If you are shopping for a new SUV in Franklin or the greater Nashville area, the 2026 Nissan Murano has likely risen to the top of your list for good reason. It is a well-built, generously equipped vehicle that covers a lot of ground as standard equipment. The 2026 Honda CR-V is also worth understanding in this comparison because it represents a different but legitimate approach to what a daily SUV should be. Knowing exactly where each one stands makes the decision considerably easier.

Below we walk through the areas that matter most, with a direct look at how each vehicle compares in each category.

What Separates These Two Vehicles

The Honda CR-V has been a benchmark in the compact SUV segment for years. It is efficient, spacious for its size, reliable over the long term, and the 2026 update brought meaningful technology improvements to the base trim. For drivers whose priority is a dependable, no-fuss daily vehicle with strong cargo capacity and low running costs, it delivers on those expectations consistently.

The Murano starts from a different place. It is a larger vehicle with a more powerful engine, standard All-Wheel Drive on every trim, and a cabin built around the comfort of the people inside it. The feature list at the Platinum trim is not a collection of upgrades you build toward. It is what the vehicle comes with. For drivers who spend real time behind the wheel and want that time to feel genuinely worthwhile, that distinction tends to matter.

Drivetrain and Performance

The headline change for 2026 is that Intelligent All-Wheel Drive is now standard across every Murano trim, no packages or upcharges required. For drivers in Middle Tennessee who want that capability as a given rather than a decision, it simplifies things considerably. The 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine produces 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque through a 9-speed automatic transmission, a capable and smooth powertrain that handles both highway miles and city driving without calling attention to itself.

The CR-V LX uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 190 horsepower through a CVT. It comes standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option. For drivers who primarily drive in dry conditions and have no strong need for AWD, it covers the basics competently.

Comfort and the Daily Experience

The Murano's cabin is designed around the people in it. The front seats are supportive and well-bolstered, the interior insulation keeps things noticeably quiet at speed, and the overall driving position feels settled and unhurried. The Platinum trim's massaging seat function is genuinely useful on longer commutes, not a novelty feature. The panoramic moonroof and Bose audio system with 10 speakers round out an interior that is meaningfully more complete than what you find at this segment's entry points.

The CR-V has a well-designed, ergonomic interior that works well for daily use. Its standout quality in this category is cargo capacity. At 39.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats it carries more than the Murano, and that is a consistent, practical advantage for drivers who need it regularly. The LX trim does not include heated seats, a moonroof, dual-zone climate control, or a power-adjustable driver seat.

Technology and Connectivity

The Murano Platinum runs dual 12.3-inch displays covering both the instrument cluster and infotainment in one integrated layout. Google built-in handles navigation and voice commands natively through the vehicle system rather than through a mirrored phone connection. Wireless CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging, and NissanConnect connected services are all included as standard.

The CR-V received a genuine technology upgrade for 2026. The LX now comes with a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad as standard equipment, all new to this trim this year. The 7-inch instrument display and 4-speaker audio are consistent with its position as the entry-level trim in the CR-V lineup.

Safety

The Murano holds a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from NHTSA and an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation, the highest marks from both major safety organizations. Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard on every trim, covering automatic emergency braking front and rear, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and pedestrian detection.

The CR-V is a strong safety performer as well. Honda Sensing is standard across all trims and covers automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are not included on the LX and require stepping up to the EX trim.

Who Is Each Vehicle For?

Drivers who prioritize cargo capacity, fuel efficiency, and Honda's long-term reliability record will find the CR-V serves those needs well. It is a dependable, practical compact SUV that has earned its reputation over many years and continues to deliver on it.

For drivers who want more from their daily vehicle, the Murano makes a strong and specific case. Standard AWD on every trim, a cabin built around genuine comfort, a safety suite that does not ask you to upgrade to feel complete, and a standard feature list that covers everything from massaging front seats to a Bose audio system and dual 12.3-inch displays. It is not about luxury for its own sake. It is about a vehicle that accounts for the fact that you spend real time in it, and reflects that in everything it includes as standard. For Franklin and Nashville area drivers whose priorities align with that, Nissan of Cool Springs has the 2026 Murano ready to see and drive today.

Frequently Asked Questions