Two Nissans walked out of J.D. Power’s 2026 APEAL Study with segment wins, and the engineering behind both of them explains why owners responded the way they did.
The Armada tied for first place in the Large SUV segment. The Murano tied for first in the Midsize SUV segment. The APEAL Study measures owner satisfaction across more than 35 attributes covering design, performance, comfort, and usability, drawing on survey responses from drivers in their first 90 days of ownership. Winning both segments in the same study cycle is not a minor footnote for a brand that has had a complicated few years in the American market.
The Armada’s case for the Large SUV crown rests on a powertrain most buyers in the segment don’t expect: a twin-turbocharged, direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 rated at 425 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with standard towing capacity of up to 8,500 pounds. That combination of output and towing puts the Armada in credible working-truck territory while the suspension delivers the on-road refinement that shows up in owner satisfaction surveys. Nissan has also stacked the Armada with camera technology, including the Invisible Hood View, which projects a virtual view through the hood to help drivers spot obstacles off-pavement or during tight parking. The PRO-4X grade extends that capability with an electronic locking rear differential, Adaptive Electronic Air Suspension, all-terrain tires, eight selectable drive modes, and a metal underbody skid plate.
For 2026, the Armada NISMO takes the powertrain further. Suspension, steering, exhaust, and engine all receive NISMO-specific tuning, pushing output to 460 hp on premium fuel, a figure Nissan claims as best-in-class for the Large SUV segment. The Armada had already collected a Consumer Reports Top-Rated Large SUV designation and a Best Large SUV for Off-Roading award from U.S. News and World Report’s 2026 Best Adventure Vehicles Awards before the APEAL results landed. The APEAL win adds owner sentiment to a hardware-driven accolade stack.
The Murano’s segment win comes from a different angle. Assembled in Tennessee, the Murano competes on interior quality and technology rather than capability. Heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, 64-color ambient lighting, and available semi-aniline leather-appointed upholstery give it a premium cabin that punches above its transaction-price range. A dual 12.3-inch display setup with Google built-in brings Maps and other familiar applications to the dashboard without requiring owners to learn a proprietary interface.
The 2026 model year added ProPILOT Assist 2.1, Nissan’s hands-free highway driving system. On compatible roads, attentive drivers can take their hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals while the system manages steering, acceleration, and braking. A Lane Change Assist function can recommend and assist with passing slower vehicles. The system requires a subscription after an initial trial period tied to new-vehicle purchase. That caveat aside, hands-free capability at the Murano’s price point is the kind of feature that registers in the first-90-days survey window the APEAL Study targets.
The timing of these wins sits against a broader Nissan sales recovery. Murano sales rose 121.3% for calendar year 2025, and Nissan has now assembled 700,000 Muranos in the United States. Armada sales were up 14.4% in 2025. Owners who bought into a rapidly growing model are the ones filling out those APEAL surveys, and satisfaction scores tend to track with purchase momentum rather than fight it.
Two segment wins, two trucks pulling in opposite directions on the capability-comfort axis. Nissan will take both.
Source: Nissan. Images courtesy of Nissan.
