Compare the2026 Nissan MuranoVS 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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

The Murano’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Murano and the Tiguan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 Tiguan:

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 Tiguan is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Murano 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Tiguan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Tiguan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Murano’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 68 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Murano’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Murano has a standard 760-amp battery. The Tiguan’s 360-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 56 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

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 Volkswagen With 70 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 6 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Murano’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (241 vs. 201) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 207) than the Tiguan’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Murano’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (241 vs. 201) and 39 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Murano’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 258) than the Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Murano has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank (18.7 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Murano has 3.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank (18.7 vs. 15.6 gallons).

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system or a tether to prevent losing the cap.

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 Tiguan.

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

The Murano’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Tiguan 4Motion® are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Murano has larger tires than the Tiguan (255/55R20 vs. 215/65R17).

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 Tiguan’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Murano has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Tiguan. The Murano Platinum’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Tiguan.

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Murano’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the Tiguan (111.2 inches vs. 109.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Murano is 4.5 inches wider in the front and 4.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Tiguan.

For greater off-road capability the Murano has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (8.3 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Murano to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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

The Murano has 8.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Tiguan (112 vs. 103.8).

The Murano has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 4.1 inches more front legroom, 2.5 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 3.6 inches more rear hip room and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tiguan.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Murano. The Tiguan doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Murano has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Tiguan only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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

Compared to the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Nissan Murano eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

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 Tiguan isn’t in the top three.