Nissan Murano Car Review

FamilyCar Rating: Model Reviewed Nissan Murano Ti $55,890* Other models priced from: ST manual $45,990* 3 word summary Nissan's Best Secret

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Review

Selecting your Murano is quite simple as you only have 2 models to choose from, the ST priced from $45,990 and the Ti which is about another 10k. The engine is the same in both, the major differences are the extra goodies in the Ti such as driver seat memory, front heated seats, Bose speakers, alarm, raining sensing wipers, auto headlights on and, my favourite, the power operated boot (or tailgate). Is the Ti worth the extra 10 grand. Not sure, but did I mention how much I love the power boot thingy?

Driver Comfort & Visibility
The Murano sits up higher than a sedan which gives you great visibility out of the front and rear. The rear side visibility is a bit limited due to the sloping styling of the rear ¾. The seats are incredibly comfortable, much like a Jason recliner on wheels. Both front seats are power operated with the driver seat having 2 memory settings. The memory function also operates the side mirrors and steering column-you generally have to pay a lot more for a car to get this feature! And for those colder mornings and nights, just flick on the seat heaters. Just another reason why your kids will argue about who sits in the front!
The power window controls are in a great position angled high on the doors, which make them easy to see and use. Cruise control and audio controls are located on the steering wheel.
Overall the Murano is easy to drive, has a quite engine with smooth acceleration and plenty of power.

Safety
It’s got all the safety features that today’s technology has to offer. You've got airbags throughout which include driver and passenger front and side air bags and curtain airbags front to rear. There’s also Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control, Anti Lock Brakes and Electronic Brake Distribution. Add to this the reverse parking camera with predictive path technology and you’ve got the complete safety package-all standard on the Ti model.

Rear Passenger Comfort
There’s good head, shoulder and leg room for your rear passengers. And they shouldn’t complain about the temperature thanks to the rear air vents. There’s also 3 child restraint anchorage points located on the back of the rear seat.

Storage
Lots of storage including a sunglasses holder, large glove box, large centre console box, rear seat centre console storage bin, door pockets front and rear, pockets located on the back of the front seats and 4 cup holders. The rear seat is 60/40 split with power operation.
The boot space is a great size enough to fit in plenty of gear for the weekend away. It also comes with a cargo net and cargo blind as standard.

Entertainment
You’ll love listening to your favourite songs pumping out of the 6 stack in dash CD player with 11 Bose speakers-including 2 sub woofers-sic mate! There’s also a DVD Satellite Navigation system with 7 inch monitor as standard. Just plug in your video or MP3 player and you’re away! And don’t worry about how to power your gadgets, there’s a total of 3 12 volt power outlets located throughout the car.

Green Factor
When it comes to SUVs diesels are a better choice if fuel efficiency is a key factor for you. Unfortunately you only have a choice of a petrol engine in the Murano which drinks about 10.9 litres combined cycle. Around the city, you’ll need to satisfy its thirst of 14.9 litres per 100kms. While its air pollution rating is 6.5, which is above average, its dry throat means that its Green Vehicle Rating is 3.5 stars (out of 5).

Test Drive Tips
1. It’s a push button start. Place your foot on the brake and press the button. You don’t need to put your keys in anywhere, just have them in your bag or centre console.
2. The park brake is a foot brake located on the left hand side of the brake.

Overall View
The Murano is stylish looking, great to drive and has all the gear you need from plenty of safety features to some of life’s little luxuries. Quite frankly, I’m surprised that you don’t see more of them on the road as it’s a great car!

If you are looking at this car, you might want to consider the Ford Territory, Holden Captiva, Hyundai Santa Fe or Mazda CX7.

Features of Model Reviewed

* Excludes on road costs

# All new vehicles sold in Australia (up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass) are tested to determine the level of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions (Greenhouse rating), which are displayed on the fuel consumption label attached to the windscreen of the car. The Green Vehicle Guide rating combines the Greenhouse Rating and Air Pollution Rating and awards a star. 5 stars is the best rating.  For more information, click here.
Information is correct at the time of the review. Please check with your local Nissan dealer for the most recent information.

Review Date: February 2009

Reviewed By: Melissa Pye