Compare the2026 Nissan MuranoVS 2026 Jeep Cherokee

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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Murano and the Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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.

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 Cherokee has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Murano has a standard 760-amp battery. The Cherokee’s 550-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 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.

The Murano’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 31 more horsepower (241 vs. 210) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 230) than the Cherokee’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Murano is faster than the Jeep Cherokee:

The Murano has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cherokee (18.7 vs. 13.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

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

For better traction, the Murano has larger tires than the Cherokee (255/55R20 vs. 225/65R17). The Murano’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cherokee (255/55R20 vs. 235/50R20).

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

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Murano is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Cherokee.

The Murano Platinum executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Cherokee Overland (28 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Murano’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Cherokee’s (38.1 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Murano has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Cherokee (8.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Murano to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Murano has 4.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cherokee (112 vs. 107.4).

The Murano has .9 inches more front headroom, 5.8 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room and 3.2 inches more front shoulder room than the Cherokee.

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

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

The Murano Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction, incoming text message, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Cherokee’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

On a hot day the Murano’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

When the Murano SL/Platinum is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Cherokee’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Nissan Murano and Jeep Cherokee offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Murano offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Cherokee’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

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 Cherokee.

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 Cherokee Limited/Overland offers wireless charging.