Compare the2026 Subaru ForesterVS 2026 Nissan Murano

The Forester has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Murano doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

The Subaru Forester’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Nissan Murano does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Forester and the Murano have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Subaru Forester Hybrid’s reliability 22 points higher than the Murano and the Subaru Forester is rated 57 points higher than the Murano.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 3 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Nissan.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 12th.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Forester lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Murano doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Forester gets better mileage than the Murano:

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

The Forester has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. 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 Subaru Forester higher (6 out of 10) than the Nissan Murano (5). This means the Forester produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Murano every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Subaru Forester as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Nissan Murano is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

The Forester 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 Forester stops shorter than the Murano:

The Forester’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57% to 43%) than the Murano’s (58.8% to 41.2%). This gives the Forester more stable handling and braking.

The Forester Sport handles at .82 G’s, while the Murano Platinum pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Forester Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Murano Platinum (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Forester Wilderness’ turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Murano’s (34.5 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Forester’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Murano’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Forester has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Murano (8.7 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Forester to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Forester Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1 inch higher than on the Murano (9.3 vs. 8.3 inches).

The Subaru Forester may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 800 pounds less than the Nissan Murano.

The Forester is 10 inches shorter than the Murano, making the Forester easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Forester is 5.9 inches narrower on average than the Murano, making the Forester easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The front grille of the Forester 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.

The Forester has .1 inches more front headroom and 3.1 inches more rear legroom than the Murano.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s rear seats recline. The Murano’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Forester is 4.3 inches lower than the Murano (15.5” vs. 19.8”). The Forester’s rear step up height is 3.4 inches lower than the Murano’s (17.25” vs. 20.6”).

The Forester has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Murano with its rear seat folded (74.4 vs. 63.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Forester easier. The Forester’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.9 inches, while the Murano’s liftover is 30.7 inches.

Maximum trailer towing in the Nissan Murano is limited to 1500 pounds. The Forester offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Forester uses the Vehicle Dynamics Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Murano doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the Forester is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Murano. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 20% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 10th.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness/Touring’s exterior PIN entry system. The Murano doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Forester’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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Forester’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Murano’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Forester has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Murano doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Forester’s optional 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.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Subaru Forester retains 62.8% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 44.66% resale value of the 2026 Nissan Murano after five years, which can save the Subaru’s owner up to $11239 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Forester as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Murano isn't recommended.

The Subaru Forester outsold the Nissan Murano by over four to one during 2025.