When Nissan introduced the Murano, it was one of the better midsize SUVs on the market. Nissan gave the Murano a stylish design and some of the best all-around performance in its class. That said, it was my first pick when I needed a rental for my vacation to Washington State, which would include a lot of steep terrain driving over the Cascade range and even some modest off-road travel.
Styling- 9/10 Appropriately named, the Murano (Murano is an island near Venice Italy that is famous for producing beautifully sculptured glass) is still one of the most striking SUVs in its class. Unlike your typical boxy sport-ute, the Murano boasts an aerodynamic design that is able to pull off being both classy and rugged at the same time. The only gripe I have with the Murano's exterior is its cheap simulated chrome grille. There are, however, some decent looking grilles for this SUV on the aftermarket.
Driving Impressions: S AWD CVT transmission: Acceleration- 8/10 Nissan's VQ engines have always been impressive, however none have been as grand as the current 3.5-liter version. Though it's undoubtedly a more capable engine under the hoods of Maxima's and Altima's, this V6 provides plenty of oomph for the nearly 4,000lb Murano. Though some sport-utes in this class boast higher horsepower numbers, the Murano is still one of the quickest midsize sport-ute's with a base price less than 30 grand. Thanks to the Murano's relatively light curb weight and an engine producing a healthy 245 horsepower and 246 lb.-ft of torque, this SUV moves with just as much prowess as its more powerful competition, e.g. the Hemi powered Dodge Durango and the B9 Tribeca from Subaru. Because the Murano's V6 offers excellent low-end torque and good horsepower throughout its powerband, it doesn't take much throttle pressure to get the Murano to move. Even when this sport-ute is equipped to full capacity (5 adults) the Murano has no problems zipping around the city or accelerating up to freeway speeds. This engine is also refined. While the 3.5 VQ V6 still rewards its occupants with that familiar robust VQ engine note, it's always kept in check; never being too loud.
Transmission: 9/10 The Murano's CVT transmission also aids in smooth engine operation. Unlike a conventional 4 or 5-speed automatic transmission, Nissan's CVT (continuous variable transmission) in the Murano doesn't need to jump from gear to gear to get into its power band. Instead, the CVT continuously slides over seven ranges keeping the Nissan Murano's engine in a near perfect powerband for efficiency and economy. The end result with this CVT over a conventional automatic transmission is a much smoother feeling when you stab the throttle from a stop or at speed; it's definitely a plus when climbing steep grades!
Handling: 10/10 The Murano is also an excellent handler. Though you won't confuse the Murano's ability to tackle twisty roads with a 350Z or even a Maxima, it is one of the best handling sport-ute's I have driven. Thanks to AWD, big 18" wheels wrapped in wide P235/65HR tires, the Murano feels safe on twisty roads, exhibiting little body roll on even the sharpest bends.
Cruising: 10/10 The Murano is equally as impressive on the freeway. Like a refined luxury car, the Murano's cabin is kept nearly silent while cruising anywhere between 50-80 MPH; the same can't be said about the Ford Explorer or even Nissan's own Xterra. The Murano, when cruising, feels just as smooth as more expensive vehicles in this class, including the Lexus RX330 that I drove last year. The only time the Murano gets remotely noisy is when tacking steep terrain at high speeds and even then it's enough to be an issue. Braking in the Murano is great. Four-wheel disc brakes and 4-wheel ABS are standard on all trim levels, which help this 4,000+lb vehicle come to a complete stop from high speeds with no complaint.
Off-Road 6/10 The Murano wasn't exactly made for off-road use, however it doesn't do such a bad job in this department either. While the Murano won't be able to do the same off-road chores as, say, a 2006 Dodge Durango 4X4 or a Jeep Wrangler, it certainly can hold its own on modest off-roads. With seven inches of ground clearance and AWD, my Murano was able to tackle all of the moderately overgrown and weathered logging roads I put it up against.
