The Nissan Murano Gives You More for Your Money
The right midsize SUV for you needs to have the features that you want while also being easy on your wallet. That seems simple enough, but actually finding that is not always easy. Looking at the 2026 Nissan Murano vs 2026 Honda Passport, for example, reveals how even something like a Honda can end up costing more than you might expect.
We can see that the Passport has a lot to offer, including standard all-wheel drive (AWD), innovative technology, and impressive safety features. But you can get all of that and more with the Nissan Murano while also sticking to just about any budget. Plus, you get better gas mileage from Nissan, too, which saves you more money as you drive your SUV for a long time.
Get Better Fuel Efficiency With Nissan
There are a lot of important details to look at and consider when shopping for a vehicle, but we’ll start with the engines and gas mileage because it beautifully highlights what the Murano has to offer. Both the Murano and the Passport are midsize SUVs with two rows of seating inside, and they are pretty comparable overall in terms of size. So they probably handle the same, right?
Despite having somewhat similar performance (both models get about 260 lb-ft of torque), we actually see pretty big differences in terms of gas mileage. Both the Murano and the Passport come with standard AWD, which is great for getting around in all kinds of weather. But you can go a lot further in the Murano between stops for gas. Here’s how they compare according to EPA estimates:
- 2026 Nissan Murano: 21 MPG in the city, 27 MPG on the highway, 23 MPG Combined
- 2026 Honda Passport: 19 MPG in the city, 25 MPG on the highway, 21 MPG Combined
You can see that the Passport is behind the Murano in every single category when looking at their estimated fuel economies. Over the course of several years of driving, this difference can really add up at the pump, plus extra range means you can spend more time getting where you need to go in Nissan’s SUV, and less time stopping for gas.
Great Tech Features in the Murano
Now let’s take some time to look inside these two SUVs and see what kinds of features and options they provide, starting with technology. The tech features you can get in vehicles these days are truly impressive, making it easier to get where you want to go. Nissan gives you some fantastic features, with more available, at a lower starting price than the Honda Passport.
The starting Murano trim is the SV, which comes with a beautiful 12.3-inch NissanConnect infotainment system that is incredibly easy to use. You also get a 12.3-inch Multi-functional information display in the instrument cluster, making it easy to keep track of important info. A wireless phone charger is standard, with a ten-speaker Bose Premium sound system available.
Inside the Honda Passport, we also find a 12.3-inch infotainment system, which is very nice, but every model features a smaller 10.2-inch Digital Instrument Cluster. This smaller screen still looks good, but it’s definitely not as impressive or easy to read as Nissan’s display. Honda also offers a Bose sound system, but only on the highest trims, whereas you get a Bose system on two of the three Murano trim levels.
Get Impressive Comfort and Convenience Too
Every time you get in your vehicle, you deserve to have a space that welcomes you in and surrounds you with comfort. Nissan clearly agrees with us because the inside of the Murano is incredibly inviting. For starters, you get heated front seats standard in every model, which is perfect for cold winter mornings when it can be hard to motivate yourself to get going.
You get an eight-way power driver’s seat as standard, which we love to see, with ventilated and cooled front seats available for the Murano. If you are looking for ultimate comfort, then semi-aniline leather seating is available; this looks and feels terrific while also being incredibly durable. Great convenience features like keyless entry and remote start are also standard.
Looking inside the Passport, we see a lot of similar features, such as available perforated leather seats that are ventilated. Heated front seats are standard in the Passport, along with a power driver’s seat and remote start. Of course, since Honda’s SUV starts at a significantly higher price than the Nissan Murano, we expect to see all of this; we prefer to save money while getting it.
The Murano Helps Keep You Safe
Safety features are incredibly important when looking for a vehicle because you deserve to drive something that protects you. Unfortunately, some manufacturers offer a lot of safety systems as available rather than standard features in order to keep the price of their vehicles down. Nissan is not one of those manufacturers, however, and the Murano illustrates that perfectly.
Every 2026 Nissan Murano features:
- Intelligent Forward Collision Warning
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Front Pedestrian Detection
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Rear Automatic Braking
- Auto High Beam Headlights
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention
- Intelligent Lane Intervention
- Intelligent Driver Alertness
- Front and Rear Sonar Parking Sensors
- ProPILOT Assist Hands-On Lane Centering/Freeway Cruise Control
All of these systems come together to help protect you and your passengers as you drive each day. Nissan does make a few extra options available, like a 360-degree Surround View Camera. We love the option, but it’s not an essential safety feature. So every model is incredibly safe, plus you have some upgrades available if your budget allows for them.
Looking at the Passport, we see a lot of the same standard features, such as a Blind Spot Information System and Parking Sensors. We love to see this because we believe every driver deserves a safe vehicle. And with the Passport starting at a higher price, it would be a shame if they locked such important systems behind a paywall.
All of This at a Low Starting Price
We’ve mentioned this a few times already, but we wanted to highlight the difference in price between these two models. So far, you’ve seen that the Nissan Murano has a wide range of remarkable features available for you to enjoy as you drive. And many of them are included as standard. So, how much do you have to pay for all of this? Let’s look at their starting prices.
- 2026 Nissan Murano: $41,670 MSRP [a]
- 2026 Honda Passport: $44,950 MSRP [a]
You can see that’s more than just a small difference in price, and that’s just where they begin. Both of these SUVs have numerous trim levels available, although we find that Honda offers too many options, with seven different 2026 Passport trims available. Looking at the TrailSport trim, it starts at $48,650 MSRP, while the TrailSport Elite comes in at $52,650 MSRP. [a]
Nissan keeps things simpler and more budget-friendly. There’s an SL trim with some upgrades at $46,760 MSRP, and a high-end Platinum model that comes in at $49,800 MSRP. [a] So if you want semi-aniline seating, the Bose Premium sound system, and advanced safety tech, you can get all of that in the Murano Platinum while also saving a lot of money.
See What the Nissan Murano Can Do
With so much to offer at an incredibly accessible price, it’s easy to see why the Murano is such a popular midsize SUV. Ultimately, words and numbers don’t do it justice; you have to take one for a spin to appreciate it truly. So visit us at Illini Nissan, and we’ll show you how much fun the Murano is to drive.
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