- Key Highlights
- 2026 Murano Pricing, Powertrain, and Trim Features
- Engine, Transmission, and Performance
- Interior: Comfort over Cargo
- Technology and New Features
- MPG, Towing, and Limitations
- 2026 Murano vs. Key Rivals
- Who Will Love the New Murano?
- Why Drop FWD?
For 2026, Nissan boldly repositions its Murano crossover, eliminating the front-wheel-drive variant and pushing the entire lineup into all-wheel drive territory. Updated styling, a more refined interior, and tech-laden features make this midsize two-row SUV more luxurious than ever—yet in a fiercely contested market, the Murano faces new rivals, consumer expectations, and questions about its appeal. What’s new for 2026, and will Nissan’s AWD strategy pay off with buyers seeking both substance and style?
Key Highlights
The 2026 Murano lineup discards FWD entirely, with all trims now AWD-standard.
Starts at $42,965 (SV), peaks at $51,095 (Platinum); a mild price increase over 2025.
All models run a 241 hp turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with a 9-speed automatic.
ProPilot Assist 2.1, Nissan’s new hands-free driving aid, debuts on Platinum trim.
Redesigned for 2025, the Murano is focused on near-luxury comfort, upgraded tech, and expressive design.
Interior features: Power liftgate, panoramic sunroof, Bose audio, zero-gravity seats, 360° camera on top trims.
Still strictly a two-row, five-seat SUV—no three-row option.
2026 Murano Pricing, Powertrain, and Trim Features
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
All 2026 Muranos are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, producing 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. This is paired to a responsive 9-speed automatic. While not overtly sporty, the new engine and transmission deliver smoother and more direct responses than the old CVT setup, with a manufacturer-estimated 0–60 mph time of around 8.0–8.3 seconds.
The switch to AWD brings improved road grip—especially appreciated in wet or rough conditions. Nissan touts this as a move to align the Murano’s handling and safety with consumer priorities, acknowledging that front-wheel-drive sales had faded amid the segment’s “all-weather” expectations.
Interior: Comfort over Cargo
Nissan’s cabin design echoes the electric Ariya’s avant-garde style: color-shifting dashboard trim, wood panel touch-controls, and mood LED lighting. The signature “zero-gravity” seats up front and rear remain a Murano strength, praised for long-distance comfort. Cargo space is competitive (33 cu ft seats-up, 64 cu ft down), though not class-leading. The Murano, with a focus on five seats and luxury, opts out of the three-row arms race.
Technology and New Features
Tech abounds: even the SV gets standard driver aids (lane keep, adaptive cruise, blind-spot, rear cross-traffic alert, auto braking), dual-zone climate, smart entry, and power everything. SL and Platinum raise the bar with Bose audio, navigation, integrated garage door opener, surround-view cameras, memory and massaging seats, plus Nissan’s ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system on Platinum.
MPG, Towing, and Limitations
No hybrid option is available, and preliminary EPA ratings echo the old model’s 21 city/27 highway mpg. Towing remains limited at just 1,500 lbs—well below what rivals like the Honda Passport and Hyundai Santa Fe can handle.
2026 Murano vs. Key Rivals
Who Will Love the New Murano?
Consider a premium-focused buyer in the UAE or US who wants flair but doesn’t need seven seats or heavy hauling. They value a quiet cabin, tech, and plush comfort above all. For such a user, the 2026 Murano presents a “just right” blend—distinctive, secure in all seasons, and user-friendly, if not intended for big family adventures or camper towing.
Why Drop FWD?
With SUVs increasingly chosen for all-road confidence, Nissan’s sales data favored AWD: buyers want a better ride, more capability in sand, snow, and rain, and peace of mind for road trips. The switch simplifies production and allows for more advanced AWD tech, with Nissan betting on the premium, “always ready” image versus the marginal fuel-save of FWD.
The 2026 Murano strips away ambiguity, doubling down on AWD, design, comfort, and package content. While it won’t suit everyone—especially buyers seeking max towing or third-row practicality—it gives Nissan a focused, uniquely styled entry in a crowded class, betting that modern SUV shoppers want luxury and assurance as much as utility.