Fuel Economy: 3/10 Alas, my major gripes with the Murano; fuel economy. Though I didn't exactly drive this vehicle in the name of saving fuel, the 17-19 MPG that I yielded over a 1,500 miles of driving (90% highway driving) was unacceptable. The EPA, however, rates the Murano S AWD at 20/25. According to the fuel economy gauge on the instrument cluster I was never able to achieve close to those numbers unless I was coasting down a steep hill. You should also note that Nissan recommends premium unleaded fuel. With gas prices still high, this isn't good news.
Interior Accommodation: Quality: 8/10 Recently, Nissan has made some real interior doozies-the 2002-2003 Altima, the current generation Sentra, and Pathfinders to name a few. The Murano fortunately has gone a different route, receiving much better plastics than just about every vehicle in Nissan's line-up. Nissan has still used some cheap plastics for the door map pockets and some of its interior materials, however no more so than most vehicles in this class i.e. the Ford Explorer or Tahoe. Overall the quality of the interior is acceptable, however Nissan still has some work to do, especially when it comes to some of the rear plastics that tend to rattle over large pot holes and rough road surfaces.
Interior styling and lay-out: 8/10 Though the Murano is a bit overdosed with simulated titanium accents, its interior remains both attractive and functional. Nissan has used a tasteful amount of titanium accents around the HVAC controls, auto shifter etc. overall the interior is solid, offering an attractive design and good ergonomics.
Amenities: 7/10 Though the Murano S AWD isn't loaded to the brim with luxury appointments, it comes well equipped, especially in SE trim. Some noteworthy standard amenities on my S AWD included dual zone climate controls, trip computer with MPG and temperature display, four cup holders, power everything, audio controls on the steering wheel, six air bags, and much more. The only major gripe I have with the Murano S's entertainment features is its inadequate 4-speaker single disc sound system. This system lacks oomph and sounds harsh when base or treble is turned even slightly above stock settings. If you like listening to music, you may want to upgrade to an aftermarket sound system or going with the Murano SL or SE, where you'll have the option of better sound systems (upgraded sound is not available in base or S AWD models).
Seating 8/10 The standard cloth seats in the Murano are both comfy and supportive; a rarity for an SUV in this class. Even after being in the drivers seat non-stop for over 3 hours, I had no complaints with comfort. A slight rant I had with the Murano's driver's seat is its measly 4-way power adjustments. Standard on the S comes 4-way adjustments, which isn't nearly enough to find the best driving position in this vehicle. Note: 8-way adjustments with lumbar support is an option for $800.
Room and Storage: 7/10 The Murano isn't a full-sized SUV, nor will it accommodate the same items or as many people as a full-sized SUV. However, for catering to 5 adults it does just fine. The front is spacious, offering more than enough head and leg room for both driver and passenger. The same can also be said about rear passenger space.
With the rear seats up there is enough room for a large family's grocery needs, though don't expect to haul around much else. The rear seats do fold flat, however, which more than doubles rear stowage. The only rant I have with stowage is the Murano's tiny glove box. Instead of a regular sized glove box, Nissan has traded it for a big center console.
Price/Warranty: The Nissan Murano starts at $27,500 for the non-AWD S and peaks at around $36,000 for the AWD SE with the nav system; about the same pricing as the Subaru's Outback line-up and Honda's Pilot. If anything goes wrong with your new Nissan Murano, Nissan offers a somewhat stingy 3-year/36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty.
Overall: 9/10 The Murano continues to be one of the best vehicles in its class. The Murano is quick, handsome, offers a solid ride, and decent interior materials. If heavy off-roading is part of your daily drive, I do suggest opting for a vehicle with a full 4x4 system. However, if you are looking for an excellent highway cruiser that can also handle some mild off-road adventures while looking stylish at the same time, the Murano is recommended 100%.
Note: Looking for a smaller wagon? Check out
my review on the 2008 Scion xB -Thanks for reading!
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