Picture Gallery: 2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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Admittedly, this is the first time I have driven a Murano or really even looked at the specifications. Starting at $37,648 for the S model, my tester is the next model up — an SL model — starting at $39,348. When launched in 2003 the Murano was only available in all-wheel drive, but in 2004, lower-priced front wheel drive models were added. But for 2009, only AWD is available.
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Despite that, the S AWD model now starts at a price $1,450 lower than where the entry-level Murano SL FWD began in the 2007 model year. On top of that, the starting price of the 2009 SL AWD model is actually $1,750 lower than that of the 2007 SL AWD model and includes almost $2,000 worth of new features not available on the previous-generation Murano.
The list of standard features in the base S model is really impressive and the additional features in the SL are a good value as well. Standard features include: dual-zone, automatic air conditioning, push-button ignition, 60/40 split fold-flat rear seat, in-dash, six-disc CD changer with six speakers, 18-inch alloy wheels, Traction Control System (TCS) with Vehicle Dynamic Control System (VDC), front side seat airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags.
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The SL model adds: front fog lights, steering wheel mounted audio controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, eight-way power driver’s seat, power flip-up rear seats, an 11-speaker Bose audio system with XM satellite radio, seven-inch LCD colour display screen with rearview camera and heated front cloth seats.
My tester includes another $3,125 worth of features with a moonroof ($1500), Metallic/Pearl paint ($125) and the luxury package ($1,500). Oddly enough, the “L” in SL does not stand for leather and neither does the luxury package add it. What you do get in the luxury package is bi-xenon HID headlights, bluetooth hands free, power liftgate and the intelligent key system.
2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD
MSRP as tested (including destination): $43,873
For more information on Nissan and the Murano visit Nissan Canada
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The gauge pod is probably the most intriguing part of the new Murano’s interior, with orange accents around the speedometer and tachometer and clean, white backlighting for easy readability day or night (Nissan calls this effect its Fine Vision Gauges). Not only does the dash flow smoothly and cohesively across the vehicle but it feels and looks upscale and well-built.
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The front seats are not only comfortable but they hold you in quite well while cornering, providing excellent lateral support. With an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat and tilt and telescopic steering wheel, most drivers should feel comfortable in the Murano.
The oversized mirrors and reverse camera ensure excellent visibility while traveling backwards and while moving forward, those large side mirrors keep blind spots to a minimum, while the two-paned moonroof makes for a very airy feel about the cabin.
Front and rear seating is spacious — surprisingly Nissan hasn’t tried to squeeze in seven seats Murano like some manufacturers have done with their midsize crossovers. This means there is plenty of room remaining in the rear for cargo. Nissan has also added a new and innovative feature, called a foldaway cargo organizer.
When needed, the organizer pops up with a push of a button from its hidden space below the rear cargo floor and a portion of the cargo floor snaps into a vertical position. This reveals a flat recessed space with removable, vertical cargo partitions. The system helps prevent items such as sports equipment and grocery bags from rolling around the cargo area while driving.
This, combined with the spare tire under the rear cargo floor, does make getting cargo into the back of a Murano a bit of a lift. But the burden of loading awkward cargo is eased by a power lift-gate and levers in the cargo area for folding the rear seats flat in a split second — the seats can then be raised via the power switch also located in the cargo area.
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In the case of the Murano, the V6 produces 265hp and 248lb-ft of torque and is mated to Nissan’s continuously variable transmission (CVT - another widely-used technology in Nissan’s line up.) On the road, the Murano is yet another extremely quiet and smooth ride, even while equipped with fairly aggressive winter tires.
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The CVT reduces the sensation of speed while accelerating, as you do not get a steady climb in revs, then a drop and another climb, nor do you get the kick or jerk normally felt during gear changes. As a result, speeds seem to climb linearly when accelerating smoothly. In the city this works extremely well, and before you realize it, you are going 50 or 60km/h.
If you put your foot down on the highway the transmission will change “gear” ratios and the revs will climb as you shoot off with authority. From a dead stop though, the Murano feels sluggish around 60km/h.
On the handling front, the Murano performs well with its obvious limitation being the winter tires my tester is wearing. In corners, the Murano stays fairly flat and never feels tippy like many SUVs do. However, push a little too fast into a corner and you will understeer over into the oncoming lane — don’t ask how I know.
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Perhaps not as thrifty as any small car for obvious reasons, but the Murano’s consumption is excellent for this size of vehicle, no doubt due to the CVT transmission that rarely lets the engine turn more than 2000rpm unless you really get on it. Acceleration only seems brisk at higher speeds. That’s one downfall of the transmission, or at least how it is programmed.
Handling really is excellent. Even with the winter tires on my tester I was taking on-ramps onto the highway at rather insane speeds. I really enjoyed the Murano: it is quiet on the highway and during cruising in town, it is economical for the size of the engine and body style and is fun to drive.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD
MSRP as tested (including destination): $43,873
For more information on Nissan and the Murano visit Nissan Canada
April 23, 2008, 10:30:52 am Never liked the Murano, but this one has a face that only a mother could love. Interior looks fine, very Infinity like.
April 23, 2008, 12:21:23 pm Again canadians get ripped on the price... and only because ppl will actually buy them at this price else they would have to align it with US prices.
