Short Take Road Test
We didn’t have too many gripes with the old Nissan Murano, introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model. Along with the Lexus RX300—now the RX350—the Murano helped to pioneer the hot-selling vehicle du jour, the so-called crossover SUV. Often based on car platforms, crossovers combine the virtues of an SUV—available all-wheel drive, a high seating position, and wagonlike versatility—with more carlike handling and drivability than the traditional truck-based SUVs. The original Murano was based on the underpinnings of the previous-generation Altima, so it drove quite nicely. The interior was versatile and roomy, and the only letdown was the cheesy interior trim, which was as low rent as a trailer park in Alabama.
For 2009, Nissan has introduced the second-gen version of the vehicle, based on the latest Altima. Although Nissan says it rides on the all-new D-platform, both the old and new Murano share a 111.2-inch wheelbase. As before, the Murano has an all-around independent suspension, with struts at the front and a multilink arrangement at the rear. Speed-sensitive power steering is fitted, along with four-wheel vented disc brakes. The Murano is available in front- or all-wheel-drive guise, the latter featuring enhanced electronic control to work seamlessly with the stability-control system, which is now a standard feature.
Much Like the Old Murano
Like the previous vehicle, the Murano uses Nissan’s VQ 3.5-liter V-6 engine. In this iteration, it has been revised with a higher compression ratio and variable intake system to give 265 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, up from 240 horsepower and 244 pound-feet. The continuously variable automatic transmission remains but has been upgraded to perform more like a conventional automatic. However, the lack of a manumatic controller is a hint that these vehicles are more likely to make school runs than carve mountain roads.
The 2009 Murano looks a bit like the old one, but the sheetmetal is sharper edged and more modern, with a pleasingly butch stance when outfitted with the optional 20-inch wheels and tires (18s are standard equipment). The new model is a touch bigger, too; 0.1 inch wider (74.1 inches), 0.9 inch longer overall (188.5 inches), and 0.4 inch taller (66.9 inches).
