2026 Nissan Murano Platinum Review: Almost Luxury, Almost Perfect

Nissan’s flagship two-row crossover has spent years hanging out in the “nicer than you’d expect” tier, and the redesigned 2026 Murano Platinum pushes that idea harder than ever. The cabin looks like it wandered out of a luxury showroom, the tech list reads like an options sheet from a German rival, and the price tag still ducks under the badge tax. The trade-off? A drivetrain that’s fine, not fantastic, and zero hybrid option in a class racing toward electrification.

• Platinum trim starts at $51,095 and tops out near $57,000 with options
• Standard 2.0-liter VC-Turbo four-cylinder paired to a new 9-speed automatic
• No hybrid available, while several competitors offer one

Style and Cabin That Punch Above the Badge

Nissan went all in on the redesign, and you can see it the moment you walk up. The full-width taillight bar with wide lettering across the liftgate adds to the Murano’s polish, capped off by prominent creases that punctuate the rear haunches, while partial creases over the fenderwells help its crossover image without bordering on off-roady. Inside, the change is even more dramatic. The cabin looks nothing like the 2023 model, with the bulky dashboard, dated center stack, and bulbous door trim gone in favor of a linear dash, a minimalist two-spoke steering wheel, and rich materials throughout.

The Platinum trim is where Nissan really stretches the definition of “mainstream.” Standard kit on Platinum includes a panoramic moonroof, heated and ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless device charging, and a hands-free liftgate. The two-tone Semi-Aniline leather seats wouldn’t look out of place in a Lincoln Navigator Black Label. Add the configurable ambient lighting and you’ve got a cabin that genuinely feels a class above what the Nissan badge usually buys.

The Drivetrain Is the Asterisk

This is where the near-luxury fantasy starts to wobble. All trims come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. The 9-speed is a welcome upgrade over the old CVT, but the package isn’t quite as sharp as the spec sheet suggests. The new 9-speed is a good swap for the droning CVT, but engine response is wanting, with at least a half-second delay after pressing the throttle, and Sport mode helps but pushes the revs annoyingly high.

Fuel economy is the bigger sting. Even with the switch to a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, EPA estimates land at 21 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 combined, nearly identical to the outgoing 3.5-liter V6, which returned 20 city, 28 highway, and 23 combined. A redesign that adds zero efficiency in 2026 is a tough sell, and there is no hybrid model yet while many of the Murano’s competitors now offer such an option. Towing is also weak. The Murano’s 1,500-pound towing rating is less than half that of the hybrid Highlander’s 3,500 pounds.

Tech, Safety, and the ProPilot Trick

The Murano Platinum’s secret weapon is its driver-assist system. New for 2026 is the hands-free ProPilot Assist 2.1 highway driving system, available as part of a package on the Platinum trim. It adds a hands-off, feet-off setup allowing steering, acceleration and braking on compatible roads, similar to GM’s Super Cruise, Ford’s BlueCruise or Tesla’s Autopilot. That’s genuinely rare in this price range and goes a long way toward justifying the cost on long highway slogs.

Safety credentials check out, too. The Murano earns a five-star NHTSA rating and top safety honors from the IIHS, an impressive selling point for family hauling. Inside, dual 12.3-inch displays, a Bose audio system, Google Built-in, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto round out a tech package that doesn’t feel like an afterthought.

Pricing and the Competition Question

Here’s the math that makes or breaks the pitch. The 2026 Nissan Murano Platinum AWD starts at $49,600, and a tester loaded with the $2,900 Technology package, $470 cargo net kit, $1,390 in illuminated trim pieces, $1,000 two-tone paint, $530 floor mats, and the $1,495 destination charge lands at $57,385. That price is well under German entry barriers, but a bit higher than Japanese competitors.

Cross-shop a 2026 Toyota Crown Signia and the gap matters. It sits at $48,890 for the top Limited trim, with a hybrid drivetrain that returns 37 mpg highway. A Highlander Hybrid Platinum nets 35 mpg. The Murano answers with a cushier interior and ProPilot 2.1, but if you commute heavy miles, the math gets uncomfortable fast.

Should the Murano Platinum Park in Your Driveway?

The 2026 Nissan Murano Platinum nails the assignment it set for itself. The interior is genuinely lovely, the styling is striking, ProPilot 2.1 is a real perk, and you save thousands compared to a similarly equipped Lexus or BMW. If your priority is comfort and style, it’s a winner. But the missing hybrid and merely adequate turbo-four mean Nissan still has work to do before the Murano can claim outright class honors. Buyers who care more about plush miles than mpg numbers will love it. Everyone else might want to keep cross-shopping.