April 23, 2008, 03:22:50 pm
Premium fuel is "suggested" not required. At least that's the way it is on our 05 Maxima with the VQ. As I understand it the knock sensor retards the timing a bit if you use Regular and that costs you a few HP. I've never really been able to tell the difference on our car and I've run full tanks of both at different times.
April 23, 2008, 03:42:47 pm Maybe it's in my head, but I ran premium in my murano for the first 2 years, switched off for a couple of months and thought there was a real drop off in mileage so I switched back to premium (I have no empiricle evidence to back this up).
The real thing that pisses me off isn't the extra cost of the premium, it's how the gas companies keep increasingi the price difference, used to be $.10, then $.11, now $.12 difference at Esso between regular and premium - crooks
April 23, 2008, 05:23:16 pm I'd like to hear about how this CVT gets on -- I hear Nissan's more recent CVTs simulate normal tranny's in manual mode well..?
April 23, 2008, 07:19:49 pm IIRC the Murano was the first cool looking SUV. The first to really break away from truck-ish styling. I really like the 1st gen Murano's design. The detailing is extremely well done for a Japanese mainstreamer. It was almost Germanic in the way all the lines and shapes logically fit into each other contributing to the design as a whole. Altima, Murano, G35, FX, that was a great generation of Nissan styling. Very logical, very Euro.
Now... not so much.
April 23, 2008, 07:44:48 pm The ugly just got uglier.
Why are Nissan CUVs marches towards ugliness but Infiniti is rolling out with good looking ones? Did Infiniti won some sort of Wasabi eating contest?
April 23, 2008, 07:57:16 pm
Why are Nissan CUVs marches towards ugliness but Infiniti is rolling out with good looking ones? Did Infiniti won some sort of Wasabi eating contest?
Have you seen the new FX?
April 24, 2008, 01:43:46 pm
No, no, you're looking at it all wrong. Regular used to be only $.10 cheaper than premium and now it's $.12 cheaper. See, regular is getting cheaper and cheaper.
April 24, 2008, 02:42:13 pm
No, no, you're looking at it all wrong. Regular used to be only $.10 cheaper than premium and now it's $.12 cheaper. See, regular is getting cheaper and cheaper.
haha, that one made me laugh, I never looked at it that way, now I don't think I'm taking it up the a**
April 24, 2008, 02:43:31 pm it goes inna tank...if that's any HELP!!!!.......
April 24, 2008, 06:13:28 pm
I've always liked the Murano. However, I've known someone who bought one after owning an X5 for a year. He loved the handling, but said that the brakes (or lack of them on such a heavy vehicle) really scared the crap out of him. He actually took the $$$ hit and broke his lease on it within six months.
April 25, 2008, 10:59:10 am Is the little birdie telling us there'll be a VR engine AWD Nissan is going to be running around town next week?
April 25, 2008, 11:58:56 am Brigitte that is interesting I find the brakes are excellent, perhaps they have upgraded them.
Steve -- what I'll be driving will not be AWD.
April 25, 2008, 12:32:41 pm I've never had any brake issues.
Brig - maybe you shouldn't be friends with such wusses!
April 25, 2008, 04:24:17 pm I'm a big Murano fan. Liked the first one - style with substance, room, power, and quality. The new one doesn't change the formula and some of the tech improvements are noteworthy.
Still decent value when comparing to other Cdn MSRPs.
I don't know who would get the S when the SL adds so much for so little?
Okay James, how did you wind up in the oncoming traffic lane?
April 25, 2008, 04:25:34 pm
Yeah, maybe. This guy had the first or second model year, I believe.
April 28, 2008, 07:03:08 am Grossly overpriced given what appears to be the new reality of the Canadian dollar. Taking a few months for prices to settle is one thing but come on,it's been nearly a year now! What better time to do an adjustment than the introduction of a new model?
April 28, 2008, 10:09:11 am Think of all the lease cars coming back to the companies in the next couple of years. That's a big reason why they are trying to keep the prices up as much as possible. They are trying to keep the value of used cars higher so they aren't upside down with the residuals when the leases come back in.
April 28, 2008, 10:14:07 am
Good Luck to them!.....I see in the Globe's ROB the other day that BMW took a charge in the area of 300 million to reflect declining lease return values.
April 28, 2008, 02:58:01 pm Wow, 23.5 mpg or 12L/100km in town didn't strike me as particularly thrifty but I suppose for an SUV it is!
April 28, 2008, 03:11:01 pm It certainly is for the size of vehicle, usually you see 14L - 15L / 100km city.
April 28, 2008, 03:49:10 pm It certainly seems good to me for that size and type of vehicle. My old Pathfinder with the 3.5 VQ engine was always 15-15.5L/100 kms around town. My new SRX even seems to be averaging a bit worse than that.
April 28, 2008, 04:24:36 pm No indeed 12L/100km is not bad at all for a vehicle in that class but it also begs the question; how is it being driven? My Montana minivan driven gently can do about the same but in real life driving it's more like 13.5L/100km (in town). More importantly, will 12L/100km still seem thrifty when gas hits $2.20/liter in 4 years time?
April 28, 2008, 04:47:56 pm Give it a diesel
I like the evolution from the first Murano, which was a clear hit, cause you see tons of them around. I am still not a fan of CVT, personally, but if it can produce that kind of mileage in this size of a vehicle, then I guess there is some merit to it.