2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2026 Nissan Murano

$34,300 · Crossover

$41,670 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the redesigned 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe and the refreshed 2026 Nissan Murano often boils down to balancing upfront cost versus size and drivetrain. Buyers frequently worry about getting stuck with a vehicle that doesn't meet fluctuating weekly needs. The Santa Fe makes an immediate splash with its lower starting MSRP of $34,300 compared to the Murano's $41,670, netting a substantial $7,370 savings right away. Performance favors the Hyundai, boasting 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque versus the Murano's 241 hp and 260 lb-ft. While the Santa Fe offers slightly better combined fuel economy at 24 MPG (vs. 23 MPG for the Murano), the Murano compensates with vastly superior utility, offering 32.9 cu ft of cargo space compared to the Santa Fe's smaller 14.6 cu ft capacity, despite being only slightly longer overall (192.9 inches vs. 190.2 inches).

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2025 Santa Fe is the better commuter due to its lower entry price of $34,300 and slightly better 24 MPG combined rating.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Nissan Murano

The 2026 Murano is superior for families as it offers nearly double the usable space with 32.9 cu ft of cargo capacity.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe appeals more to driving enthusiasts with significantly higher output, delivering 277 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe offers substantially more horsepower per dollar, saving buyers $7,370 upfront.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...

You prioritize driving performance, as the Santa Fe provides 277 horsepower, easily beating the Murano's 241 hp.
Budget is a primary concern, given the Santa Fe's $34,300 MSRP, which is $7,370 less than the competition.
You prefer maximizing efficiency in daily city driving, with the Santa Fe returning 20 MPG city versus 21 MPG city (slightly better highway for Murano, but Santa Fe wins combined slightly).

Choose the Nissan Murano if...

Maximum hauling and passenger gear space is critical, thanks to the Murano's massive 32.9 cu ft of cargo capacity.
You live in areas requiring better traction, as the standard All-Wheel Drive system on the Murano is a key advantage over the Santa Fe's FWD base setup.
You value a smoother, traditional shifting feel from the 9-speed shiftable automatic transmission over the Santa Fe's automated manual.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Hyundai Santa Fe	Nissan Murano
Length	190.2"	192.9"
Width	74.8"	78.0"
Height	67.7"	67.9"
Wheelbase	110.8"	111.2"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Brake Preparation System	—	✓
Front Fog Lights	—	✓
Rear Fixed Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	277 hp @ 5800 rpm	241 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque	311 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	260 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Transmission Type	8-speed automated manual	9-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/29 MPG	21/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	24 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	354.0/513.3 mi.	392.7/504.9 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.7 gal.	18.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	—
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	—
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	—	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speaker System	—	6
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
One-Touch Power Windows	1	2
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Front Head Room	41.1 in.	41.1 in.
Front Leg Room	44.4 in.	44.3 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.5 in.	60.8 in.
Front Hip Room	56.5 in.	56.9 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	—
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	—	6-way
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Rear Head Room	40.6 in.	39.7 in.
Rear Leg Room	42.3 in.	36.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.1 in.	58.5 in.
Rear Hip Room	54.9 in.	56.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	18 x 7.5 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/60R18	P255/55R20
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	—
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	—
Wheel Cover Type	—	Full
Wheel Diameter	—	20 in.

Suspension

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Hyundai	Nissan
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	7 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2026 Nissan Murano.

What is the main price difference between the 2025 Santa Fe and the 2026 Murano?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe starts at an MSRP of $34,300, making it significantly more affordable than the 2026 Nissan Murano, which begins at $41,670. This results in an initial savings of $7,370 by choosing the Santa Fe.

Which crossover has more interior room for cargo?

The 2026 Nissan Murano is the clear winner for storage, offering a generous 32.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe provides only 14.6 cubic feet, meaning the Murano can carry much more gear.

Is the Santa Fe significantly more powerful than the Murano?

Yes, the 2025 Santa Fe has a noticeable power advantage, producing 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This is substantially more than the 2026 Murano's output of 241 hp and 260 lb-ft.

How do the standard drivetrains compare for foul weather?

The 2026 Nissan Murano comes standard with All-Wheel Drive (AWD), which is beneficial for slippery conditions. The base 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is equipped with Front Wheel Drive (FWD) in this comparison.

Does the fuel economy differ much between these two models?

Fuel economy is closely matched, though the Santa Fe slightly leads with a combined rating of 24 MPG versus the Murano's 23 MPG combined. Both use regular unleaded gasoline.

How close are the physical dimensions of these two crossovers?

While both are mid-size crossovers, the Murano is slightly longer at 192.9 inches compared to the Santa Fe's 190.2 inches, and the Murano is wider at 78.0 inches.