Nissan Murano moves upmarket

What is it?

Nissan's luxury SUV may have the same toothsome front grille as its predecessor, but the latest Murano is all-new and sits in the crossover segment, bridging the gap between more serious off-roaders and sporty, executive machines. It's looking to head a little further up the SUV market thanks to an interior that Nissan refers to as 'business class', while the new chassis, engine and gearbox aim to deliver a sharper drive. In moving upmarket, Nissan is bringing itself into competition with some very fine and established rivals, such as the Lexus RX, Volkswagen Touareg and Volvo XC90. The Murano is much less of a rival for the likes of the Land Rover Discovery and Toyota Land Cruiser as it makes no pretence at being an off-roader. Instead, Nissan has concentrated on making the Murano as good to drive on-road as possible, which includes a new CVT (continuously variable transmission).

Is it any good?

With a 3.5-litre engine packing 252bhp, the Murano is nippy enough and covers 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds, so it has comparable performance to the competition. However, its new Xtronic continuously variable transmission gearbox blunts initial response and doesn't feel as crisp as most rivals' conventional automatic gearboxes. There's also the problem that when the driver presses hard on the throttle, the CVT allows the engine to rev to peak power. It makes for swift progress, but the accompanying noise is less pleasant and not helped by the Nissan's V6 having more of a whine that a sporty growl. All of this could be easily forgiven if the Murano handled and rode well. Unfortunately, it's no match for the Mazda CX-7 - or for most other rivals - as the ride is much too firm. Not only does this scupper comfort for the Murano's occupants, it introduces a most unwelcome jitteriness to the handling on anything other than the smoothest roads. On the plus side, there's plenty of grip and the steering is quick to react to the driver's inputs with a direct feel and well judged power assistance. The Murano is also refined when cruising at motorway pace. From the driver's seat, you only need to take one look at the Murano's cabin and you know this is an interior that will cosset with space and comfort. The raised driving position gives excellent forward and side visibility, though the over-the-shoulder view is hampered by the up-sweep of the rear pillars. Electric seat adjustment for the driver, as well as electric steering adjustment, finds the ideal driving position, while all of the instruments are easy to read and look classy. The centre console juts out to put the satellite navigation controls right where you want them, though the other switchgear in the lower console are not so easy to reach. Even so, the Murano offers a great environment for the driver and generous rear seat space makes it comfy for passengers too. There's also a lengthy standard equipment list that includes satellite navigation, heated leather seats front and rear and a DVD player. The boot is a reasonable size for this class, and the rear seats fold at the pull of a lever. They also rise back up electrically to save you the effort.

Should I call the bank manager?

You'll have to, as the Murano is set to cost £33,000 when it goes on sale in the UK in October. That's a lot of cash for a car in this class that has no off-road ability, only five seats and is far from the sharpest drive. You'll need a supplementary bank loan to afford the running costs too, as it turns in 25.9mpg combined economy and produces 261g/km of carbon dioxide emissions. That puts the Murano in the top road tax band and economy will sting the pocket in the present fuel price climate. The Murano compensates to some extent with its generous level of kit, standard CVT gearbox and superb build quality, but a petrol V6 is at odds with most buyers' wants and needs where diesel is by far the most popular option. Nissan says a diesel-engined Murano will join the line-up within two years, which will undoubtedly expand this car's appeal greatly.

Summary

Nissan reckons there's a select band of buyers who will buy the Murano on looks and image alone. Perhaps, but it makes sense for most buyers to hang fire and wait for the diesel-powered version that is promised within two years. Not only will this be a cheaper car to run, it will be a much better bet for used price strength when you come to sell. In the meantime, if you're one of that select few who desire a Murano you'll be getting a magnificently well-made car with a long equipment list, but just don't expect a great drive.

Alisdair Suttie