Nissan Murano Ti; Review

 

Having a major overseas experience is seen to be one of life's essential experiences.

My wife and I had an extensive Northern Hemisphere trip in 1990, and it was something that we would thoroughly recommend to all those contemplating travel.

One of the many interesting places we went to in Europe was Venice, and more specifically, Murano, an island just a short boat journey from the Italian waterbound city. Murano is famous for its glass blowing industry, which produces intricate shapes and flowing designs, much of it sought after worldwide.

Murano glass, as it is known, was also the inspiration for the naming of Nissan's latest SUV, the Murano, and it could almost have taken some styling cues from some of the glass shapes given its smooth, flowing exterior design.

The front, especially, is bold. The trapezoidal headlamps and chromed grille is very stylish, along with the sculptured lines which extend the length of the SUV.

Inside, the swept-up design hides a particularly refreshing environment which is spacious and comforting. The Murano is only a five-seater, but it is a genuine five-seater, there is no compromise. The rear seat area is easily three-adult capable, each provided with an overshoulder seat belt.

The interior looks just as modern as the exterior with plenty of brushed alloy garnish breaking up the predominantly black lower and grey upper. There are a few recognisable features from other Nissan product but the result is still fashionable and functional.

The V6-powered Murano is available here in two variants, the ST at $55,450, and the Ti at $59,950. The test car was the high-spec version and it is a full leather model with heated seats and electric sunroof. These items are over and above the standard features of air conditioning, remote central locking with alarm and immobiliser, electric windows, leather-wrapped steering wheel on tilt-adjustable steering column, cruise control, multi-function computer and beautiful Bose audio ? six-disc and tape capable.

Safety features include no fewer than six air bags, active head restraints, ABS aligned to VDC and TCS, which, put simply, are vehicle dynamic control and traction control, moderating devices which keep the Murano pointed in the chosen direction when tackling the tight and twisties.

One of the Murano's key features is that of its transmission. Nissan have been beavering away with continuously variable transmission for many years now, and the development work has paid off. The gearbox is a beauty and how it handles the torque output of the 3.5-litre V6 defies logic.

Nissan rate their quad camshaft, 24-valve unit at a beefy 318Nm, maximum torque realised at 3600rpm. And if you add in 172kW at the top end (6000rpm), the engine could well be forgiven for being a peaky, feisty unit. In a lot of ways it is, but CVT seems to moderate the engine, the power is delivered purposefully down low, creating motion far from excitable.

Power delivery is smooth; well, that's no surprise, this engine has long been recognised by Ward's Auto as one of the best in the business, having long since powered Maxima, 350Z and now the new Pathfinder.

The engine and gearbox combination to create a fluid flow of power and gentle delivery to a power proportioning four-wheel-drive system, the system lockable only at speeds below 10kmh. Ordinarily, the Murano drives out the front wheels, drive to the rear engages when slippage is detected. The system works well, SUVs aren't regarded as serious off-roaders, yet the Murano equips itself well off-the-beaten-track.

At the media launch of the new model we were treated to a mid-North Island excursion. Gentle Annie, a track between Taihape and Napier, provided not so much of a challenge but conditions which suited the drive set-up and transmission. As is the modern trend with CVT, there is a six-speed lock-up system, the stepless changes divided into specific ratios at varying distances. Personally, it's not a function that I use a lot, the CVT is so good that I just enjoyed letting it do its own thing.

And that is the essence of the Murano. Everything it does is occupant-friendly, it has oodles of power (0-100kmh in 8.9sec and 80-120kmh in 5.9sec) and ride comfort that has to be felt to be believed. The fully independent front strut/rear multiple link system is moderately dampened.

Slow speed bumps are dealt to efficiently, while unsealed road excursions don't upset suspension control.

The Murano also steers and handles much like that of a sedan, the suspension controls body movement well, yet it has relatively long travel to deal to undulating off-road surfaces. I was pleased that the Gentle Annie trip provided so much information in respect to road surfaces, for the weekend that I had the car locally a sou'wester brought heavy rain. On loose wet surfaces, the Dunlop Grandtrek tyres (225/65 x 18in) had to really work hard to maintain grip, but even so the Murano wasn't disgraced, it gets traction beyond its design brief and when grip is about to be lost VDC and TCS do their stuff.

Nissan claim ground clearance of 180mm which is about SUV average, but I was impressed with the generous approach and departure angles of 28deg and 25deg, it's as if the Murano could be pointed at a trough or bank significantly tougher than what I was prepared to face.

During the time the test car was in my care it also surprised with is fuel consumption. The on board trip computer registered an average of 13.5 litres usage per 100km, that equates to 21mpg in imperial terms, which is reasonably good considering that took into account testing time and my inner-city commute. On the open road 10.2l/100km (28mpg) can be achieved instantaneously at 100kmh (engine speed 1750rpm) which represents reasonable usage.

Nissan have been left out in the cold in recent years by not having a full-size SUV, but they have struck back with a vengeance, the Pathfinder has just returned, and the Murano will test the marketing skills of its competition, such is its high-tech engineering brilliance and sensational design and packaging.

Specifications

Price: Nissan Murano Ti, $59,950.

Dimensions: Length, 4770mm; width, 1880mm; height, 1705mm.

Configuration: V6 transverse, four-wheel-drive, 3498cc, 172kW/6000rpm, 318Nm/3600rpm, continuously variable automatic (six steps), 1822kg.

Performance: 0-100kmh, 8.9sec.