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Nissan Murano SE
Nissan Murano SE AWD is a difficult vehicle to categorize. Is it a tall
station wagon, SUV, or minivan? Well, to be honest it really doesn’t matter
because if you like the exterior styling you’re not going to find anything like
this so pay the $31,000 to $42,000 (US) and enjoy your choice.
Two problems immediately arise when testing the upgraded Murano SE. The first is
that the ride is sportier than others in this price range. It is not that we
don’t appreciate a firm ride on a car designed to handle curved roads, but on a
high riding SUV that can result in overconfidence and, as all SUVs, the high
center of gravity make tipping over a constant reality.
The second problem is the pricing. When well equipped, the Murano comes face to
face with the leader of this segment, the Lexus RX, when the price passes the
mid $30,000 range. The Lexus rides much better and exceeds the Nissan’s people
friendly attributes in all areas except acceleration and handling. Resale is
heavily in the RX’s favor. Thus we recommend you look at a more basic version of
the Murano if you like the style and performance. (For a more complete look at
pricing go to www.nada.com)
Mom’s view: I found the visibility much better than what I thought it
would be and the monitor mounted in the center of the dash was quite clear. When
you put the Murano in reverse the onboard rear camera showed a clear view and
made it exceptionally easy to park. I have never seen such a good view complete
with lines that helped you line-up the Murano when you were unsure of its width.
Excellent. I also found the interior well done with easy to read gauges and an
airy feel. The seats were exceptional and there was adequate storage. If you
order the SE Touring option you get leather heated seats, sunroof, adjustable
pedals, and more, but at a cost in excess of $4000 US. If you can live without
this options, and I could, consider passing on this package. You can also order
a Technology option that offers a seven-inch monitor, GPS, the rearview camera,
and a terrific driver information center. This is a desirable option for me, but
it does add over $2000 to the bottom line.
Overall, I found the Murano a classy and peppy vehicle to drive. I didn’t reveal
in its bean shape, but the interior was well-appointed and very user friendly.
If the ride weren’t so stiff legged I wouldn’t mind owning one for winter
travel. The fuel mileage was about 21 mpg, not bad for such a potent ride.
Dad’s view: Talk about walking into the lion’s den, Nissan’s Murano
with its price range from about $30,000 US to over $40,000 places it in direct
competition with no less than seven stellar SUVs besides the Lexus. There is the
Acura MDX, the Volvo XC 90, Cadillac’s SRX, Honda Pilot, Chrysler’s Pacifica,
and even the new Subaru Tribeca and Saab’s 9-7. Mercedes is also offering the
new ML and Ford, Chevrolet, and Chrysler have whole fleets of SUVs in this price
range. In fact, you can get the Ford Escape hybrid for less.
With that array of players awaiting the potential buyer Nissan has staked its
bid on three factors. First, a love it or hate it shape. Secondly, a potent
engine that provides 245 horsepower through an all wheel drive set up that works
effortlessly. Finally, a sporty ride that separates it from its stalemates, the
Nissan Pathfinder, Xterra, and bulky Armada.
Essentially, the Murano is an Altima station wagon as it uses the same structure
and most of the same underpinnings. The Murano comes in three versions starting
with the bargain priced S, the more subdued handling SL and the loaded SE. All
of them utilize 4-wheel independent suspension including a multi-link rear
suspension, a 3.5-liter V6 engine, a continuously variable automatic
transmission and either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Although the all
wheel drive model does not have a low range transfer case, the differential can
lock so that you get a 50/50 power split for tough situations and low speeds.
You can shift the transmission to some extend with choices of D for normal
driving, S for more acceleration, and L for when you need more power at low
speeds.
There are plenty of standard features among the best being the ABS, abundance of
side and front airbags, and rollover sensor. The latter is especially important
because all SUVs are susceptible to rollovers and the rate of accidents for them
has been climbing alarmingly. If you are serious about any SUV you might also
check your insurance carrier for rates before you buy. SUVs are also more
expensive to maintain, require more fuel, and have less visibility than sedans.
I would go with the SL model, maybe order the xenon lights, and certainly take
the antiskid and traction control. I do like the rear camera monitor, but I have
mixed feeling about the GPS. It is costly and unless you travel a great deal the
unit is largely left unused. I also could not find out if you could upload new
data as information can quickly become obsolete in areas of growth. You should
note that Nissan pioneered the bird’s eye map view that makes for an interesting
to read map, but at speed it is more difficult to follow. There is a DVD
entertainment center option, too.
