Key Points
- The Nissan Murano Platinum emphasizes comfort and refinement, with a smoother ride and a more upscale, quiet interior.
- The Honda Passport TrailSport Blackout delivers greater versatility, with tougher capability, more usable cargo space, and a rugged design.
- The Murano suits pavement-focused driving, while the Passport is the better choice for active, adventure-oriented lifestyles.
A Tale of Two SUV Flavors
In the midsize SUV landscape, buyers often fall into two camps. Some want a refined, comfortable vehicle that excels on pavement and long drives. Others want something tougher, more visually aggressive, and with a modicum of off-road capability. The good news is that there’s more variety out there in the crossover SUV world than ever before. Case in point, the 2026 Nissan Murano Platinum ($49,800) and the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Blackout ($49,650) are priced almost identically and are both at the top of their games, although they approach the SUV mission from very different angles.
The Murano Platinum focsuses on refinement, comfort, modern design, and an upscale driving experience. The Passport TrailSport Blackout embraces ruggedness, capability, and a more adventurous personality. Both wear midsize SUV badges, but they deliver fundamentally different experiences. While they’re both priced similarly, their areas of focus diverge. Here’s how they compare, and which one ultimately makes more sense depending on how you use your SUV.
Exterior Styling
Nissan
The 2026 Nissan Murano Platinum goes upscale compared to its predecessors, and the clean and attractive design stands out in a crowd of boxier fare. Its flowing exterior lines, cohesive proportions, and restrained details give it a more premium presence than many mainstream midsize SUVs. It’s clearly designed for buyers who want their SUV to feel sophisticated without stepping into luxury-brand pricing.
The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Blackout goes in the opposite direction with its intentionally chunky and squared off body, fat rubber, and TrailSport badging. The Blackout treatment adds dark exterior trim, wheels, and badges, while the TrailSport identity emphasizes toughness. Chunkier tires, more aggressive cladding, and an upright stance make it clear that this Passport is ready for more than just the local farmer’s market or dinner out with the family.
Powertrain and Performance
Nissan
The Murano Platinum is tuned for smoothness above all else. Its power comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. 241 horses provide acceleration that’s consistent and smooth. This calm demeanor aligns with the Murano’s urban cruising vibe rather than outright performance. That said, 0-60 comes in Sport mode dials up the Murano’s responses, but it never feels out of character. All Muranos benefit from standard all-wheel drive.
The Passport’s 285 horsepower is up five from last year, and its 3.5-liter V6 feels more eager, especially at lower speeds. Throttle response is sharper, and the SUV feels more energetic when pulling away from a stop or climbing grades. That extra responsiveness pairs well with the TrailSport trim’s adventurous intent. The new 10-speed transmission replaces last year’s 9-speed version. It also has a more rigid chassis, and the TrailSport trims have unique suspension tuning. All Passports benefit from improved torque-vectoring system with better responsiveness, too.
Ride Comfort and Road Manners
The Murano Platinum delivers a composed, quiet ride that’s especially noticeable on highways. Road imperfections are smoothed out, cabin noise is minimal, and the suspension prioritizes comfort without feeling disconnected. Long road trips are where the Murano shines brightest. It also has excellent sound deadening that contributes to its refined demeanor. The Murano Platinum is happiest on pavement. Its all-wheel-drive system inspires confidence in poor weather, but it’s not designed for trail work or rough surfaces. For buyers who rarely leave asphalt, that won’t matter.
The Passport TrailSport Blackout rides more firmly. That stiffness supports off-pavement confidence and better control on uneven surfaces, but it also means you feel more of the road during daily driving. It’s not uncomfortable, but it’s clearly tuned with durability and control in mind rather than plush isolation. The Passport TrailSport Blackout can handle more off-roading than most of its competitors thanks to increased ground clearance, all-terrain-oriented tires, and TrailSport-specific tuning give it real confidence on dirt roads, snow-covered trails, and uneven terrain. It feels like an SUV that’s meant to be used, not just admired.
