Nissan has priced the 2027 Murano from $43,990 and added a Dark Armor grade that pushes the blacked-out aesthetic into a segment increasingly fond of that look. The lineup now runs three trims, all with all-wheel drive standard, and the Dark Armor sits squarely in the middle at $46,990.
The Murano sells in a tricky spot: above the crowded compact crossover class, below the entry-level luxury brands, and with relatively modest volume to show for it. The redesigned model posted 3,542 units in 2025, a number that positions the nameplate as a niche choice among buyers who want upscale features without the German or Japanese luxury badge. Rivals include the Honda Passport, Mazda CX-70, and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport on the more expensive end, with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Blazer competing from below on price.
The Dark Armor grade is the editorial news here. Nissan fits it with gloss black 21-inch wheels, darkened bumpers, gloss black badges front and rear, and Dark Armor door panel badges. Color choices run to six: Gun Metallic, Super Black, Scarlet Ember, Everest White, and two two-tone options pairing Boulder Gray or Everest White with a Super Black roof. The interior is Graphite upholstery only, no exceptions. It is a coherent package rather than a checkbox exercise, and Nissan has priced it at a $3,000 premium over the SL base.
The SL opens at $43,990 and the Platinum tops the range at $49,790. Destination adds $1,545 to each. The Platinum’s $2,800 step over Dark Armor buys the richly appointed interior finish and, presumably, whatever equipment differences Nissan slots into the top trim, though the core technology carries across the lineup.
That technology includes ProPILOT Assist 2.1, Nissan’s hands-off highway driving system, which operates when lane markings are visible and the driver stays attentive. The 12.3-inch infotainment display runs Google built-in, incorporating Google Maps, Google Play Store, and Google Assistant. Available on higher trims: a 3D Enhanced Intelligent Around View Monitor with full 3D rotation, Front Wide View, and Invisible Hood View for low-speed maneuvering. Massaging front seats are also on the feature list. For a crossover at this price point, the stack is competitive.
The Murano is assembled at Nissan’s Smyrna, Tennessee plant and earned a 2026 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation alongside a Best Midsize 2-Row SUV for the Money award from U.S. News and World Report. The Tennessee manufacturing footprint has become a recurring talking point for Nissan, particularly as buyers weigh domestic assembly against an increasingly complicated import landscape.
The nameplate has been around since the 2003 model year, when it arrived as Nissan’s first crossover in North America and helped establish the idea that an SUV-shaped vehicle could drive like a car. That positioning still holds in 2027, though the market it once helped create has grown into something far more crowded and competitive than anyone anticipated in 2002.
Dark Armor gives Nissan a grade that photographs well and should be easier to merchandise than a feature-by-feature SL-versus-Platinum comparison. Whether that is enough to move the sales needle meaningfully is a separate question. The Murano goes on sale now.
Source: Nissan. Images courtesy of Nissan.
