Nissan Drops Murano’s Cheapest Version But It’s Not All Bad News

The Nissan Murano may only be in its second year on the market, but it’s dodging one of the industry’s favorite habits: annual price hikes. Instead of inflating costs across the board, Nissan has held the line. The trade-off, however, is the removal of the entry-level front-wheel-drive version, which nudges the official starting price up compared with last year.

Read: Nissan’s Big Bet On The Murano Could Be Turning Into A Major Flop

Last year, the Murano started at $40,470 for the SV FWD version, but this model has been abandoned for 2026. That means the range now starts at $41,470 for the SV AWD, the same price as last year. Nissan has also managed to retain the same $46,560 MSRP for the SL AWD and the $49,600 MSRP for the flagship Murano Platinum AWD.

Hands-Off Highway Tech

A key update made for the Murano for 2026 is the availability of Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist 2.1 system. This handy piece of tech comes included with the $2,900 Platinum Technology package and allows for hands-free driving on compatible roads. A Lane Change Assist function has also been added, allowing the car to recommend and assist with overtaking.

Additionally, Nissan now offers a Comfort package for the mid-range SL model. Priced at $1,380, it adds some of the Platinum model’s standard features, including ventilated and massaging front seats, heated rear seats, and a motion-activated power liftgate.

Other than these changes, the 2026 Murano remains the same as last year’s model. That means it continues to rock the same standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 241 hp at 5,600 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. This engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels, regardless of the trim level.

Sales Momentum

The Nissan Murano has been selling better than the old model, but perhaps not at the level Nissan had been hoping. During the second quarter, Nissan sold 9,526 examples through the second quarter, a significant 115.9 percent increase from the 4,413 sold over the same period last year. For the first half of 2025, sales were also up 99.5 percent from 9,139 to 18,228.