2015 Nissan Murano

The trim line up of the Nissan Murano includes four different trims that are targeted at various price ranges from $29,240 and going all the way up to $40,280 Right from the base trim level, the car is very well equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, 60/40 folding rear seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, 7-inch touchscreen and so on.

Which trim should you buy?

There are four trim levels of the Nissan Murano and hence there is a lot to choose from. However for the price point, it is offered at, the SV trim level makes the most sense to us. This trim comes at just $32,300 for the front-wheel-drive version and comes with features such as a navigation package, leather-wrapped steering wheel, eight-way adjustable power driver seat, and additional optional packages that are very tempting.

Under the hood of the Nissan Murano is a 3.5 L naturally aspirated V-6 engine that generates an excellent 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. Even though the numbers do not seem like much, this SUV makes for an excellent experience. It never feels like it can use more power and the delivery is smooth and linear.

It also has a 7.8 second 0 to 60 mph time which is definitely nice. When it comes to quarter-mile acceleration figures the Murano performs very well again with a 16 second time which is definitely quick. The transmission offered is a CVT automatic and suits the car very well. It is available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most expensive car in this category. But it also happens to be a more powerful car and a more engaging car to drive. If you look at the prices, then the Ford Edge is the cheapest car around. However, it is the least powerful car in its segment when you look at the figures on paper. The Nissan Murano strikes a good balance between pricing and performance.

One of the prime reasons manufacturers are now moving to CVT automatic transmissions is that they guarantee good fuel efficiency. This is the case with the Murano as well. One can see that from the EPA-rated fuel efficiency ratings of 21 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and 24 MPG combined. It also has a decently large fuel tank capacity of 19 gallons, and hence this SUV is able to return a range of 399 miles in the city and 532 miles on the highway.

One can see that there is an inverse relationship between horsepower and fuel efficiency in the segment. The Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Hyundai Santa Fe are more powerful but less fuel-efficient. The Ford is the most frugal engine of the lot and does not have an excellent performance like the others. Nissan has a better compromise in terms of both.

The interiors of the Nissan Murano have been refreshed for the current model year. However, the design is not exactly pleasing and feels a bit cheap. It is however very functional and offers a lot of storage spaces and is ergonomic in general. Overall it is a very practical cabin and can definitely impress buyers.

The seats are also sufficiently large and can seat five people with ease. The seats are built very well and are supportive for passengers of all sizes as well. However one of the best things about the car is that the seats are extremely supportive and make you very comfortable during long journeys.

Only the Hyundai seats seven people in this category when all the others offer seating for only five people. However, when it comes to cargo capacity, this order is exactly reversed with the Nissan Murano being the leader in terms of cargo capacity. This is pretty much a given because that same space is allotted for more passengers. Some standard features include:

• Front Seatback Storage
• Cruise Control
• Keyless Ignition
• Dual Illuminating Vanity Mirrors
• Front And Rear Cupholders
• Dual Zone Front Climate Control
• Interior Air Filtration
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Electrochromatic Inside Rearview Mirror

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Infotainment has been one of the areas where the biggest change has happened for the current redesign. The Murano gets the latest infotainment system from Nissan. It has a lot of smartphone connectivity features and an available navigation system. The functionality is definitely great and the graphics are also pretty nice. Some features of the infotainment system include: 

• 6-Speaker sound system
• AM/FM Stereo
• USB port
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• CD Player
• HD Radio
• MP3 Player
• Satellite Radio
• Smart Device Integration
• Bluetooth streaming
• Voice recognition functionality

The Nissan Murano has an especially bold design that makes it stand up to its competition. It definitely looks like one of the most modern SUVs that one can find today. It is also quite on the light side with a curb weight of just 3768 pounds. In terms of dimensions, it is quite large and offers very decent ground clearance.

Everything looks small next to the Jeep Grand Cherokee but it is not the largest car in this class. The Nissan Murano is a bit larger and yet, lighter. It also has the least ground clearance of the lot even though it is not deprived of it by much. The Hyundai is the largest car in the class and is quite sizable. Some standout features include:

• Premium Paint
• BlindZone Mirrors
• Splash Guards
• Roof Rail Cross Bars
• 20" Split 5-Spoke Bright PVD Alloy Wheels
• Privacy Glass

 The Nissan Murano has a four-star crash test rating from NHTSA. It has also scored very decently in the IIHS tests although it was never declared as the Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Structurally as well, Nissan has devoted a lot of attention to keep the car safe. This is due to having features like knee airbags, hill start assist, active front head restraints, rearview camera, etc. being offered as standard features. Some of the standout safety features include:

• Driver Airbag
• Passenger Airbag
• Front Head Airbag
• Rear Head Airbag
• Front Side Airbag
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Child Safety Locks
• Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
• Traction Control
• Blind Spot Monitor
• Cross-Traffic Alert

The Nissan Murano is a very tempting crossover SUV that is currently on the market. It has good space in its interiors and has a decent engine that provides both performances as well as efficiency. With the current redesign, it becomes even more so and is a worthy competitor to its rivals in every respect. We feel that you should definitely buy one if you are on the lookout for a crossover SUV in this category.