Interior and Technology
Nissan
There might not be a greater contrast in the segment when it comes to the interiors of these two contenders. The Murano Platinum’s cabin looks and feels like it belongs in a higher tier, even for the top trim model. Textured leather, matte metallic trim, Soft-touch materials, supportive seats, and a flowing dashboard layout give it a near-luxury vibe. It’s minimalist but rich, opulent but restrained. The wood climate control panel is stunning, and it borrows the look from its Ariya EV stablemate. The result is the most beautiful interior the Murano has ever seen.
Nissan
Technology is front and center, with a large and vivid 12.3-inch dual screens for infotainment and instrumentation, along with seamless smartphone integration. Everything feels intentionally designed to be relaxing and refined, especially for daily commuting and long drives. Some of the climate control functionality on the touchscreen is fussy with small icons and layered menus, but the look is echelons better than the old system.
The Passport’s interior is more utilitarian. While still attractive in an outdoorsy way, materials are durable rather than plush, and the design favors simplicity over flair. That said, the functionality is superb with some of the best physical controls in the segment. The TrailSport Blackout trim adds unique accents that reinforce its rugged image, but luxury isn’t the goal here. The tech is solid and easy to use, and the cabin layout prioritizes functionality and visibility.
The Honda Passport’s in-car technology errs on the side of function rather than aesthetics. The redesigned 2026 model features a standard 12.3-inch color touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital driver display with Google built-in and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Functionality and the user experience are easier to pick up than in the Murano, but it certainly lacks the polish of the system found in the Nissan.
Space and everyday usability
The Murano Platinum still offers comfortable seating and good passenger space. There’s solid room in back with 36.3 inches of second row legroom, but it’s not as big as the Passport’s. On top of that, its sleeker design slightly limits cargo flexibility with 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. For most daily needs, it’s more than sufficient, but the Passport’s extra practicality stands out for active owners.
The Passport TrailSport Blackout is positively huge in the second row. It might not look as open and airy due to its dark coloring, but 40.9 inches of rear legroom positively eclipses the Murano’s. It also benefits from a boxier shape, which translates to a more usable cargo area. 83.8 cubic feet of cargo space is twenty more than the Murano. The wide opening, flat load floor, and tall roofline make it especially appealing for hauling gear, dogs, or camping equipment. It’s the choice to make if hauling luggage and gear are a priority.
Standard Features
Nissan
The Murano Platinum is the top trim and comes packed with standard features including 21-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, a panoramic moonroof, remote start, motion-activated power liftgate, Semi-Aniline leather appointed seats with massage, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, 12.3-inch dual screen displays, a head-up display, wireless charging pad, rear door sunshades, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, ProPilot Assist, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a Bose premium audio system. The Platinum trim positions itself as a near-luxury option, with pricing that reflects its premium interior and comfort-focused tuning.
The Passport TrailSport Blackout slots right below the top trim TrailSport Elite and comes with standard features such as 18-inch black alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, off-road suspension, high contrast recovery hooks, skid plates, LED headlights, active grille shutters, a panoramic moonroof, heated side mirrors, a power liftgate, heated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, 9-speaker audio with subwoofer, a wireless phone charger, Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and TrailSport orange stitching and accents. You’re paying for capability, durability, and a trim that looks and feels purpose-built. It may not feel luxurious, but it ready for rugged action that the Murano can’t match.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Nissan Murano Platinum excels as a refined, comfort-first midsize SUV. It’s the better choice for drivers who spend most of their time on pavement and want their SUV to feel calm, quiet, and upscale. The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Blackout wins when versatility and capability matter most. It’s tougher, more practical, and better suited to owners who actually use their SUV beyond the city limits. There’s no universal winner here, but if the question is which SUV can do more, the Passport TrailSport Blackout edges ahead. If the question is which SUV feels better every day, the Murano still makes a compelling case.