Compare the2024 Honda PassportVS 2024 Nissan Murano

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Murano’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

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

Both the Passport and the Murano have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Passport is safer than the Nissan Murano:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Passport is safer than the Nissan Murano:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Passport for 2 years or 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Murano.

The engine in the Passport has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Murano has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 10 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Passport’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 20 more horsepower (280 vs. 260) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 240) than the Murano’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Honda Passport is faster than the Nissan Murano:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Passport’s fuel efficiency. The Murano doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Passport’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Murano doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Passport 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 Murano doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better traction, the Passport has larger standard tires than the Murano (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Passport EX-L/Elite’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Murano (265/45R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The Passport TrailSport’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Murano SV’s standard 65 series tires. The Passport EX-L/Elite’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Murano Midnight/SL/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Murano.

For greater off-road capability the Passport has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Murano (8.1 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Passport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Passport is 3.7 inches shorter than the Murano, making the Passport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Passport Elite is quieter than the Murano Platinum AWD (39 vs. 41 dB).

The Passport has 6.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Murano (114.9 vs. 108.1).

The Passport has .4 inches more front legroom, 3.7 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, 2.1 inches more rear hip room and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Murano.

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Murano with its rear seat up (41.2 vs. 32.1 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Murano with its rear seat folded (77.7 vs. 67 cubic feet).

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

The Passport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Murano’s (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Passport uses the Vehicle Stability Assist 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 Passport Elite’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Murano’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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

The Passport’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Murano SV/Midnight/SL/Platinum.

The Passport’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 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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

The Passport TrailSport/Elite 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.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Passport and the Nissan Murano, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its April 2019 issue and they ranked the Honda Passport Elite first. They ranked the Nissan Murano Platinum AWD fifth.

The Honda Passport outsold the Nissan Murano by 37% during 2022.