In brief
- 2026 Nissan Armada: first place, tied, in the large SUV segment.
- 2026 Nissan Murano: first place, tied, in the midsize SUV segment.
- The study: J.D. Power, APEAL 2026, 78,514 American owners of 2026 vehicles, surveyed between June 2025 and May 2026 after their first 90 days behind the wheel, on more than 35 aspects of the vehicle.
- What it is worth here: a result measured in the United States, among American owners. The engines and equipment of the Canadian trims cited below come from our dealerships’ pages; the trims offered, the prices and the climate are ours.
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What the APEAL study measures, and what it doesn’t
APEAL, for Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout, is one of J.D. Power’s two major annual surveys of new-vehicle buyers. The other, the Initial Quality Study, counts the problems encountered. APEAL does the opposite: it asks owners what they like about their vehicle (seat comfort, handling, ease of the controls, the pleasure of driving it) across more than 35 aspects, after three months of ownership. Each model receives a score out of 1,000, and the best in each segment is named.
The 2026 edition is based on 78,514 responses from owners of 2026 vehicles, registered between March 2025 and February 2026. The industry average score reaches 858 out of 1,000, up 7 points, a third increase in a row. In other words: people like their new vehicles more and more, and you have to stand out further to finish first.
What the study does not measure: long-term reliability, maintenance cost, resale value. A first-place APEAL finish says that a vehicle pleases those who bought it, not that it will never break down. It is valuable information, but only one piece of it.
Murano: tied for first among midsize SUVs
The current-generation Murano was completely redesigned for 2025, and the 2026 model year carries over the formula. It is a midsize SUV with five seats only: Nissan chose to give the space of a third row to the cargo area and the second row rather than to two occasional seats. The result is 931.6 litres behind the seat according to Nissan Canada, the largest cargo area in the Nissan lineup when all the seats are occupied.
Under the hood, a 2.0-litre variable-compression turbo four-cylinder, 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft, a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. Natural Resources Canada rates it at 9.7 L/100 km combined. Inside, two 12.3-inch screens side by side, a 12.6-inch head-up display, and, on the SL and Platinum trims, ventilated and massaging front seats with 64-colour ambient lighting. It is easy to see why owners, asked about comfort and enjoyment, put it at the top.
See the 2026 Murano page and current priceFR.
Armada: tied for first among large SUVs
The Armada, too, is all new: the current generation arrived for 2025 on a truck chassis, with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 making 425 horsepower and 516 lb-ft, and 460 horsepower on the NISMO. In Canada, it comes as the SL, SL Platinum, PRO-4X, NISMO and Platinum Reserve, with seven or eight seats, and it tows up to 3,856 kg (8,500 lb) depending on equipment.
What owners liked was not only the power. It is a large SUV you enjoy every day: the driving position, the quiet, the room in all three rows. In the large SUV segment, where buyers tow, travel as eight and drive long distances, finishing first in satisfaction after 90 days is a strong signal. The Armada had already been named the top-rated large SUV by Consumer Reports this year, which Nissan recalled when announcing the APEAL result.
See the 2026 Armada page and current priceFR.
An American study: what holds in Quebec, what doesn’t
It has to be said clearly: J.D. Power surveyed American owners, and Nissan Canada did not relay the announcement. What carries over is the model: the Armada and the Murano sold in Sherbrooke, Granby, Saint-Hyacinthe, Drummondville and Victoriaville are of the same generation as the ones that were rated, with the powertrains and equipment described above based on our dealerships’ pages. What the study doesn’t say is whether each Canadian trim matches the equipment of the American trims surveyed point for point: the trim’s own page is what prevails.
What doesn’t transfer: the trims offered, which differ from one country to the other; the prices, which are those of our dealerships and here include freight and pre-delivery inspection; and winter. An Arizona owner didn’t rate starting at −25°C or traction on an icy hill. On that last point, one detail matters: in Canada, the 2026 Murano comes with all-wheel drive on every trim, and the Armada with a four-wheel-drive system.
In the same study: Hyundai second, Kia third
The 2026 APEAL study also ranks brands. Among mass-market brands, MINI comes first with 875 points, followed by Hyundai at 858 and Kia at 857, two brands in the network, neck and neck, above the industry average. Two models sold in Quebec receive an award there for the second year in a row: the Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup and the Kia K4 compact.
For a buyer torn between several of the group’s banners, it is a useful reading: three brands in our showrooms (Nissan, Hyundai and Kia) appear at the top of what owners like, and two entire SUV segments are led by Nissans. Our comparison of the four Nissan SUVs then helps you choose the right size.
Where to see the current price
New-vehicle prices change from one model year to the next, and sometimes mid-year. Rather than an amount that would go stale, each model above carries a link to its page on the dealership’s website, where the displayed price is today’s, trim by trim. For what comes next: the network’s offers page for the rebates in effect, and the appraisal of your trade-in vehicle.
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Frequently asked questions
What is J.D. Power’s APEAL study?
An annual satisfaction survey of new-vehicle owners, conducted in the United States. After their first 90 days, they rate more than 35 aspects of their vehicle; each model receives a score out of 1,000 and the best in each segment is named. The 2026 edition has 78,514 respondents.
Does the result apply to the Armada and Murano sold in Quebec?
In part. The result was measured in the United States, on American trims. The Canadian Armada and Murano are of the same generation, with the powertrains described in this article based on our dealerships’ pages; the trims offered, their equipment, the prices and the winter conditions are specific to Canada and were not part of the study.
What does “tied for first” mean?
That the Armada and the Murano share first place in their segment with another model, at the same score. J.D. Power names both winners in that case.
Does a first-place finish in APEAL guarantee reliability?
No. APEAL measures what owners like about their vehicle, not the problems encountered or durability. It is a signal about everyday enjoyment and comfort, to be read alongside the other buying criteria.
Where can I see the price of a specific trim?
On the model’s page, in the configuration section: each trim carries its current price there, freight and pre-delivery inspection included. The links in this article lead directly to those pages.
