Home Français  |  Features  |  Add URL  |  Ad Info  |  Contact  |  Site Map  


The Internet's Largest Automotive Directory

JunkMyCar.com

Advertisement 
Auto Parts Sale CAR ENGINES AUTO BODY PARTS LIGHTS BUMPERS MIRRORS WHEELS & RIMS WHEEL COVERS RADIATORS BRAKES IGNITION A/C USED PARTS Auto Parts

Directory

Recommend this site to others

Related Sites
TruckGuide.net
MotorcycleGuide.net
TekGuide.net

Car Gazing By Derek Price - June 04, 2008

2009 Nissan Murano


Photos courtesy of Nissan
The 2009 Nissan Murano looks like its predecessor in many ways, but it has more creases and folds than the original Murano. It's a more modern look, but not necessarily better. Nissan calls this interior a "mobile suite." It's intended to be modern and warm, with ambient lighting and upscale materials.

INFO BOX
What was tested? 2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD ($29,480).
Options: Premium package ($1,000).
Price as tested (including $745 destination charge): $31,245.
Why buy it? It's as practical as an SUV but a lot more fun to drive. It's more luxurious than the old Murano.
Why avoid it? It looks different from the old Murano, but not necessarily better.
RATINGS (1-10)
Style: 7 Ride: 9
Performance: 7 Comfort: 8
Price: 7 Quality: 7
Handling: 8 Overall: 7

CAR GAZING
Murano offers more of the same
Round crossover adds luxury to stay competitive
By Derek Price

When Nissan introduced the Murano in 2003, there wasn't anything else quite like it.

Aside from being one of the first mid-size crossovers, the Murano was shaped like an egg and drove more like a roller skate than an SUV. It was a winning formula that proved to be ahead of its time as fewer people wanted to drive traditional SUVs and more people said, "I want to drive an egg-shaped roller skate!"

Today virtually every car company makes something like the Murano. Some of them are oval skateboards while others are bulbous wind-up toys, but they all fulfill the same basic mission – offering SUV-like space in a fun-to-drive package.

Now that the Murano has lost its near monopoly status, what is Nissan to do?

The answer comes in the 2009 Murano, a complete redesign of this segment-busting crossover that has a new body, new interior and new focus on technology.

Like a lot of car makers, Nissan is trying to move the Murano upscale to compete with entry-level luxury SUVs and position itself above its new competitors. Yes, it has more candy like a rear-view camera, continuously variable transmission, push button ignition and an LCD screen for controlling it all.

It also has a new, more luxurious driving feel. Like the new Nissan Altima platform on which it's based, the Murano has been softened compared to the previous generation to give it a smoother ride. Now it's like roller skates on a cotton candy sidewalk – still fun but also more comfortable than before.

Performance is above average for a crossover, mainly because of its nimble handling but also because of the instant response of its 3.5-liter engine that makes 265 horsepower.

And what about the egg shape?

The new Murano still looks similar to the old one, but the round edges have been hardened with gentle creases and folds. I don't think it looks any better than the old one and is certainly less distinctive than the previous generation, but other people may disagree. I do think it's lost some of its love-it-or-hate-it personality.

Inside, Nissan created a look it calls a "mobile suite" that's meant to be warm and modern. Ambient lighting, nice aluminum-look trim and a curved instrument panel make it a more inviting place than the old Murano, although fit and finish aren't quite up to the luxury standards Nissan seems to be shooting for.

The 2009 Murano starts at $26,330, not a bad price for its combination of style, performance and practicality. Some of the high-end versions can get expensive, though, topping out around $36,000 for an all-wheel-drive LE model. A navigation system adds $1,850, and a DVD player costs $1,600.

Overall, the new Murano is a step up from the old one. As more people jump on the egg-shaped-roller-skate bandwagon, the Murano can still hold its own.

(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.)


The above article is provided for the interest and entertainment of our visitors. The views expressed in this article are only those of the author, who is solely responsible for the content. AutoGuide.net does not endorse any of these views, and is not to be held responsible for any of the content provided in the above article.


Click here to read Derek's past articles!


If you have any questions or comments for Derek or the AutoGuide.net, please fill out this form.

Name:

E-mail Address:

Questions / Comments:

     


Engine Parts
Auto Body Parts
Car Engines
Wheels & Rims
A/C Compressors
Radiators
Accessories
Transmissions
Parts Finder
Manual Transmissions

JunkMyCar.com
Junk My Car


Advertisement 
Auto Parts Sale CAR ENGINES AUTO BODY PARTS LIGHTS BUMPERS MIRRORS WHEELS & RIMS WHEEL COVERS RADIATORS BRAKES IGNITION A/C USED PARTS Auto Parts
  Copyright © 2007 the AutoGuide.net, Privacy Policy Home  |  Français  |  Features  |  Add URL  |  Ad Info  |  Contact  |  Site Map