Latest updates reinforce value equation; spacious; refined
Not as engaging to drive as some segment rivals
Nissan’s Murano isn’t the largest SUV on the market but it’s also not the smallest. So smart additions for the 2014 model include Moving Object Detection for the reversing camera, Blind Spot Warning and Lane Departure Warning…well we wish all SUVs were so well equipped.
The V6-powered Murano was created in North America for the North American market, however with its handy size and comfortable, family-friendly interior sales have been strong around the globe. And while the Murano’s off-road agility is beyond question, its towing capacity of 1500kgs compares with 2700kgs for the similarly-size Nissan Pathfinder making the latter a better bet for serious dirt-trackers and caravan towers.
Yep the Murano is a smoothie from California, it’s earned respect from buyers everywhere and is an integral part of Nissan’s very impressive SUV family which extends from the compact Juke from England to the massive Patrol.
Nissan Murano Overview
Nissan has given the Murano the final update for its current generation. No mechanical or styling changes but the range-topping Ti model tested by CarShowroom.com.au ($60,240 price tag) gained advanced safety technologies in the form of Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Moving Object Detection, as well as the helpful convenience of Live Traffic Monitoring for the satellite navigation.
As we mentioned, Murano is a creation of Nissan North America and has always been primarily a North American market vehicle. That means it’s also spot-on for the needs of Australian families.
Although officially classified as a ‘Large’ SUV - and it’s certainly no shrinking violet with an overall length of 4860mm, a width of 1885mm and height of 1730mm - we reckon the Nissan Murano is better classified as a mid-sizer as its dimensions and good visibility from the drivers’ seat won’t intimidate first-time SUV buyers.
Nissan Murano Engine
Nissan powers the Murano with its excellent VQ35 DOHC 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. As we know this engine is part of a family which has scored more ‘Engine Of The Year’ accolades than any other V6 powerplant.
Maximum power of 191kW is delivered at 6000rpm and peak torque of 336Nm arrives at 4400rpm. Combined-cycle fuel consumption is rated at 10.9l/100kms.
Nissan Murano is exclusively all-wheel-drive via Nissan’s Intelligent All-Mode AWD system and X-Tronic continuously variable automatic transmission.
Nissan Murano The Interior
The all-new Murano has been launched internationally (on-sale here the second-half of 2015) and it must be said interior style is one area where the current generation is starting to show its age. Mind you the current Nissan Murano was cutting-edge when it first appeared…shows the pace of automotive industry development.
Comfort, space and convenience are the things with the Nissan Murano. Leather seats are generous and the driver will appreciate a nice driving position (8-way electric adjustment for the seat plus electronic adjustment for steering wheel rake/reach in the Ti model) and good visibility.
Centre console sees the seven-inch colour display for satellite navigation, reversing camera and the 11-speaker Bose audio system (9.3GB hard drive music box in Ti models).
Rear seat accommodation is similarly generous and the Ti model as tested provides power operation for the 60:40 split-fold – very convenient for family logistics.
Overall there’s a pleasant ambience inside the Nissan Murano Ti with abundant soft-touch elements, obvious material quality and lots of light thanks to a massive dual-panel glass panoramic sunroof.
Nissan Murano Exterior & Styling
With its defining front-end, curvaceous rear, complex glasshouse and big wheels, the Nissan Murano has an imposing look which is another pointer to its North American origins. You won’t get this ‘big fella’ confused with the compact Juke, but at the same time it’s not as gargantuan as the Nissan Patrol or Toyota LandCruiser.
A perfect size for a family ‘Crossover’? Yep, we’d say so.
To be honest, the Murano has always appealed to us because its looks are somewhat ‘anti-SUV’. Again this harks back to its origins from Nissan’s La Jolla, California design studios which have a reputation for challenging conventional automotive designs.
Nissan does do conventional ‘boxy’ SUVs (think Patrol and previous generation Pathfinder). But the Murano isn’t from that end of town – not passenger car-like by any stretch, but curvy, aerodynamic and contemporary.
Murano’s size won’t intimidate mums (or dads) on the school run and its 11-metre turning circle (plus reversing camera and Moving Object Detection in the Ti model we tested) will safely secure those tight parking spaces at 8:30am and 3:15pm.
Nissan Murano On The Road
Nissan equips the Murano with an independent front-end/multi-link rear suspension and meaty 20-inch alloy wheels (Ti model as tested). Calibration favours ‘comfort’ over ‘sporty’ – just as you’d expect for a family-oriented SUV.
And that’s a good thing because our Murano saw lots of family duty during its week in the CarShowroom.com.au garage. From netball competitions for the CarShowroom.com.au juniors to a traffic-snarled, two-way peak-hour haul to the airport and back our Nissan Murano scored the lot.
In those environments the Nissan Murano was in ‘The Zone’ – plenty of grunt and response from the 3.5-litre V6 plus Blind Spot Warning and Lane Departure Warning to handle the peak-hour freeway ‘Grand Prix’, easy access for the netball team and their related paraphernalia (as tested by a post-game Melbourne winter downpour!) and nice comfy seats.
And it must be said our Nissan Murano emerged in good shape after a couple of runs over our high-speed mountain roads test loop. Sure it wasn’t a Nissan GT-R - and, when pushed, exhibited the expected understeer pretty early at the limit - but the Murano was predictable, comfortable and refined.
Nissan Murano Issues
Soft, safe and predictable for sure, but a smidge more sportiness would increase showroom traffic for the Murano.
Nissan Murano Verdict
The $60,240 price tag projects the Nisan Murano Ti into a sub-segment loaded with great SUVs. Thing is, the Murano has what it takes to command respect.
Like many in this league, the Nissan Murano targets the SUV-dominant North American market. So it’s comfortable, compliant, easy to drive and refined…there is absolutely no NISMO version to take on, say the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT.
Sounds like a family cruiser to us and, to be frank, the Nissan Murano doesn’t harbor aspirations to be anything else.
And in that context, the Nissan Murano comes up trumps. We’d have one in our garage permanently.
Nissan Murano The Competition
To be fair, we’ve limited our consideration to similar SUVs with petrol engines and all-wheel-drive. Tossing in the diesel alternative would invite some other cars like the Kia Sorento – but that’s irrelevant because the current model Nissan Murano is exclusively petrol-propelled.
We don’t know yet the future of Ford’s large SUV (Explorer, Edge?) but we do know the current Aussie-made Territory is a cracker. Beaut to drive, well kitted inside and reasonable value from $48,240 to $59,990 (AWD models). No hiding Ford Territory’s age however and later rivals are ahead in the refinement department.
Jeep’s Grand Cherokee is the sales standout in this league for many reasons but outstanding value-for-money is certainly one of them. Jeep loads the GC with lots of kit so its all-wheel-drive range from $46,000 to $71,000 (excluding the racy SRT) covers six-cylinder and V8 petrol engines and a massive range of standard features. Spacious and a good drive, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is definitely worth a look.
Hyundai Santa Fe, like the Nissan Murano, is very much a North American market car. While the 2.4-litre engine doesn’t match Nissan’s V6, at $38,490, the Santa Fe is great buying.
