Nissan Murano   Women's view

By Hannah Rainford

Being used to driving manual superminis around town, the thought of driving a vehicle described as a crossover between a 4x4 and a luxury sports car with a 3.5 litre engine and semi-automatic gearbox filled me half with fear and half with excitement. Driving the Murano was a fabulous experience. It oozed with confidence and the elevated seating position gave me a clear view of what was ahead.

It is stylish enough to turn heads with the imposing image of other large 4x4s and that gives you a feeling of added security. The only thing that caused me any concern initially was the size; it felt as if I needed to check my position on the road, especially when travelling around corners and through narrow streets. However, the Murano has the heart of the 350Z coupe with its V6 engine giving the car a lively feel. Its perfect for those of us who want the soul of a sportscar inside a perfectly practical family vehicle.

The Nissan Murano shares its name with the glass-making district in Venice, Italy, which became famous for its glass beads and exquisite mirrors. Just by looking at the Murano, you can see it takes after its namesake; crafted interior features, sleek exterior and sculpted wraparound surfaces. The Murano appears to be the perfect car for the family, if all you do is pick the kids up from school or clubs or take them on day trips to the beach. The generous interior space provides excellent leg and head room for both front and rear occupants.

It provides ample storage solutions including extendable side pockets in the rear, as well as a secret compartment on the floor of the boot. Nissan have thrown in lots of extras as standard, like DVD satnav, 18" alloys, and a rear parking camera for the basic price. BMW X3 buyers will have to pay as much as £5,000 extra for a similar specification. The only down side is the long but shallow boot, good for a few bags but not so great for your suitcases.

Nissan wanted to create a car that looked like a 4x4, had 4x4 qualities but gave a car-like ride. It certainly succeeded. The Murano has a real go-for-it attitude; its fun yet secure and provides an exceptionally comfortable drive. It handles corners well and driving the Murano around the rutted surfaces that comprise many British B-roads, there is none of that wobbly head syndrome that afflicts many 4x4 drivers; this car has obviously been designed primarily for road use.

Reversing is not as easy as forward progress; a car of this size needs to have a larger rear window. It does come with a reverse parking camera, but with a behind this big, you need something to guide you into those narrow parking spaces. The driving position is slightly lower than on most compact 4x4s, but still enough to make you feel king of the road. Its size has advantages and disadvantages; it is big enough to make you feel secure and comes in handy when tackling everyday traffic jams.

If you live in the city, however, you may find that confronting narrow roads filled with erratically parked cars proves to be somewhat of a challenge. This urban 4x4 crossover isnt always best prepared for urbanisation.

With the standard version creeping in at just over £30,000, you can see why many British buyers might be put off. This type of vehicle is usually associated with more prestigious marques, not necessarily with the maker behind the Sunny and the Micra, but that is not to say that Nissan havent done an excellent job. What you have to remember is that, for your money, you get a lot of extra features as standard with the Murano; such as the reverse parking camera (because you are going to need it!), DVD satnav, 18" alloy wheels and twin exhaust pipes. The Murano also comes with a charcoal black leather interior and a leather steering wheel and gear knob as standard. In comparison to the BMW X3, the Murano offers superb value for money, mainly on the basis of its superior equipment levels. So much is included as standard that there are very few optional extras available for the Murano.

For a few thousand more, you can have a rear DVD entertainment system installed into the car, perfect for those long journeys, but slightly pricey.

The Nissan Murano provides a refreshing change from my supermini. Its stylish with a striking exterior that has a lot of heads turning. It is a fun and comfortable drive with a funky floating instrument cluster and the heart of a sports car. Nissan have created an attractive, yet spacious 4x4 that reeks with confidence, ideal for the fashion-conscious among us who value space and security.