2009 Nissan Murano Road Test

2009 Nissan Murano Road Test

Just what you need in a crossover -- and more

By Kevin “Crash” Corrigan

Scottsdale, Arizona

2009 Nissan Murano. Photo courtesy Nissan.

When the first Murano was launched in 2003, as an '04 model, it was an instant hit for Nissan. With its unique and bold styling, it stood out prominently in the CUV crowd. One might even go as far as to say that it laid down many of the ground rules for other manufacturers to follow, which of course they did.

So, after such a good run, and with so many competitors now trading in the CUV (crossover utility vehicle) marketplace, how does Nissan hope to follow on from such a lineage?

Well, I've previewed the 2009 Murano, and I must say that the company has managed to deal with that problem quite well indeed. The new 2009 Murano is, in many ways, remarkably similar looking to the previous model, at least from a distance.

However, as you get closer, the picture changes quite dramatically. The new Murano boasts even more boldness in the exterior, and just about every panel has been redesigned to project precisely that.

From the completely new front grille look, which integrates with the new HID bi-functional projector headlights, one gets the feeling of a vehicle re-birth. Kind of like that famous saying from the Six Million Dollar Man TV show ... “We can rebuild him, bigger, better, faster”!

2009 Nissan Murano interior. Photo courtesy Nissan.

The fenders, which were always a rather prominent feature on the Murano, are now even more, well ... prominent! This works extremely well with the sculptured lines on the rocker panels, as it almost pulls your attention inward towards the doors, as if inviting you to climb aboard.

Obviously, Nissan needed to maintain the sporty appearance of the current model, and what with the new exterior lines and the addition of some stylish 18-inch aluminum wheels (20 inch on the LE version), I'd say that they possibly surpassed themselves there.

The new Murano range from Nissan features three models, the S AWD, the SL AWD, and the top of the line LE AWD.

The overall look to the new Murano is one of a tough, yet agile performer. It sits squarely on the road and one gets a distinct feeling of confidence and capability from simply looking at it.

Of course, the exterior is not the only area that has been given a shake up. The 2009 Murano is now being built on the new 'D' platform, similar to that of the 2007 Altima and Altima Coupe. It also benefits from a revised VQ-Series 24-valve, 3.5-litre, DOHC V6, which produces 265 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque.

This is then coupled to an advanced 'new-generation' Xtronic CVT transmission that features Adaptive Shift Control. This system basically senses driver input and adjusts to suit his/her particular driving style. Naturally, being a CVT (continuously variable transmission), it can't actually change gear ratios as we know it, but revised mapping allows for more efficient belt movement and therefore, smoother and faster responses.

The 2009 Murano also features an advanced AWD system, and comes standard with Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and a Traction Control System (TCS). One particular thing which I like about the Nissan system is the fact that the vehicle always starts off in a 50/50 AWD mode. This allows for maximum traction from a standing start, yet then adjusts itself to everyday driving situations, such as highway use, where it becomes a FWD 100/0 split. At other times, it operates anywhere in between those two figures.

Interior redesign

We now come to the interior, and straight away I have to say that I was extremely pleased to see that the dash layout has been redesigned. The pod type look on the current Murano was something that I loathed with a passion. To me, it looked as if the designers had completely forgotten about it, then at the last moment, bolted in one from another vehicle entirely. The layout on the new Murano is much more pleasing to the eye, as the display is housed in a moulded and nicely flowing design. The illumination on the display is also worthy of mention, as the choice of colour adds further to the sporty feel of the vehicle.

The seating has been completely redesigned for the '09 model, and is available in either quality cloth, or double-stitched leather. In the rear there is a 60/40 fold-flat reclining seat, with an available power-return feature. Also as an option, both front and rear seats are available heated.

2009 Nissan Murano cargo area. Photo courtesy Nissan.

The interior of the new Murano now features ambient lighting, a dual-zone HVAC system, and in the rear cargo area, a lift-up cargo organizer. I liked that idea very much, and I'm sure this will appeal to both men and women alike, as it would appear to be able to stop anything from a potted plant to a spare gas can from rolling around.

Another rather nice option available on the '09 Murano is the power sliding glass moonroof with second row skylight. This allows plenty of light to enter the cabin area, which certainly adds a feeling of space to the interior.

Naturally, the new Murano comes with plenty of safety features, such as six standard air bags, driver and front passenger side-impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bags for front and rear seat occupant head protection. It also features, front seat Active Head Restraints, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Phew! That was a mouthful, eh? You know, with so many companies adding more and more safety features to their new models, especially ones with complicated, long-winded names, I can see the day coming when we will have to go back to simply saying “it's fully loaded,” or maybe “fully safety loaded.” After all, these abbreviations, of which many are company specific, simply overcomplicate a review like this. My suggestion is, if you really want to compare safety features on a model, research the available technical data on the manufacturer's website.

Ok, rant over; now we come to my favourite part, which is how the vehicle drives.

Nissan told us at our initial model briefing that it had made use of several lightweight aluminum suspension components on its new platform. To be honest, we hear this kind of stuff all the time from manufacturers, but I can honestly say that the '09 Murano is one of the few vehicles that I have driven where you could actually feel the effects of that.

The new Murano drives remarkably well, and the suspension soaks up road imperfections with ease. It feels light and manoeuvrable in the twists and turns, and yet, at the same time, it feels well planted on the road. To put it plain and simple, the '09 Murano inspires a high level of confidence in the ability of the vehicle.

To illustrate that further, during the preview, I spent several hours driving in what can only be described as horrendous driving conditions. Arizona, which, apparently had not seen rain for the previous three months, was granted its wish tenfold, because the heavens opened up and the rain came down by the bucketload.

The news constantly reported flash floods and vehicle accidents. In fact, we passed numerous vehicles that had left the roadway. However, it has to be said that during the entire drive I felt totally secure and at ease with the vehicle, and when you think about it, isn't that what CUV ownership is really all about?

(Editor's note: Be wary of the low towing capacity of the Murano, as any vehicle with a CVT transmission can't pull as much as a crossover with a standard transmission.)

Kevin 'Crash' Corrigan, an automotive writer based in Caledon, ON, is a regular contributor to CarTest.ca.

Posted July 8, 2009.

Manufacturer's website: www.nissancanada.com

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