Compare the2026 Nissan MuranoVS 2026 Lincoln Nautilus

The Murano Platinum offers an optional front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Nautilus doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Nissan Murano achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lincoln Nautilus has not been tested.

Both the Murano and the Nautilus have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Nissan Murano has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Nautilus is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

There are over 2 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Murano’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Lincoln.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 14 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Nautilus requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Murano, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Nautilus.

For better stopping power the Murano’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Nautilus:

The Murano’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Nautilus are solid, not vented.

The Murano stops shorter than the Nautilus:

The Murano’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Nautilus’ standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Murano has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Nautilus.

The Murano has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Nautilus doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Murano is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Nautilus.

The Murano Platinum handles at .77 G’s, while the Nautilus Black Label pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Murano Platinum executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Nautilus Black Label (28 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Murano has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Nautilus (8.3 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Murano to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Murano has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Nautilus.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Murano. The Nautilus doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Murano’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

The Murano Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction, incoming text message, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Murano to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Nautilus doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Nissan Murano retains 44.66% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 43.1% resale value of the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus after five years, which can save the Nissan’s owner up to $8294 in depreciation.

The Nissan Murano outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by 27% during 2025.