Nissan Murano 2005 Review

What we liked
>> Smooth strong engine
>> Superb CVT transmission
>> Distinctive styling

Not so much
>> Flat seats lack support
>> Soft suspension tune
>> Body roll at higher speeds

OVERVIEW
Nissan has no shortage of SUVs in its lineup. From the small end X-Trail, through the mid-sized Pathfinder to the big daddy Patrol, it is a strength of the Japanese maker that has long been recognised. And it is reflected in the sales volumes too with Nissan selling 60 per cent SUVs and 40 percent passenger cars where the industry average is the opposite. But such is its four wheel drive reputation that X-Trail soon leapt to the top of the sales charts after its launch, the new Pathfinder is finding plenty of interest and Patrol continues to remain a strong seller.

And now there is another, Murano. Named after the Italian island off Venice famous for its glass - there is apparently some conceptual connection - the Murano is the softroading twin to the newly reinvented hardcore Pathfinder. Both sit in the mid sized market but where the Pathfinder has gone back to a ladder frame chassis, full high and low range ratios and delivers a solid mud-plugging performance, the Murano is the crossover SUV for those that want the versatility, extra occasional traction, and high riding style but rarely venture beyond the urban jungle.

Two models are on offer with both sharing the same V6 engine, CVT automatic transmission, automatic full time all-wheel drive and five seat capacity with the differences being found in the equipment list. The entry level ST is priced at $51,990 while the top spec Ti carries a sticker of $56,990.

FEATURES
In a world of increasing competition in the crossover stakes, the one thing that really makes the Murano stand out is its distinctive styling. Nissan calls it a "sculpture in motion" theme but hyperbole aside, it is a good looking vehicle that you definitely won't mistake for any other.

Strong design is a new focus at Nissan and it has had some beneficial side effects in the Murano. The top-hinged tailgate for example is where design overrode engineering and when they discovered they could not press metal into the desired shape, the engineers developed a moulded composite plastic piece that sits over a steel frame for strength. The bonus for punters is that it weighs about 2kg less than a steel tailgate would and has been moulded to increase the luggage capacity.

Inside the design is no less striking with a commanding position up front looking over the deep flat dash and big glass all round for good visibility. There is also plenty of SUV style functionality with lots of storage cubbies - including underfloor in the cargo space - and 60/40 split fold rear seats that flop forward and almost flat via a handy lever on each side at the rear of the luggage space creating a space capable of swallowing 877 litres.

Apart from its design, the Murano also offers a degree of mechanical difference with its use of a continuously variable transmission - the first in an SUV. This belt-driven automatic is supremely smooth and mates perfectly to the Murano's silky V6.

COMFORT
The Murano was originally designed for, and has been on sale, in the US for two years now and although Australian spec models are built in Japan, the suspension setup has been designed to comfort and cosset the behinds of big Americans. As a result it is on the softish side and although provides good ride comfort, there is a tradeoff in the handling.

The seats too, although big and well padded for comfort, reflect US tastes and resemble big lounge chairs lacking the support we prefer in a car seat. There is no shortage of leg or headroom in either front or rear and the rear seat backs can also be reclined by up to 24 degrees in three stepped adjustments.

Nissan has always offered plenty of kit for the price and the Murano is no different with a well-endowed list of comfort features. Standard equipment in the ST runs to climate control, cruise control, remote locking, cargo blind, power windows, mirrors and driver seat, Bose in dash six stack CD audio, and steering wheel controls for cruise and audio. The Ti gains leather trim, heated front seats, rear parking sensors, a sunroof and roof rails.

SAFETY
Active safety in the Murano comes first and foremost from the vehicle's automatic all wheel drive system. As a derivative of the same All-Mode system used in X-trail and Pathfinder, it uses electronics and sensors to determine where best to distribute the engine power and offers two basic modes of operation. In Auto, under normal driving conditions 100 percent of the driving torque is sent to the front axle and when slippage is detected it can be split up to a maximum 50/50 front to rear. For situations where traction is known to be limited or in off-road driving, the system can be set to Lock which apportions torque evenly between the front and rear axles up to a maximum speed of 30kmh.

