Teresa’s View
The Nissan Murano has never claimed to be a rugged sport-ute. As the only crossover in Nissan’s SUV lineup, the urbane Murano leaves the trail-blazing to its brothers, the eager Xterra, venerable Pathfinder and hulky Armada. Instead, the Murano is a crossover vehicle that takes its superior ride height, versatile passenger and cargo configurations and optional all-wheel drive features from the truck world, but softens them with car-like ride and handling characteristics and a multitude of creature comforts. No wonder Nissan has taken to calling it a “smooth-UV.”
Although it doesn’t get a full-on redesign this year, there are a number of upgrades. Exterior revisions — such as chrome accent side sills and an aluminum rear bumper protector on the up-level trims — soften, but don’t detract from what has been always been a bold exterior.
Inside, the design is only slightly more traditional. Check out the “floating” LED center display. Oh, and kudos to the Murano designers for using genuine aluminum trim rather than a cheap imitation.
Numerous storage areas are sprinkled throughout the well-appointed cabin. The two-tiered lockable center console is said to be roomy enough for a laptop computer. Door pockets feature a flip-out function for easy access. There’s even a special bin near the driver for a cell phone.
The Murano uses the same engine that powers the Altima and Maxima. The 3.5-liter V-6 delivers 245 horsepower. Paired with a gearless, continuously variable transmission (CVT), it’s enough power for most driving situations and provides reasonable fuel economy.
We found our all-wheel drive SE tester to be a comfortable companion around town. With the CVT, the Murano accelerated slowly from a dead stop, especially on a hill. I simply chose to think of it as a forced fuel economy feature. Once our girl reached cruising speed, power was readily available.
What Is It?: The Nissan Murano is a five-passenger, compact sport-utility vehicle offered in three trims — entry-level S, upscale SL (both in either front- or all-wheel drive) and sporty SE (available in all-wheel drive only.) Prices start at $28K including destination charges.
Gadget Rating: 8 out of 10 Standard features include dual-zone automatic temperature control, cruise control, AM/FM/CD audio system with mp3 capability and, new this year, illuminated steering wheel controls. A RearView Monitor is now standard on the SL and SE.
The Back Seat: Pull the tab on the side of the spring-loaded, reclining rear seats and they practically fold on their own. Instead of a third-row seat option, Nissan opted for ample cargo space.
Safety: Even the base model gets four-wheel antilock disc brakes, front seat-mounted side airbags and two side curtain airbags. A stability control system is optional on the SL and SE. In government crash tests, the Murano earned top scores for driver and front-passenger protection in frontal impacts.
So, Where Are Ya From?: The Murano is assembled in Kyushu, Japan.
Recommended Fuel: Premium unleaded