2026 Nissan Murano: What Buyers Need to Know
Applicability: US; 2026 model year. This profile covers the fourth generation suv. It does not transfer the listed specification to unrelated market versions or earlier generations.
Verified configurations and technical facts
- US — SV/SL/Platinum AWD: 2.0L variable-compression turbocharged gasoline inline-four; 9-speed automatic; intelligent AWD. power: 241 hp; torque: 260 lb-ft.
What is distinct about this version
The fourth-generation Murano continues for 2026 with the distinctive 2.0-litre VC-Turbo four-cylinder, conventional nine-speed automatic and AWD listed by Nissan for US configurations.
It is not the Murano of two generations ago
The contemporary Murano substitutes a turbocharged, variable-compression four-cylinder and a nine-speed automatic for the older V6/CVT combination associated with previous generations. That shift is significant for anyone reading used listings: advice about a 2019 drivetrain cannot simply be applied to a 2026 vehicle with different hardware. A prospective buyer should confirm that the vehicle is the newer body and that the engine and transmission match the US specification before comparing service guidance.
The role of a two-row premium-leaning SUV
Murano has a different buying purpose from a compact city crossover or a maximum-seat-count family hauler. Its documented US trim structure centres on SV, SL and Platinum and emphasises a more appointed cabin rather than a third-row seating arrangement. Families needing seven real seats should compare Pathfinder or another three-row SUV instead. For two-row buyers the important comparisons are entry height, rear headroom, luggage access, visibility and whether premium options justify their additional purchase and repair exposure.
How to evaluate an early example
A short 2026 ownership record cannot establish long-term reliability for this new powertrain/body combination. Confirm maintenance visits and software campaigns by VIN; verify that the nine-speed gearbox shifts appropriately during a road test conducted by the owner or qualified inspector, and ask whether all optional equipment is functioning. The specification proves 241 horsepower and AWD in the documented US model, not how an uninspected example has been driven, repaired or maintained.
Sources and Further Reading
- Nissan USA Newsroom — 2026 Nissan Murano Press Kit (2025; US).