Visibility is surprisingly good, but don’t make the mistake of thinking this is
a small vehicle. It is going to fill your garage up and it weighs over 4000
pounds. If you share the vehicle with someone who is either much taller or
shorter than you the power pedal adjustments might be a something to be
considered. I did find it difficult to see the readouts in the dash pod that
contains the instruments. I think Nissan was trying to be a bit too clever as
the fonts were too small to read quickly, despite the natty look. All of the
switches are easy to reach, and there are even rear air-conditioning outlets.
College going male’s view: Good news. The threats from my family have succeeded
and I am back at school full-time. I still have my music online if you would
like to hear a sample check out
http://www.simple-thoughts.net
Sound wise, the Murano has all the ingredients of a superior system, but they
don’t work well together. The stereo buttons are too small, the radio reception
just average, and the controls to complex for easy use while driving. For audio
and visual treats, our Murano was equipped with an optional Bose seven-speaker,
225-watt stereo audio system that included an in-dash six-disc changer and XM
satellite radio connection. The unit can handle MP3 CDs, but I didn’t test them.
With the technology option you get the large driver information display that
shows temperature settings, audio controls, and information on the vehicle’s
performance. It isn’t as difficult to use as some, but sometimes it becomes a
nuisance when you just want to change the temperature setting or find your miles
per gallon. After a while I don’t feel this would be a problem once you master
the joystick that you push to enter the information. It makes everything a bit
more difficult if you actually are trying to change anything.
Our test vehicle did have the auxiliary controls on the steering wheel that came
in very handy, although the horn was less than worthy when it came to getting
someone’s attention.
There are also three power outlets in this Nissan, which is a nice touch as you
can plug in your whatever from the front-passenger footwell, the center console
and the rear cargo area.
Rear seating is excellent and you can adjust the rake, but this is difficult to
do when the car is moving. The rear seats are split and can be flipped so that a
generous 82 or so cubic feet of storage is yours. As mom mentioned, the liftover
is quite high even for me.
The Murano is much better than the overrated BMW X5 when it comes to
performance and the Nissan costs a lot less. Too bad people won’t probably be
cross-shopping these two because if you were blindfolded you would always choose
the Murano. I got about 22 mpg with the Nissan, or nearly 8 mpg more than the
BMW.
In our mountain test section the continuous variable transmission performed
exceptionally. It even automatically holds the Murano in a lower gear as you go
down step grades to prevent overheating the brakes. By the way, the four wheel
vented discs were above average, but don’t expect neck snapping stopping as they
Murano weighs over two tons. The Brake Assist and electronic brake force
distribution system help control the Nissan by varying the pressure to each
wheel as it is needed.
Young working woman’s view: The shape never appealed to me, but I
thought the interior was modern and even a touch elegant. Driving was very easy
with a high seating position and above average handling, braking, and
acceleration. I even found the fuel mileage acceptable for such a large vehicle.
I was surprised that there were three areas in the center console for storage
and also room in the door pockets and glove compartment. The rear cargo bay can
easily hold enough groceries for a week and the rear hatch opens easily,
although there is a high liftover.
Getting in and out wasn’t too difficult and the turning radius was quite good. I
could easily park this Murano without having to do a three-point turn. Actually,
I have nothing negative to report other than the overly complicated driver’s
computer and the small gauges. I wasn’t looking forward to testing this Murano,
but in the end I found I had learned to love it.
Family conference: If you like the way the Nissan Murano looks, there
is no reason not to consider this SUV. However, watch the option list carefully
because they are bundled. Also take it for a long ride over roughed up roads to
make sure you can live with the sporty suspension. Finally, take a close look at
your needs. The Murano does not have third row seating. On the other hand it is
easy to drive and certainly distinctive. We have friends who bought one and
swear by it for both daily transportation and long trips. She has a bad back so
they ordered the more comfortable SL version and it already has 60,000 trouble
free miles on it. For the websites of most every manufacture of cars and
motorcycles go to
http://www.reacheverychild.com/business/index.html
Written by the Car Family
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