2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2026 Nissan Murano

$37,190 · Crossover

$41,670 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The primary numerical divergence between the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport (Car1) and the 2026 Nissan Murano (Car2) is the $4,480 difference in starting MSRP, with Car1 beginning at $37,190 compared to Car2’s $41,670. Despite the lower cost, Car1 offers significantly more power, generating 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, surpassing Car2's 241 hp and 260 lb-ft. Size considerations favor Car1, which measures 195.6 inches in length versus Car2’s 192.9 inches, resulting in a substantial advantage in utility: Car1 provides 40.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity compared to Car2’s 32.9 cubic feet. Fuel economy is identical on paper, both achieving a combined 23 MPG. While Car2 uses a 9-speed automatic transmission versus Car1’s 8-speed, Car1's higher power output and lower entry price position it strongly against the slightly smaller, slightly more expensive Murano.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Nissan Murano

The Murano (car2) provides slightly better fuel efficiency on the highway (27 MPG vs. 26 MPG) and features standard All-Wheel Drive.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The Atlas Cross Sport (car1) offers significantly more usable space, boasting 40.3 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Murano's 32.9 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Car1 delivers 28 more horsepower (269 hp vs. 241 hp) and 13 more lb-ft of torque (273 vs. 260), translating to superior on-paper acceleration figures.

💰 Best Value

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Car1 undercuts Car2 on price by $4,480 while simultaneously delivering greater engine output and substantially more cargo volume.

Choose the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport if...

Your budget is the priority, as the MSRP starts $4,480 lower at $37,190.
You require maximum utility, benefiting from 40.3 cu ft of cargo space versus 32.9 cu ft.
You seek higher immediate output, as Car1 produces 269 hp, exceeding Car2 by 28 hp.

Choose the Nissan Murano if...

Standard All-Wheel Drive is a mandatory feature, which is included on the Murano.
A 9-speed automatic transmission is preferred over Car1's 8-speed unit.
Slightly superior city fuel economy (21 MPG vs. 20 MPG) is crucial for your driving routine.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport	Nissan Murano
Length	195.6"	192.9"
Width	78.3"	78.0"
Height	68.1"	67.9"
Wheelbase	117.3"	111.2"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Volkswagen	Nissan
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front 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 Preparation System	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Adaptive Headlights	✓	—
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Cornering Lights	✓	—
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	—
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	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Front Fog Lights	—	✓
Rear Fixed Headrests	—	✓

Engine

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

Fuel

Feature	Volkswagen	Nissan
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	20/26 MPG	21/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	23 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	372.0/483.6 mi.	392.7/504.9 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.6 gal.	18.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Volkswagen	Nissan
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	—
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	—
Leatherette Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Heated Steering Wheel	✓	—
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	—
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Volkswagen	Nissan
Infotainment Display	12.0 in	12.3 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	Volkswagen	Nissan
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
One-Touch Power Windows	—	2

Frontseats

Feature	Volkswagen	Nissan
Front Head Room	39.4 in.	41.1 in.
Front Leg Room	41.7 in.	44.3 in.
Front Shoulder Room	61.5 in.	60.8 in.
Front Hip Room	58.4 in.	56.9 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 Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Driver Seat Ventilation	✓	—
Passenger Seat Ventilation	✓	—
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	—	6-way

Rearseats

Feature	Volkswagen	Nissan
Rear Head Room	37.8 in.	39.7 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.4 in.	36.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	60.4 in.	58.5 in.
Rear Hip Room	58.7 in.	56.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension

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

Warranty

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Which vehicle offers better passenger and cargo utility?

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport (car1) is the larger vehicle, measuring 195.6 inches long. This dimension translates directly into superior utility, offering 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space, significantly more than the 32.9 cubic feet available in the 2026 Nissan Murano (car2).

How do the performance specifications compare between the two crossovers?

The Atlas Cross Sport (car1) has a definitive power advantage, boasting 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The Murano (car2) produces 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, making Car1 the stronger choice for spirited driving based on raw specifications.

Is there a significant difference in running costs based on fuel economy?

No, the stated combined MPG is identical for both vehicles at 23 MPG. However, the Murano (car2) holds a marginal advantage on the highway, achieving 27 MPG compared to Car1's 26 MPG, though both use regular unleaded fuel.

What is the price difference and does the base drive type differ?

The 2026 Nissan Murano (car2) carries a $41,670 MSRP, making it $4,480 more expensive than the Atlas Cross Sport (car1) starting at $37,190. Furthermore, Car1 comes standard with FWD, while Car2 includes AWD as standard equipment.

Are the transmissions meaningfully different between these two models?

Yes, Car2 utilizes a 9-speed shiftable automatic transmission, offering an extra gear ratio compared to Car1's 8-speed shiftable automatic unit. This difference in transmission architecture could influence low-speed responsiveness or high-speed cruising RPMs.