2026 Nissan Murano vs 2026 Chevy Blazer

When shopping for a midsize SUV, it is important that you get something you enjoy driving and that offers excellent features inside and out. Checking out the 2026 Nissan Murano vs 2026 Chevy Blazer, we can see that both models have a lot to offer. As we look more closely, however, it becomes clear that Nissan offers more, particularly in terms of standard features.

For example, the 241-hp engine that the Nissan Murano starts with is more powerful than the Blazer’s 228-hp starting engine. Plus, the Murano comes with standard all-wheel drive for excellent traction and overall performance. The Blazer has standard front-wheel drive, although all-wheel drive is available at a higher price for those who want to pay it.

We see a similar disparity across the board between these two models, with the Murano offering more rear cargo space, larger interior displays, and much more to enjoy as you drive. Nissan’s SUV also has greater safety ratings and comes with fantastic standard safety technology. No matter what you are looking to get from your midsize SUV, you can see that the Murano delivers.

Interior Comfort and Space

We will look at many aspects of these two midsize SUVs, but we cannot think of a better place to start than their interiors. You spend a lot of time behind the wheel, so it is important to choose a vehicle with a comfortable, functional cabin. With the 2026 Nissan Murano, you have lots of room to stretch out and enjoy the space.

Comfort Features and Seating

With the standard SV trim on the Murano, you get Prima-Tex seating that is both comfortable and durable. An eight-way power driver’s seat with two-way power lumbar is standard, along with heated front seats to keep you and your front passenger comfortable. You get room for five passengers inside, with a rear 60-40 split bench seat.

If you are interested in some comfort upgrades, then the Platinum trim is the way to go for the Murano. It includes semi-aniline quilted leather seating that feels incredible, with heated rear seats and ventilated front seats. You also get four-way power lumbar for both front seats in the Platinum model, along with massage functionality for incredible comfort as you drive.

With the 2026 Chevy Blazer, standard features include cloth seating, with heated front seats, an eight-way driver’s seat, and a four-way manually adjustable front-passenger seat. This is fine, but not too exciting. Even on the higher RS trim, features like cooled front seats remain available options rather than standard, and we do not see massage functionality.

Interior Space

With a midsize SUV, you expect to get a fair amount of room inside to stretch out and to take advantage of as you hit the road. The rear cargo area can be particularly important, since it is the space you are likely to use each day. You deserve something that gives you plenty of legroom up front, along with great rear cargo volume to take advantage of.

Looking at these two models, we can see some notable differences between them, even though they are in the same class and fairly similar in overall size. Here’s what we mean:

2026 Nissan Murano:

• Front Leg Room: 44.3 inches
• Rear Cargo Space: 32.9 cu.ft.

2026 Chevy Blazer:

• Front Leg Room: 41 inches
• Rear Cargo Space: 30.5 cu.ft.

Those differences might seem small when looking only at numbers, but in real-world space, they certainly matter. That is more than three inches of extra legroom up front; any adult with long legs knows how much difference that can make. And the added cargo space in the Murano makes it easier to load up with everything you need.

Tech Features Inside

These days, few things can impact your overall driving experience as much as the tech features in your vehicle. Nissan understands this well, and you can see it throughout the Murano. You get a gorgeous 12.3-inch NissanConnect infotainment display, standard, which connects to a second 12.3-inch screen for the reconfigurable LCD instrument cluster.

These two displays look fantastic and make it easy to keep track of important information. By comparison, the standard screens in the Blazer are a 10.2-inch infotainment system and a small 4.2-inch display in the Driver Information Center. Even on higher trims, Chevy offers only smaller screens. Both of these SUVs come with a standard six-speaker sound system.

Looking beyond the standard models, however, we find a stunning ten-speaker Bose Premium sound system in the Murano. With the Blazer, the eight-speaker sound system is the best available, but it fails to fill the cabin with the same level of rich, dynamic audio. While a wireless charging pad is available for the Blazer, it’s standard on every 2026 Murano.

