- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He
Nissan Murano SUV. Sunny California child
The Nissan Murano is a mid-size SUV manufactured by the Japanese company Nissan since 2002. The name was given in honor of the Italian island of the same name. Designed by Nissan America in La Jolla, California, and based on the Nissan FF-L platform, the vehicle was Nissan’s first SUV for the USA and Canada. In fact, this is a strongly “Americanized” vehicle. It has a simple design, mediocre driving characteristics, superb equipment and stylish body. After thinking well, Nissan nevertheless brought the model to the European market. The Old World version of Murano went on sale in 2004. The Nissan Murano is not available in Israel.
The Nissan Murano is distinguished by its originality. The SUV’s design was developed in California. The vehicle featured large engines and an incredibly spacious interior. Overall, the model was comfortable. According to the owners, the Murano has an excellent engine, capable of driving 350 and 400 thousand km without major repairs provided that you are a careful driver. The Nissan Murano is appreciated for its performance and dynamics without being a sports car, while retaining its family-oriented nature. Almost all Murano owners note a very adequate algorithm for the operation of a continuously variable transmission. And a powertrain gets a positive feedback in almost every review. And everyone, without exception, admires the interior. The vehicle offers a beautiful interior, roominess, and comfortable seats. The Nissan Murano is perfect for long journeys with a large family.
The first generation
The Nissan Murano was initially developed only for the American market. So, naturally, it was unveiled at the New York Auto Show in 2002. The vehicle was built on the Nissan FF-L platform, used for the third generation Altima sedan. It was 4,770 mm long, 1,880 mm wide and 1,705 mm high. The first Murano received a 3.5-liter VQ35DE engine with 245 hp, Xtronic CVT and all-wheel drive (with automatically connected rear axle). The vehicle featured a MacPherson strut independent suspension at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear.
And only a year later, the Murano reached Japan. The Japanese version featured a 2.5-liter QR25DE engine. Official sales of the European version began in the spring of 2004 with the same 3.5-liter engine as for the USA. But the European model was updated. In 2005, the SUV, supplied to the North American market, underwent a slight restyling. The vehicle acquired new headlights, GPS, slightly redesigned exterior and trim levels. Until 2007, the Murano was the only Nissan SUV on this continent (followed by a more compact Nissan Rogue).
The second generation
The vehicle was introduced in November 2007 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and sales started in January 2008. The second generation Nissan Murano was designed in the same corporate style as the smaller Nissan Rogue. The brand new interior is finished with higher quality materials. The second Murano was created on the Nissan D platform (the second generation Teana sedan was also built on it). The SUV was 4,869 mm long, 1,885 mm wide and 1,720 mm high. The 3.5-liter engine became 20 hp more powerful (the overall output grew to 265 hp). The engine was paired with the same CVT, but there was also a 6-speed automatic transmission. In September 2008, the second Murano went on sale in Japan, where the previous range of engines with a volume of 3.5 liters and 2.5 liters (specially for the Japanese market) was used.
The Nissan Murano is perfect for long journeys with a large family
In 2010, the SUV was restyled, acquiring the redesigned rear and front ends, new headlights and rims, as well as a new color of seat upholstery. The engine range for the European models received a 2.5-liter diesel engine YD25DDTi (190 hp). In January 2011, the production began at the Nissan plant in St. Petersburg (Russia). In 2010, the Murano CrossCabriolet was presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicle differed from the original SUV only by an open body. The convertible was only available in LE version and was produced until 2014.
The third generation
The latest generation of the SUV (as of 2021) was unveiled at the New York Auto Show in April 2014. The vehicle inherited many design features from the Resonance concept car. Inspired by the idea of space travel, the designers sought to convey the sensation of flying, airiness and sunshine. The new Nissan Murano received a V-shaped radiator grille, complex optics, a dynamically curved waist line and disguised rear pillars that create the effect of a ‘floating roof’. In addition to the revolutionary design and ‘space-inspired’ interior, the SUV got a redesigned engine and an impressive list of available equipment. The vehicle entered the world arena in the fourth quarter of 2014, and its production began in Russia in August 2016.
The new Nissan Murano has become larger. It is 4,898 mm long, 1,691 mm high and 1,915 mm wide. The wheelbase has grown to 2,824 mm, whereas the ground clearance is 184 mm. The trunk volume reaches 454 liters or 1,603 liters with the rear seats folded down. The SUV is equipped with a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 gasoline engine with an output of 249 hp. In 2016, a hybrid version appeared (sold for several years). The vehicle is equipped with an Xtronic CVT, which provides a smooth ride, acceleration dynamics and fuel efficiency. The entry-level SUV has received a front-wheel drive transmission, whereas more expensive versions feature an All Mode 4×4 i automatic all-wheel drive system with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch and active traction distribution along the axles. The vehicle still features the same MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear.
The 2021 Nissan Murano is equipped with Nissan Intelligent Mobility, which includes:
- Blind spot monitoring system that sends an audible signal to the driver if another vehicle is detected in the blind spot;
- Driver fatigue control that assesses the level of concentration and warns of the need to stop and rest;
- All-around view system that combines 4-camera images from the rear, front and sides of the vehicle to form a top view to make parking easier;
- Collision warning system that warns about vehicles moving perpendicular to the rearward Nissan Murano;
- Moving object detection system that warns of other road users approaching the vehicle;
- Tire pressure monitoring system that warns of low tire pressure.
In 2019, the SUV underwent a slight restyling in the American market, as a result of which the front and rear of the car changed. In 2020, the vehicle received the Nissan Safety Shield 360 package, comprising vehicle blind spot monitoring, pedestrian automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning systems.
