It truly is the era of advancement and technology. An era which has brought cars to a level never expected before. Who would have thought five years ago that conservative Nissan would come up with a new SUV like nothing else on the road.
With the Nissan Murano, you are bound to see an exquisite, perhaps one of a kind, combination. Its design offers ample room within and its performance holds the potential of leaving you craving for more. Why? Well, it's powered by Nissan's beefy 266 hp 3.5-litre V6, the same engine found in the 350Z sports car but in different tune level. It is up to you to comprehend the nature of this vehicle. Is it a car or a 4x4? It has a particular look to it, which places it in a league of its own, a look which is sure to remain engrained in the minds of the public for a long time. Tastes vary and opinions have thrown some criticism on its design, but in the end, the choice is entirely yours.
The exterior body is a dramatic depiction of a possible future and well you are free to judge. A look sure to go down in history! There is a lot on offer in this vehicle besides a robust engine and fancy body. The interior is pleasant, very similar to the Altima sedan, and includes seats with excellent lumbar support and all-round room. There isn't much of the flashy design ideas inside as on the outside, but it is fairly comfortable, with an impressive dual air conditioning system as well as a fantastic 7-speaker Bose Audio producing sound of the highest quality. It seats four to five people in a normal situation. The cargo area could be bigger though. Luggage space at the back is barely adequate for a 4WD. But the seating space is an absolute plus point of this vehicle and its driving performance is sure to leave you with a good feel. It's a smooth and responsive car, and promises to carry most of your equipment.
The driving performance is more of a sporty nature. In fact, it is even faster than BMW's X5 3.0i SAV. The vehicle is reasonably heavy, weighing in at 4000 pounds, yet the V6-powered Nissan Murano doesn't seem to show any signs of giving in. Its handling is relatively car-like, exceeding products such as the Lexus RX330, Honda MRV and other 4WDs. The transmission is a unique concept of engineering, with the addition of the "stepless" CVT design. The CVT in the Murano comes with just three choices: D for normal driving, S for sportier acceleration and L for the highest ratio, or lowest "gear" range. Shifting leads to corresponding increases to rpms. The "gear" change itself makes for some good technological trivia, but it shouldn't really bother you when you drive and don't feel any gear changes. The transmission works smoothly and without much noise. Just to keep yourself content with the fact that the system is working, exercise your right to put it to the test and push it. We reckon you will find the road manners and adaptability of the vehicle to be highly impressive and efficient.
The All-Wheel-Drive system makes this vehicle surefooted at all times. The VDC system further enhances the Murano's stability. The braking system has its share of credit, with four-wheel vented disc brakes bundled with Brake Assist, which helps ensure maximum braking force in a panic stop, and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), which reduces stopping distances and improves stability by dynamically distributing the braking force between the front and rear wheels.
One should be watchful of the blind spots, since the odd shape of the vehicle may well cause a hazard for the driver. You may also want to know where the bumpers are, as parking could be a bit of a hazard. The steering a bit of pain at low speeds. You may also notice the poor fuel economy. We also reject this vehicle as an offroader, as it has no more offroad capability than a Toyota RAV-4.
Space, style and smoothness are perhaps the three most outstanding features of this vehicle. It's an amazingly well thought out mix, and is a unique vehicle for Nissan showrooms. This is the vehicle for you if all you want is a tall flashy car that imitates an offroader. Because offroader it is not. Large, comfortable and fast road cruiser it definitely is.
