2025 Nissan Murano vs 2026 Volkswagen Atlas

$40,470 · Crossover

$39,310 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas (car2) initiates the comparison by boasting a significant 28 horsepower advantage over the 2025 Nissan Murano (car1), achieving 269 hp versus the Murano's 241 hp, alongside 273 lb-ft of torque compared to 260 lb-ft. Despite this performance edge, the Atlas is priced lower at an MSRP of $39,310 against the Murano's $40,470. Fuel economy is nearly identical, with both achieving a combined 23 MPG, though the Murano edges out slightly in highway efficiency (27 MPG vs. 27 MPG, tied, but Murano's city is better at 21 MPG vs. 20 MPG). A major divergence appears in utility: the Murano offers 32.9 cu ft of cargo space, dwarfing the Atlas's 20.6 cu ft, while the Atlas is substantially larger overall at 200.7 inches in length compared to the Murano's 192.9 inches.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Nissan Murano

The Murano's marginally better 21/27 MPG city/highway split and slightly more compact footprint make it marginally better suited for daily city commuting than the larger Atlas.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Nissan Murano

The 2025 Murano provides significantly more usable storage, offering 32.9 cu ft of cargo capacity versus the Atlas's 20.6 cu ft, which is critical for family hauling.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2026 Atlas offers superior on-paper performance with 269 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, providing a more spirited driving experience than the Murano's 241 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 Volkswagen Atlas

The Atlas secures the value win by offering 28 more horsepower for a $1,160 lower starting MSRP ($39,310 vs. $40,470).

Choose the Nissan Murano if...

Maximum cargo volume is required, as the Murano offers 32.9 cu ft compared to the Atlas's 20.6 cu ft.
Slightly better fuel efficiency in stop-and-go traffic is prioritized, as the Murano achieves 21 MPG city versus 20 MPG city for the Atlas.
A smaller exterior footprint is desired, with the Murano measuring 192.9 inches in length compared to the Atlas's 200.7 inches.

Choose the Volkswagen Atlas if...

Maximum available engine output is a priority, given the Atlas's 269 hp versus the Murano's 241 hp.
The lowest possible initial purchase price is sought, with the Atlas starting at $39,310 against the Murano's $40,470.
A physically larger vehicle is preferred, as the Atlas is both longer (200.7 inches) and taller (70.4 inches) than the Murano.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Nissan Murano	Volkswagen Atlas
Length	192.9"	200.7"
Width	78.0"	78.3"
Height	67.9"	70.4"
Wheelbase	111.2"	117.3"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Nissan	Volkswagen
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 Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Preparation System	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Fixed Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Adaptive Headlights	—	✓
Cornering Lights	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Nissan	Volkswagen
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	241 hp @ 5600 rpm	269 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	260 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm	273 lb-ft @ 1600 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	Nissan	Volkswagen
Transmission Type	9-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive

Fuel

Feature	Nissan	Volkswagen
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	21/27 MPG	20/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	23 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	392.7/504.9 mi.	372.0/502.2 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.7 gal.	18.6 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Nissan	Volkswagen
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	✓	—
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	—
Leatherette Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	—	✓
Front Seatback Storage	—	✓
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	—	✓
Heated Steering Wheel	—	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	—	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Nissan	Volkswagen
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	12.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—

Power Feature

Feature	Nissan	Volkswagen
One-Touch Power Windows	2	—
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Nissan	Volkswagen
Front Head Room	41.1 in.	41.3 in.
Front Leg Room	44.3 in.	41.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	60.8 in.	61.5 in.
Front Hip Room	56.9 in.	58.4 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	8-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓
Driver Seat Ventilation	—	✓
Passenger Seat Ventilation	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Nissan	Volkswagen
Rear Head Room	39.7 in.	40.4 in.
Rear Leg Room	36.3 in.	37.6 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.5 in.	60.5 in.
Rear Hip Room	56.9 in.	58.6 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Nissan	Volkswagen
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Cover Type	Full	—
Wheel Diameter	20 in.	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P255/55R20	245/60R18
Wheel Size	—	18 x 8.0 in

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Nissan	Volkswagen
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	7 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 24000 mi.	2 yr./ 20000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Nissan Murano and 2026 Volkswagen Atlas.

Which vehicle has more engine power for acceleration?

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas (car2) holds a distinct power advantage, producing 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. This is noticeably more than the 2025 Nissan Murano's output of 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.

How do the cargo capacities compare between the Murano and the Atlas?

The Murano offers significantly more cargo space at 32.9 cu ft. The 2026 Atlas trails substantially in this metric, providing only 20.6 cu ft behind the second row.

Is there a notable difference in MSRP between these two crossovers?

Yes, the 2026 Atlas carries a lower starting MSRP of $39,310. The 2025 Murano is priced $1,160 higher, starting at $40,470.

Which vehicle is the better choice for highway driving efficiency?

Both vehicles are rated identically at 27 MPG on the highway, although the Murano leads slightly in the city with 21 MPG versus the Atlas's 20 MPG.

What is the dimensional difference, especially in length?

The Atlas is considerably longer, measuring 200.7 inches from bumper to bumper, while the Murano is shorter at 192.9 inches, making the Murano easier to maneuver and park.

Do both models use regular unleaded fuel?

Both the 2025 Nissan Murano and the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas utilize regular unleaded fuel, minimizing long-term operational cost concerns related to fuel type.