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Road Test — August 2008

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Written by Matt Painter Friday, 15 August 2008

2009 Nissan Murano LE, MSRP $37,180, EPA mpg rating: 18 city/23 highway

The theory of “core competency” suggests that a business should focus on the one thing it does best and then do that thing very well. In the car world, many vehicles follow that same logic: Trucks haul bulky objects, sports cars are fast, vans transport people. When the “crossover” — or car-meets-SUV concept — became fashionable several years ago, I have to admit I was skeptical. However, after test driving the Nissan Murano, I am a bit of a crossover convert. It does many things and seems to do them all very well.

I drove a 2009, all-wheel drive model provided by Bobby Ward at Round Rock Nissan. The Murano is a five-door, five-passenger hatchback that can comfortably seat five adults. It is powered by a standard 3.5 L V6 that produces 265 horsepower.

An interesting feature of the transmission is that it never shifts. Yes, you read that correctly. The “CVT,” or continuously variable transmission, adapts to the speed of the engine and does not shift like a conventional automatic transmission. The result is a smooth and powerful driving experience.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rates the Murano’s gas mileage at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. I averaged close to 20 mpg during my time behind the wheel, which was evenly split between city and highway driving.

The Murano had a solid, quality feel. While it certainly does not sit as high as a large SUV or truck, it does offer a better view of the road than a car. While stopped at a red light in Cedar Park, I noticed that I could just see over the roof of a BMW 325i in the lane next to me, an indication that the ride height is approximately 4- to 6 inches taller than that of a typical car. I was impressed that this added height did not have a negative impact on handling; there was very little body roll in hard turns. Speaking of turns, the Murano is maneuverable with a tight turning radius. Getting around a crowded parking lot was not a problem.

Other highlights included a power rear hatch, power rear seats that can be raised and lowered remotely, a large LCD radio/navigation screen, a useful backup camera and a Bose stereo that was, without a doubt, the best stock audio system I have ever heard.

My only gripe — and a minor one at that — is that rear visibility was less than ideal. The shoulder belt for the middle rear-seat passenger is mounted to the ceiling, making for a constant, annoying obstruction in the rearview mirror. There is also a strange protrusion in the rear headliner that hides the motor for the rear hatch. This aside, I was impressed by my first “crossover” experience.

Five-door, five-passenger crossover Engine: 3.5 L dual overhead cam aluminum block V6
Transmission: CVT (continuously variable automatic)
Powertrain: All-wheel drive (front-wheel drive standard)
Horsepower: 265 @ 6,000 rpm