2009 Nissan Murano LE AWD: Now this crossover is more than its good looks

Written by Steven Macoy
Wednesday, 14 October 2009 09:32

The Nissan Murano was a sensation when it arrived in 2004, mainly because its drop-dead good looks combined with a high level of functionality. The Murano hinted at its corporate relationship to the stunning Infiniti FX series without intruding on the premium brand’s turf.

The Murano sold well even though its driving dynamics, interior accommodations and riding comfort were ordinary at best. Realizing the Murano needed updating, Nissan halted production after the 2007 model year, performed a redesign aimed at preserving the car’s look while addressing its weaknesses, and brought it back for 2009.

The new model is more quiet, agile and comfortable, with a discernible improvement in overall quality. And it looks just as good.

Our dark blue, top-of-the-line 2009 Murano LE had a sticker price of $39,455. A midpriced crossover had better be extravagantly equipped at that price, and it was. The long standard-equipment list includes all-wheel drive, leather upholstery, power heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, rear-view monitor and XM satellite radio.

The base Murano S starts at $27,680. Its standard-equipment list is shorter and it has front-wheel drive, but it comes with the same engine and transmission: a 3.5-liter, 265-horsepower V-6, perennial winner of Ward’s 10 Best Engines award, mated to an improved continuously variable transmission.

We put some serious miles on our Murano, driving it from Bethel, Conn., to New York City three times, and averaged 21 to 23 mpg. Its 21.7-gallon fuel tank made the car’s fuel economy seem even better than it really was. Nissan recommends using premium gasoline.

Front seating is very comfortable and adaptable to most shapes and sizes. The rear seat is spacious as well, with ample head room and knee room.

We did think there could have been more space for small items in front. The map pockets are particularly skimpy. And we didn’t care for the cargo cover, which must be clipped to the rear-seat head rests as well as slots in back for full coverage.

The Murano has a long list of safety features and earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick rating thanks to its exceptional performance in side- and frontal-offset crash tests. The Murano also got five of five stars in government side-impact crash tests, but just four stars for protecting front-seat passengers in frontal crashes.

Past Muranos have delivered average to better-than-average reliability in Consumer Reports magazine surveys. Significantly, the Murano is one of just a handful of models to receive owner-satisfaction ratings in the much-higher-than-average range. But after driving one for several hundred miles, we can’t say we’re surprised.

Price: $39,455
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6, 265 horsepower, 248 lb.-ft. torque
Transmission: Continuously variable
Drive: All-wheel
Weight: 4,141 lb.
Suspension: Four-wheel independent, MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear
Ground clearance: 7.4 inches
Wheels: 20-inch by 7.5-inch painted alloy
Tires: P235/55R20 104T all season
Seating capacity: 5
Luggage capacity: 31.6 cu. ft.
Maximum cargo capacity: 64 cu. ft.
Maximum towing capacity: 3,500 lb.
Fuel capacity: 21.7 gallons
Fuel economy: 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway
Fuel type: Premium unleaded

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