2027 Nissan Murano vs Nissan Pathfinder: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Pathfinder — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–2 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($39,990 vs $43,990) and more available power (295 hp vs 241 hp). Choose the Murano if a lower NHTSA complaint rate matters most to you (0.20 vs 0.38 per 1,000 sold).
Scorecard: Murano 2 pts · Pathfinder 5 pts across 7 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Murano | 2027 Pathfinder | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $43,990 | $39,990 | Pathfinder |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.20 | 0.38 | Murano |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 37.1% | — | No data |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | Tie |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 241 hp | 295 hp | Pathfinder |
| Max towing (1) | 1,500 lb | 6,000 lb | Pathfinder |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 8 | Pathfinder |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 3 | 4 | Tie |
| Weighted points | 2 | 5 | Pathfinder |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: it's a wash — Murano 23 mpg vs Pathfinder 23 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the Pathfinder — 8 vs 5 (standard seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Pathfinder — $39,990 vs $43,990 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $17,747 for the Murano vs $27,959 for the Pathfinder.
- Towing. Towing: the Pathfinder — 6,000 lb vs 1,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Murano starts at $43,990 and tops out at $49,790; the Pathfinder runs $39,990 to $49,890 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Used, the median asking price is $17,747 for the Murano and $27,959 for the Pathfinder (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Murano: 0.20 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 94th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Pathfinder: 0.38 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 71th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Murano 3, Pathfinder 4.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Pathfinder 2016 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Murano | 2027 Pathfinder | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $43,990 | $39,990 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $49,790 | $49,890 |
| Horsepower | 241 hp | 284–295 hp |
| Max torque | 260 lb-ft | 270 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 23 mpg | 21–23 mpg |
| Max towing | 1,500 lb | 6,000 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | 8 / 8 |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Murano lists for a median $18,995 — 37.1% of today's median new price of $51,215. There's no 5-year retention figure for the Pathfinder yet.
Shop both
- See 6,033 new 2027 Nissan Muranos for sale →Median listed price $47,866 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See new 2027 Nissan Pathfinders for sale →
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Nissan Murano
More on the Nissan Pathfinder
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Murano better than the Pathfinder?
On our data, no — the Pathfinder comes out ahead. Our pick: the Pathfinder — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–2 across 7 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($39,990 vs $43,990) and more available power (295 hp vs 241 hp). Choose the Murano if a lower NHTSA complaint rate matters most to you (0.20 vs 0.38 per 1,000 sold).
Which is more reliable, the Murano or the Pathfinder?
On federal data, the Murano: owners filed 0.20 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold versus 0.38 for the Pathfinder (2015–2022 sales years). That's complaint volume, not a survey score. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Murano and 4 for the Pathfinder.
Which holds its value better, the Murano or the Pathfinder?
We don't have a 5-year retention figure for both models.
Which is cheaper, the Murano or the Pathfinder?
The Pathfinder starts lower: $39,990 vs $43,990 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Murano or the Pathfinder?
It's a wash: 23 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined.
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2027 Nissan Murano vs Nissan Pathfinder: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/nissan-murano-vs-nissan-pathfinder, updated November 8, 2026.