-sensing wipers, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Bose premium audio, LED lighting, and a power moonroof.

Advanced driver-assist systems included 360-degree camera, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, rear automatic braking, blind-spot intervention, intelligent forward-collision warning, and intelligent lane intervention.

That all added up to a base price of $49,800. Options included a $2,900 package that included upgraded ProPILOT, enhanced 360-degree camera, and driver-attention warning and driver-distraction warning. Other options included a cargo package, carpeted floor mats, premium paint, and some trim pieces.

The total price, including fees, came to $57,035.

On The Road In The 2026 Nissan Murano

The newest Murano drives a bit like the last one - it’s a heavy-ish (just over two tons) five-seat crossover with a luxury mission. Sporty, it is not. The good news is that the current Murano is less ponderous than the previous generation, and the steering feels actually connected to the wheels. The ride is nice and smooth, and body roll is well controlled.

The Murano isn’t sporty, per se, but it handles better than one would expect given its size, weight, and mission.

Acceleration is fine for suburban commuting, but you won’t be blowing anyone’s doors off.

Fuel economy is on the dismal side at 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway/23 mpg combined.

The cabin is the star here - the design is fetching, with a grand sweeping dash and the digital screens for gauges and infotainment blending into each other nicely. Unfortunately, function follows form a little too much, as Nissan leans into haptic touch controls more than I’d like. It’s not as egregious as Volkswagen, thankfully, and the haptic-touch controls mostly work, but buttons and knobs would be easier - and could be done in such a way as to not mar the clean, futuristic interior. Or maybe that’s modernism at play. Certainly, it’s minimalist.

The two-spoke steering wheel is a little odd-looking, though.

Most materials feel price-point appropriate, but signs of cost-cutting are noticeable if you look hard enough.

Outside noise stays where it belongs - outside. Unless you really work the motor hard, in which case it reminds you it exists.

Nissan Gets The Murano Right

Nissan thoroughly revamped the Murano - and made it bigger - for 2025. For 2026, it left well enough alone. That’s mostly a good thing. Perhaps the chassis could get a little more sport tuning, but perhaps not - most Murano buyers are looking for a smooth, drama-free ride. Looks and materials matter, too, at this price and in this class, and the Murano looks and feels like an entry-luxury crossover. Buick, beware.

I once found the Murano inoffensive and boring. The current model isn’t necessarily sexier or spicier, but it’s much better at offering what buyers in this price and class want. It’s certainly no longer boring - it’s actually quite interesting.

Nissan’s redesign of the Murano has mostly set out what it meant to accomplish. The price is high, however. At least the Murano feels like it should for that sticker price.

Nissan has spent the past two to three years revamping vehicles throughout its lineup. Some - the Kicks, the Leaf - have been winners. Some, like the Sentra, have been a mixed bag. The Murano is more towards the Kicks side of the ledger - a major re-do that puts the vehicle in a much better position.

Images: The Author

About The Author

Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.