Safety Systems and Ratings

As you look for a vehicle that is right for you, take some time to consider how well your next ride can protect you on the road. We are happy to say that both of these SUVs have an impressive array of standard safety features. They are also both well-rated for safety. But even so, there are some key ways the Murano has an advantage here.

Standard and Available Safety Tech

It is always a good idea to start with the safety and driver-assistance systems that come standard on a vehicle, since that shows how highly a car company values its drivers’ safety. Nissan has been making remarkably safe vehicles for decades, and their modern lineup lives up to that legacy. Standard safety tech for the 2026 Murano includes:

• Intelligent Forward Collision Warning with Automatic Emergency Braking
• Brake Assist
• High Beam Assist
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention
• Intelligent Lane Intervention
• Intelligent Driver Alertness
• Intelligent Cruise Control
• ProPILOT Assist hands-on
• Front and Rear Sonar Parking Sensors

These systems come together beautifully to help protect you as you drive. If you are interested in taking your safety to the next level, available options include a few upgrades such as traffic stop-go added to the Intelligent Cruise Control system, and a 3D upgrade to the 360-degree surround view camera system. An upgraded ProPILOT Assist system is also available.

Looking at the 2026 Blazer, Chevy provides a good array of standard systems, such as Automatic Emergency Braking, Side Blind Zone Alert, and Lane Keep Assist. Standard cruise control is fine in the Blazer, with adaptive cruise control available, but we prefer that the Murano comes with enhanced cruise control as a baseline feature on every model.

Safety Testing and Ratings

The features and safety systems of a vehicle only tell part of the story about how well it can protect you. Testing and ratings from safety organizations provide a great overall sense of how a vehicle performs. The two groups to look at in this regard are the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Both of these organizations test vehicles thoroughly in numerous ways to see how well they handle while driving and how they protect their passengers in the event of a collision. The 2026 Nissan Murano has earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a Five-Star Overall Safety rating from the NHTSA. These are both top marks from their respective organizations.

The 2026 Chevy Blazer has also proven safe on the road, but it does not quite match the Murano. The NHTSA has awarded the Blazer a Five-Star Overall Safety rating, which is great because we love seeing safe vehicles out there. Unfortunately, the IIHS has not named it either a Top Safety Pick or a Top Safety Pick+, though it rates “Good” in most areas.

Performance and Handling

Although it might not be the first thing you look at when shopping for a midsize SUV, since there are so many different details to note, it is still worth considering the kind of driving experience you will get. That comes down to overall engineering and performance. Both Nissan and Chevy are well known for making great vehicles, but we can see some clear differences.

For starters, you get standard engines in these two models that are similar, but not identical. This directly impacts the kind of daily drive you get. Their standard engines are:

2026 Nissan Murano: 2.0L VC-Turbo I-4

• 241 hp
• 260 lb-ft torque

2026 Chevy Blazer: 2.0L turbocharged I-4

• 228 hp
• 258 lb-ft torque

You can see that the Murano delivers superior performance with its standard engine,  and that translates to a great daily drive. Both of these engines come with a nine-speed automatic transmission, which we like to see. But there is another big difference between them.

The 2026 Murano comes with all-wheel drive as standard, whereas the Chevy Blazer has standard front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available. This might seem like a minor difference, but the feel of all-wheel drive with an SUV like this truly elevates your time on the road. It’s nice that it is at least offered by Chevy, but we prefer how every Murano features excellent traction and handling.

Enjoy Every Drive in the Nissan Murano

As you can see, the Chevy Blazer has plenty to offer, but it simply cannot match everything the 2026 Nissan Murano delivers. Here at Illini Nissan, we are happy to show you the Murano and everything it brings to the road. Call or come visit us today, and we will help you find the stylish and rewarding SUV that you’ve been looking for.

^[a]MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, destination charge, and accessories. MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.