Compare the2026 Nissan MuranoVS 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Murano Platinum offers an optional front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard Automatic Emergency Braking, the Nissan Murano is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Murano	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-11 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-33 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.3 sec	2 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-29 MPH	-28 MPH

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Murano. But it costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

Both the Murano and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Murano is much safer than the Grand Cherokee:

	Murano	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	123	252
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	157/90 pounds	180/360 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	157/90 pounds	180/360 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	360/360 pounds	495/607 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Nissan Murano is safer than the Grand Cherokee:

	Murano	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	33	253
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.59 in	1.22 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	1.34 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	558 lbs.	1004 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	112 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.2 in	1.34 in
Shoulder Force	22 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.91 in	1.61 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Nissan Murano has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Grand Cherokee is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Murano’s reliability 19 points higher than the Jeep Grand Cherokee and 29 points higher than the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4Xe.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 11th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 60 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 7 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the Nissan Murano is faster than the Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.6 DOHC V6:

	Murano	Grand Cherokee
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	7.8 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.9 sec	4.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	87 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Murano gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee:

			MPG
Murano
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
Grand Cherokee
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Murano, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Grand Cherokee.

Brakes and Stopping

The Murano stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee:

	Murano	Grand Cherokee
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	142 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Murano’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee

’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Murano has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Murano is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee.

Chassis

The design of the Nissan Murano amounts to more than styling. The Murano has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .34 Cd. That is lower than the Grand Cherokee (.357). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Murano get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Murano has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (112 vs. 107).

The Murano has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 3 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Murano easier. The Murano’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 33 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Murano’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Ergonomics

The Murano’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Nissan Murano has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Grand Cherokee Laredo X/Altitude/Limited/Summit offers wireless charging.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Grand Cherokee was rated third.

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