Compare the2026 Nissan MuranoVS 2026 Audi Q5

The Nissan Murano has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Murano and the Q5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Murano 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Audi 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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 100 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 30th, 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 Audi With 58 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 7 places higher in reliability than Audi.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q5 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Murano has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5 (18.7 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Murano has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Q5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Murano, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q5.

For better stopping power the Murano’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Q5:

For better traction, the Murano has larger tires than the Q5 (255/55R20 vs. 235/55R19).

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 Q5’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Murano has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Q5. The Murano Platinum’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Q5.

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 Q5 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Murano offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q5; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Murano is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Q5.

For better maneuverability, the Murano’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Q5’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Murano has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q5 (8.3 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Murano to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Murano uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Murano has 2.9 inches more front headroom, 3.4 inches more front legroom, 3.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q5.

The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q5 with its rear seat up (32.9 vs. 27.6 cubic feet). The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q5 with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 57.9 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Murano has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Murano (except SV) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Q5.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Q5 isn’t in the top three.