In addition to the AWD system, the Murano also features Vehicle Dynamic Control - a sophisticated form of traction control - and anti-lock brakes on four discs with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist for emergency situations.

On the passive safety front, the airbag count totals six with dual front, front side and side curtain bags and up front, the seats feature active head restraints to minimize whiplash injuries and the belts are fitted with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

MECHANICAL
Under the Murano's SUV body sits a basic architecture that is derived from the Maxima sedan so it's no surprise to see many of the mechanical components shared between the two vehicles. Suspension comes courtesy of a front McPherson strut setup with an independent multi-link arrangement at the rear.

The engine too is shared - although there are slight differences in outputs - and is a version of Nissan's superb VQ family that is also found under the bonnet of the 350Z and Pathfinder. In the Murano it is a 3.5-litre 24 valve V6 with continuously variable valve timing. Maximum power on premium unleaded fuel is 172kW at 6000rpm and peak torque is 318Nm at 3600rpm.

As mentioned before, where the Murano stands on its own however, is the application of a CVT automatic transmission. Dubbed Xtronic with M-mode, the CVT uses a steel belt connecting the two pulleys that transmit the torque to the driving wheels offering a seamless delivery of power. Like many autos today, it also offers a sequential manual mode allowing the driver to select when they shift gears but as the CVT doesn’t actually have gears, these six manual "ratios" are actually just electronically controlled points that would reflect similar in a traditional automatic transmission.

CVTs have traditionally been limited to smaller capacity engines but Audi and now Nissan have proved that they can work - and remain reliable, in larger capacity units with the Murano's CVT carrying a torque rating of up to 350Nm.

COMPETITORS
According to the official VFacts figures, there are 15 SUVs in the mid-sized segment but as a soft roader with no low range 4WD, the vehicles that Nissan really has its sights set on are the Toyota Kluger and the market leading Ford Territory. Both these have seven seat capacity - although not standard on all models and in the case of Kluger very much limited to very small children - where the Murano is limited to five.

Engine-wise, the Murano's a match for the Toyota and slightly down on the Ford and price wise, it sits between the Toyota's top and bottom and adds a premium to most AWD Territorys.

There are plenty of others in this market that tend to spend more time in the city than the bush that might be on the shopping list too - Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover Discovery and Mitsubishi Pajero - with a mix of five and seven seaters.

With its high level of standard kit, refinement, fit and finish and distinctive styling, the Murano might also attract some shoppers looking in the ever growing luxury SUV market with the closest competitors - although not necessarily in price - being the Lexus RX330, Honda MDX, Volvo XC90, Volkswagen Touareg, and even possibly entry level BMW X5 or Mercedes M-Class.

ON THE ROAD
Nissan has long had a reputation in its larger cars for its driveline refinement and with the Murano, it continues to deliver. The 3.5-litre VQ engine is smooth and syrupy and delivers a good strong surge at the prod of the right foot. Match this to the CVT transmission which is continuously searching for the most efficient point of contact to deliver the power requested and the drive is delivered seamlessly and without fuss.

Unlike previous CVT vehicles we have driven, there is none of the instant maximum torque as you depress the accelerator that tends to have the engine screaming, the tacho at the red line and the vehicle being thrust forward rocket-like before slowly dropping as you ease off the throttle. In the Murano, the development of revs under throttle is smooth and steady in a similar fashion to a quality auto box but without the noticeable upshifts.

On the slippery graded dirt roads of the fairly brief media drive, the AWD system proved effective and virtually imperceptible with plenty of grip from the big 18-inch wheels delivering the confidence to push on.

This was reinforced by the nicely weighted and reasonably direct steering although as the speed grows or the terrain becomes more undulating, the tuning compromise in the suspension becomes more apparent.

Over undulating roads there is a degree of floatiness and cornering incurs some body roll with the suspension tuned more for comfort than handling. It does soak up all but the worst road ruts offering a comfortable ride but push it harder, and the Murano does not respond in kind.

On first impressions, the Murano is a comfortable, stylish, well equipped and good value SUV that although may not offer the enthusiastic driver a rewarding experience, is sure to hit its target market, and its rivals, right where Nissan wants it to.