Nissan Murano SUV Review


SUV Reviewer

The 2012 Nissan Murano SUV stands out from the range of sports utility vehicles on the market with styling similar to that of a concept car and driving dynamics that will draw your attention. Under the sleek and modern exterior of the Nissan Murano SUV is clever and sophisticated engineering that one typically finds in more expensive vehicles. The suspension is sporty yet compliant to make a vehicle capable of handling the trickiest of curves. The interior is made of high quality materials, is well-constructed and comfortably seats five in a spacious cabin.

The Nissan Murano SUV is a mid-sized SUV and is available in four trim levels. The S trim level is the base level and offers cruise control, automatic climate control with two zones, 18-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, a driver's seat with a setting to adjust the height, a rear seat that reclines and an audio system with six speakers, and six-CD changer. The next level of the Nissan Murano SUV is the SV trim and adds automatic headlights, a rearview camera, panoramic sunroof, front seats with eight power adjustments for the driver and four for the passenger, a 7-inch color display screen, interface for the iPod, satellite radio and steering wrapped in leather with audio controls. The next level of trim, the SL, adds automatic wipers, leather upholstery, front seats and steering wheel that are heated, and an audio system with nine Bose speakers and storage for digital music. The top level LE features rear seats that are heated, 20-inch wheels, and wood trim in the cabin.

The engine in the Nissan Murano SUV is a 3.5 liter V6 that can produce 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission is standard as is front-wheel drive. All trim levels have the option of front-wheel drive. Fuel economy for the Nissan Murano SUV is rated the same for both front-wheel and all-wheel drive and is 18 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg combined.

The interior of the Nissan Murano SUV is well-appointed with high quality materials and an excellent finish. There is plenty of head- and leg room for all passengers in both rows of seats, the second row of seats having the ability to recline. The top of the line model adds heat to the second row of seats. When the rear seats are up, the cargo capacity is 31.6 cubic feet while folding down the rear seats increases the cargo capacity to 64 cubic feet. The in-car technology stands out as particularly user-friendly with its optional rear entertainment and navigation systems.

Driving the Nissan Murano SUV is a remarkably rewarding experience that can be attributed to its responsive steering and finely-tuned suspension. The ride is extremely comfortable as the Nissan Murano SUV easily absorbs bumps and potholes. The V6 engine provides more than enough power for drivers of this mid-sized SUV and the continuously variable transmission is one of the best in the market. CVTs are known to be slow to react and provide a constant whine while the one in the Murano is quiet reacts quickly to inputs from the throttle.