CTC Review: 2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD

[CD_Editor]

Day 1:

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The Murano's look has always been a rather bold design. When first introduced in 2003, it was fairly radical and still looks somewhat futuristic.  New for 2009 is an even bolder Murano, more sculpted and more sporty-looking, with cleaned-up lines for a more cohesive and appealing design -- especially at the rear of the vehicle.  More ...

[Jack]

It will be interesting to see how you find the CVT.

[Cortina]

Not a face I could love. But it does sort of grow on me.

[sailor723]

Not having leather at $43873 plus (I assume) 1200-1500 in freight seems like a glaring omission.

[Eric Green]

US price? (source: Nissan USA webpage)

$33,995

SL
AWD
Moonroof
Premium Package, which comes bundles with the
Leather Package

Tell me that Canadians can't be so stupid as to take the Canadian deal...

[Jaeger]

When I first saw pics of its squinty countenance, my first reaction was "yuck".  Then I saw a couple on the road and thought that when those beady little eyes were rolling up fast in my rearview mirror they had an aggressive look that I hadn't really noticed before.  Recently, when I took my Alti in for servicing, I spent much of the wait in and around a showroom model and liked it even better.  The thing that impressed me most was the interior - Infiniti level all around.  The thing that impressed me least was the lack of a manual mode for the CVT (as available in the Altima).

Jaeger

[alokt]

It's an expensive vehicle for $47k IMHO. Why would anyone buy a mainstream vehicle that chugs premium gas and costs so much? I would rather put this $47k and buy a Toyota Highlander which is bigger, takes regular gas, but gives as good a mileage as the Murano...not as sporty however.

Just find it odd how Nissan can sell 6 cylinder engines that require premium gas. Makes sense in an Infiniti make it run only on premium, but not a Nissan (I have a 01 maxima and it burns filling it with premium at $1.34/litre every week)

[carcrazy]

Never liked the Murano, but this one has a face that only a mother could love. Interior looks fine, very Infinity like.

[cricri1234]

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.

[sailor723]

Just find it odd how Nissan can sell 6 cylinder engines that require premium gas. Makes sense in an Infiniti make it run only on premium, but not a Nissan (I have a 01 maxima and it burns filling it with premium at $1.34/litre every week)

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.

[BJB]

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

[si]

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..?

[Mattesa]

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.

[ghost]

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?

[sailor723]

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?

Have you seen the new FX? 

[Cord]

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

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. 

[BJB]

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

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**

[safristi]

it goes inna tank...if that's any HELP!!!!.......

[Brigitte]

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. 

   Spoken like a true salesman?

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.

[Steve]

Is the little birdie telling us there'll be a VR engine AWD Nissan is going to be running around town next week?