Compare the2026 Nissan MuranoVS 2025 Lexus RX

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 RX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Murano. But it costs extra on the RX.

Both the Murano and the RX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, 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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Murano is much safer than the RX:

The Nissan Murano has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The RX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Murano for 1 year and 14,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (2/24,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 4 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Murano’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Murano has a standard 760-amp battery. The RX’s 603-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The Murano’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 27 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 233) than the RX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Both the Murano and the RX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Murano’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The RX 350h/500h doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Murano has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 450+’s standard fuel tank (18.7 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Murano has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the RX 350’s standard fuel tank (18.7 vs. 17.8 gallons).

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 RX 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 an eight-speed automatic is available for the RX.

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

The Murano stops much shorter than the RX:

For better traction, the Murano has larger tires than the RX (255/55R20 vs. 235/60R19).

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 RX’s 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 RX.

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 RX 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 .2 inches wider in the rear than on the RX.

The Murano Platinum handles at .77 G’s, while the RX 350 AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Murano Platinum executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the RX 350h (28 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Murano has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RX 350 (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Murano to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Murano’s minimum ground clearance is .1 inch higher than on the RX 350h (8.3 vs. 8.2 inches).

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

The Murano has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the RX.

The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (32.9 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

The Murano’s cargo area is larger than the RX’s in almost every dimension:

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

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

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 RX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Nissan Murano has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the RX.

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 RX isn’t in the top three in its category.