Compare the2026 Jeep CherokeeVS 2026 Nissan Murano

Both the Cherokee and Murano have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Cherokee has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Murano’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Jeep Cherokee’s optional 360-degree camera has integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Nissan Murano lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the Cherokee and the Murano have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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.

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

On the EPA test cycle the Cherokee gets better fuel mileage than the Murano (39 city/35 hwy vs. 21 city/27 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the Cherokee’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Murano doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Cherokee has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Murano. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Jeep Cherokee higher (6 out of 10) than the Nissan Murano (5). This means the Cherokee produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Murano every 15,000 miles.

The Cherokee has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Murano doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Cherokee stops shorter than the Murano:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cherokee’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Murano (113 inches vs. 111.2 inches).

The Cherokee Overland handles at .79 G’s, while the Murano Platinum pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Cherokee is 4.8 inches shorter than the Murano, making the Cherokee easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Cherokee uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Murano doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Cherokee’s rear seats recline. The Murano’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Cherokee is 1.3 inches lower than the Murano (18.5” vs. 19.8”). The Cherokee’s rear step up height is 1.6 inches lower than the Murano’s (19” vs. 20.6”).

The Cherokee has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Murano with its rear seat up (33.6 vs. 32.9 cubic feet). The Cherokee has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Murano with its rear seat folded (68.3 vs. 63.5 cubic feet).

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

The Cherokee’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Murano’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Cherokee’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Murano does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Cherokee’s standard Keyless Enter-N-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Intelligent Key standard on the Murano doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear doors.

The Cherokee’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Murano’s power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Cherokee’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Murano’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Cherokee Limited/Overland’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Murano offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Cherokee Overland has a 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Murano doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Cherokee Overland’s Automated Parking System can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Murano doesn’t offer an automated parking system.