2026 Kia Sorento vs 2026 Nissan Murano

$32,190 · Crossover

$41,670 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Picking between the 2026 Kia Sorento and the 2026 Nissan Murano often comes down to balancing upfront cost against enhanced capability. Buyers are frequently torn between saving nearly $9,500 or opting for superior performance and space. The Sorento starts at a tempting $32,190 and achieves a slightly better combined fuel economy of 26 MPG, using its 191 hp engine efficiently for daily driving. Conversely, the Murano demands $41,670 but rewards drivers with a healthy 241 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, making highway merging effortless. While the Sorento is slightly smaller at 189.6 inches long, the Murano offers significantly more utility, boasting 32.9 cu ft of cargo space compared to the Sorento’s 12.6 cu ft minimum, a difference prospective families will notice immediately when packing for a trip.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento wins for commuters due to its lower $32,190 MSRP and superior 26 MPG combined fuel efficiency.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Nissan Murano

The Nissan Murano is better for families because it offers substantially more usable cargo capacity at 32.9 cu ft versus the Sorento's 12.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Nissan Murano

Enthusiasts will prefer the Murano's 241 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, significantly outpacing the Sorento's 191 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 Kia Sorento

The Sorento provides a strong value proposition by saving buyers $9,480 upfront while still offering reliable front-wheel drive commuting capability.

Choose the Kia Sorento if...

You need to keep your initial purchase price strictly under $33,000, as the Sorento starts at $32,190.
Fueling stops are a major annoyance; the Sorento returns 26 MPG combined versus the Murano's 23 MPG.
You are comfortable with standard front-wheel drive for predictable daily driving instead of AWD.

Choose the Nissan Murano if...

You frequently haul substantial gear, given the Murano’s massive 32.9 cu ft cargo capacity.
You value quicker acceleration, benefiting from the Murano's 241 horsepower.
You prefer the added stability and traction provided by standard All-Wheel Drive capability.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Sorento	Nissan Murano
Length	189.6"	192.9"
Width	74.8"	78.0"
Height	66.7"	67.9"
Wheelbase	110.8"	111.2"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	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	✓	✓
Third Row 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	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running 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	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Brake Preparation System	—	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	—	✓
Front Fog Lights	—	✓
Rear Fixed Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Nissan
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	191 hp @ 6100 rpm	241 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque	181 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	Kia	Nissan
Transmission Type	8-speed automatic	9-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Nissan
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	23/31 MPG	21/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	26 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	407.1/548.7 mi.	392.7/504.9 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.7 gal.	18.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	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	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	—
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	✓	—
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	—
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	—
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Nissan
Infotainment Display	12.3 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	Kia	Nissan
One-Touch Power Windows	1	2
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Nissan
Front Head Room	40.3 in.	41.1 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	44.3 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.1 in.	60.8 in.
Front Hip Room	55.6 in.	56.9 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	—
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	—	6-way
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Nissan
Rear Head Room	39.1 in.	39.7 in.
Rear Leg Room	41.7 in.	36.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.1 in.	58.5 in.
Rear Hip Room	55.1 in.	56.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Nissan
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Size	17 x 7.0 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/65R17	P255/55R20
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	—
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	—
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Wheel Cover Type	—	Full
Wheel Diameter	—	20 in.

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Nissan
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2026 Kia Sorento and 2026 Nissan Murano.

How much more power does the Murano have than the Sorento?

The 2026 Nissan Murano has 241 horsepower, which is a noticeable increase of 50 hp over the 2026 Kia Sorento’s 191 hp. This power difference is also reflected in the torque, where the Murano delivers 260 lb-ft compared to the Sorento's 181 lb-ft.

Is the significant price difference between these two crossovers justified?

The Murano costs $9,480 more than the Sorento, starting at $41,670 versus $32,190. Buyers must weigh whether the extra cost is worth the added 50 horsepower, standard AWD, and substantially larger cargo area.

Which crossover is physically bigger, the Sorento or the Murano?

The Murano is the larger vehicle overall, measuring 192.9 inches in length compared to the Sorento's 189.6 inches. The Murano is also wider and slightly taller, contributing to its larger interior volume.

Will the Sorento save me money at the pump compared to the Murano?

Yes, the Kia Sorento is more fuel-efficient, achieving 26 MPG combined. The Nissan Murano is rated for 23 MPG combined, meaning the Sorento will cost less to run on a weekly basis.

Do these vehicles require premium fuel?

Fortunately, neither vehicle requires premium fuel for optimal performance. Both the 2026 Kia Sorento and the 2026 Nissan Murano are specified to run on regular unleaded gasoline.

If I need maximum cargo space, which crossover should I lean towards?

You should strongly lean toward the Nissan Murano. It boasts a massive 32.9 cu ft of cargo capacity, which dwarfs the Sorento's minimum capacity of just 12.6 cu ft.