Nissan Murano
Nissan Murano, comfort and luxury without breaking your pocket
More on cars in: Automotriz.TV
By: Roger Rivero
Since its debut in the early 2000s, the Nissan Murano has presented an interesting
proposal between premium and less luxury crossovers SUVs, with refined driving,
remarkable style , well-equipped interior and a wide list of features. Now in its third generation, the
Murano is refreshed this year, maintaining its attractive value with a base model that includes
details such as navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and automatic emergency braking.
Certainly the Murano has a lot to offer, but it faces fierce rivalry in an increasingly
competitive segment .
From the outside
Its appearance alone makes it stand out among competitors, mostly flat and boring. You
have to observe closely to detect the changes of style in the new Murano. The grill, headlights,
fog lights and taillights are similar to the previous model, but somewhat different this year. A
new 18-inch tire design opens for S and SV finishes, while the
Platinum finish adds a unique 20-inch tire design. New paint colors include Deep
Blue, Mocha Almond and Sunset Drift Chromaflair.
Inside
Inside, the look is somewhat more outdated than outside chic, however, this cabin is
still very comfortable. The driver’s seat, for example, is one of the most pleasant we have
tested in this class of cars. If you need to take the family on the trip, there is plenty of room for up to
five occupants, who will enjoy a very quiet and comfortable trip, as the Murano is very quiet and
its rear seats are spacious and comfortable. This amplitude is partly a consequence of a
cargo area , which although it is wide with 32.1 cubic feet, if it lags behind in comparison to some
competitors.
While some hard plastics are discreetly noticed, most of the materials used in the cabin
They are fine for a crossover that starts at just under $ 32,000 dollars.
Our Platinum test vehicle, wore soft leather on the seats, door panels and
armrests, with a wide dash design divided by a dark teak wood band, an
elegant touch inside.
Equipment and safety
All Murano models feature a 8.0-inch color touch screen with the
Nissan Connect info-entertainment system; Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and SiriusXM with
traffic and weather updates from Travel Link now also appear as standard throughout the
range.
Nissan increased the number of standard advanced safety features for the 2019 Murano,
adding a driver’s sleepiness monitor and a rear-seat reminder system.
Other standard features include a rear camera, front-end collision warning and
automatic emergency braking .
Optional safety features include blind spot monitoring,
rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. New for 2019,
road light assistance , lane departure warning, automatic rear braking, pedestrian detection,
front and rear parking sensors and LED fog lights are also available.
On the road
The new Murano stands out for its ride quality. It could be said that it is the most
comfortable crossover SUV in its class, with a driving efficiency that mitigates the imperfections of the road to the maximum.The standard 260 horsepower V6 engine has the necessary power in most
conditions, and better yet, it delivers well through Nissan’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) . This transmission is among the best CVT applications we have tested, imitating well the traditional changes.
Off the straight roads the Murano is not athletic. On a winding road it will take you safely,
but some boredom. The address offers good road stability, but it is cloying and uncommunicative
on secondary roads. At low speed in parking maneuvers, for
example, too much effort is required to turn the steering wheel.
The Murano can tow up to 1,500 pounds, enough for a small boat less than 10 feet. If
the trailer is common in your life, you may need to look in another direction. A GMC Acadia, would pull
up to 4,000 pounds.
At the gas station
An estimated 20 mpg (miles per gallon) in the city and 28 mpg on the highway are numbers that
put the Murano above the average in its class.
To choose
El Murano comes in four trim levels: S, SV, SL and Platinum. The S base for $ 31,270 has a
fair amount of standard features. However, you may want to consider spending a
little more for the mid-range SV cut, which starts at $ 34,440. This model adds
blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and front seats with electric adjustment. If you
are looking for more luxurious amenities, such as heated front seats and leather upholstery, you
will have to opt for SL equipment levels at $ 39,230 or the Premium range cap that
starts at $ 43,530. All-wheel drive is available in all versions for
an additional $ 1,600 .
The neighborhood
Ford Edge, Honda Passport, Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander or Jeep Grand Cherokee keep you company
in this category. The Edge has a more powerful engine and more load capacity, and the Mazda is more
attractive to drive, but the Nissan Murano scores points for its efficiency, interior and
standard performance .
In summary
There are many things that please Murano 2019, especially its luxurious cabin and its long list of
standard and available safety features. A relaxed trip helps make this a good
option for daily driving, but those looking for a medium-sized SUV with more athletic driving, or
towing capacity, may need to consider one of their competitors.
Roger Rivero is an independent journalist, a member of NAHJ, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and NWAPA, the Northwest Automobile Journalists Association. Vehicles are provided by manufacturers as a loan for one week for review purposes. In no way do manufacturers control the content of comments.
