Compare the2026 Nissan MuranoVS 2026 Lexus NX

The Nissan Murano has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The NX doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 NX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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

Both the Murano and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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 NX:

There are over 4 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Murano’s warranty.

Both the Murano and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Murano’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 AWD requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Murano has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (18.7 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Murano has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The NX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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 NX.

For better stopping power the Murano’s brake rotors are larger than those on the NX:

The Murano stops much shorter than the NX:

For better traction, the Murano has larger tires than the NX (255/55R20 vs. 235/60R18).

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 NX’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 NX. The Murano Platinum’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the NX.

The Murano has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The NX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Murano offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Murano’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the NX (111.2 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Murano is 3.5 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than on the NX.

The Murano Platinum executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the NX 450h+ Premium AWD (28 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Murano has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD (8.3 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Murano to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Murano’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the NX (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches).

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 NX (.34 to .35). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Murano get better fuel mileage.

The Murano uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The NX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Murano has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, 4.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 4.4 inches more rear hip room and 4.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (32.9 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The Murano’s cargo area is larger than the NX’s in every dimension:

The Murano’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

The power windows standard on both the Murano and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Murano is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Murano to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The NX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Murano (except SV) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the NX.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the NX.

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 NX isn’t in the top three in its category.