2009 Nissan Murano

The first of the 2009 SUVs is due to hit the market very soon -- and why not? Skipping the 2008 model year altogether, Nissan introduced the 2009 Nissan Murano to the press in December of 2007, in advance of its introduction to the marketplace early in 2008 with base prices ranging from $26,330 (S 2WD) to $29,480 (SL AWD) all the way to $35,910 (LE AWD). The 2009 Nissan Murano will arrive with a 3 year/36,000 mile basic warranty, a 5 year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty and an EPA estimate of 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway. Let's drive.

First Glance
Murano has been an unqualified success for Nissan ever since its introduction as a 2003 model. Sales have increased every year, from nearly 48,000 in 2003 to over 81,000 in 2006. Leaving well enough alone is not something that car companies often do, so there's a new second-generation Murano heading our way.

I'm a big fan of the first-generation Murano, so I approached this redesigned model with some trepidation. At first glance, I breathed a sigh of relief -- Murano is still the athletic shoe of an SUV that has been such a hit. Only a true Muranophile will be able to immediately distinguish second-gen from first-gen vehicles, so close are they in appearance. They're also virtually identical in dimension, bucking the trend toward bloat that afflicts so many second- and third-generation SUVs.

Once they're pointed out, the slight cosmetic changes to Murano leap out. A new grille design and front fascia has freshened Murano's face. The hood has deeper dips on each side, for a curvier, swoopier look. The wheel arches are bigger, and filled with 18" or 20" alloys (depending on trim level and option packages). There's a more pronounced character line along the body side, just below the shoulder line. The taillights have been flipped to run horizontally, rather than the old vertical setup, and the rear fascia has been redrawn to accommodate. Nissan told journalists that they worked hard to retain Murano's essential "Murano-ness," and to my eye, they succeeded.

Continued below. . .

In the Driver's Seat
It's a similar story inside Murano. The Murano-ness is intact, no worries.

Rather than trying to jam a third row into Murano's cabin, Nissan chose to make the first and second rows very roomy and comfortable. There's plenty of leg room in each position. The front seats are nice and supportive, with a wide beam for healthy American dimension and decent lateral support.

The dash and instrument panel splay in front of the cabin in a very high tech-looking array. I actually preferred the lower (SL) level of trim to the higher (LE) level on the Murano dash. The LE trim level adds one too many textures, fake wood trim, to the mix, and winds up looking a bit overworked. The SL's simpler use of brushed aluminum trim is much cleaner, much more in keeping with the elegant design.

Murano's has been compressed into three round gauges clustered above the steering wheel, easy to read at a glance, and illuminated in warm tones that are easy on the eyes. I've heard that blue dash lighting is perceived as "premium," but I sometimes find it fatiguing on my old peepers.

There's plenty of space for luggage behind Murano's second row. The seats fold down easily with a clever lever that's accessible from the tailgate, leaving a big flat load floor. When it's time to raise the seats again, an available power seat option does the work for you at the touch of a button. Near-luxury. There's also an available power liftgate option, for those folks who can't be bothered with slamming their own.

On the Road
More horsepower, that's my mantra. Nissan heard me, apparently, because Murano's 3.5 liter V6 is up to 265 hp (from 240 last year) and 248 lb-ft of torque (up from 244). Only one transmission is offered in the Murano, a newly-redesigned continuously variable transmission (CVT). A CVT replaces the traditional stepped gears that you find in an automatic transmission with a hamster and some rubber bands -- well, actually, with a sophisticated pulley and belt system that keeps the engine in its ideal powerband at all times. In theory, a CVT should deliver greater efficiency, better performance and longer engine life than a traditional geared transmission.

If you grew up with the feel of shift changes and the sound of engine revs rising and falling with shifts, you have to adjust to the sound and feel of a CVT. Luckily, this new transmission is a very good one, nearly transparent in its operation. Nissan even did away with the previous generation's "manual shift" mode, which allowed drivers to override the CVT's operation with shift points. The CVT is very responsive, except for a little bit of rubberbanding at the start of heavy acceleration.

Murano is available as a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle -- expect to pay a premium of about $1,200 for AWD. Murano's AWD is biased toward the front, but can send as much as 50% of the power to the rear when it is needed. Keep your Murano on the pavement, and the AWD will pay dividends in the twisties.

Journey's End
Though I don't really approve of skipping a model year -- I can just imagine the know-it-all of the future tripping up fellow car geeks with a "name the crossover vehicle that's been around for thirty years, but has only had twenty-nine model years" trivia question at a car show in 2033. But I do approve of incremental, evolutionary improvement in a vehicle that already does so much right. When the first-generation Murano hit the streets in 2003, there was nothing like it. Now, there are several other competitive vehicles to consider if you're thinking of buying a Murano.

If you like Murano but you want more power, more luxury and a higher price tag, take a look at its cousin, the Infiniti FX45. Acura's RDX is another luxury option worth considering. The new Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX offer cutting-edge design and a very decent driving experience. Mazda's CX-7 is sporty and stylish. Don't forget the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, two vehicles that give up a little in terms of style to Murano, but beat it in terms of price. Hyundai's Santa Fe and Saturn's Vue are also worth a look and a spirited test drive.

Murano owner loyalty is very high, so many people who buy the new Murano are probably going to be previous owners. If you want to be the first one in your neighborhood with a 2009 crossover, run out to your Nissan dealer and put some money down on the new Murano to replace your old one. You'll certainly get an excellent vehicle. Just don't expect your friends and neighbors to notice the difference.