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Nissan Murano (2009 European version) CAR review

By Anthony ffrench-Constant

01 September 2008 10:00

A new Nissan Murano? I can barely remember the old one…

That’s probably because, despite selling over 241,000 units in America since its launch in 2004, the poor Murano managed barely 55,000 sales throughout Europe over the same period.

Clearly, Nissan has equally low hopes for European success with the next-generation Murano, anticipating a ludicrously modest 450 sales for this £33,000, one-model range in the UK between October 2008 (when it goes on sale) and March 2009, swelling to a mighty, erm, 700 units in the first full year.

So is the 'new' Nissan Murano just a facelift, or is it all change?

This is pretty much a brand new car. Based on Nissan’s new D platform, which it currently shares with nothing else in Europe, the new Murano boasts an all new bodyshell lauded as being 45 percent stiffer than its predecessor, a new interior, and improvements to the 3.5-litre V6 powerplant and its CVT transmission.

I’m probably alone in having found the outgoing car somewhat handsome, despite an excess of knuckle-sov’ bling about the front grille. There still is, but the new grille is more slender, and sits atop a new snout that looks as though some bully grabbed the top lip of the old model with a pair of pliers and pulled until it really, really hurt.

The rest of the design is not, frankly, quite as svelte as the old timer, with numerous extra lumps on offer to imbue sensations of increased muscularity. Same as it ever was… Name me one second-generation car better looking than the Mk1…

Click 'Next' to continue reading CAR's review of the new Nissan Murano

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Statistics

How much? £33,000
On sale in the UK: 1 October 2008
Engine: 3498cc, V6 petrol, 253bhp @ 6000rpm, 246lb ft @ 4400rpm
Transmission: CVT, four-wheel drive
Performance: 8.1 sec 0-62mph, 130mph, 25.9mpg, 261g/km CO2
How heavy / made of? 2380kg / steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)? 4838 / 1880 / 1730
Need to know

CAR's rating

Rated 3 out of 5

Handling

Rated 3 out of 5

Performance

Rated 3 out of 5

Usability

Rated 4 out of 5

Feelgood factor

Rated 2 out of 5

Readers' rating

Rated 2.5 out of 5

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Average rating: Rated 2.5 out of 5 (14 votes)

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Nissan Murano (2009 European version) CAR review

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Batty

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Batty says

RE: Nissan Murano (2009 European version) CAR review

"Name me one second-generation car better looking than the Mk1…" I knew that there was one. The Renault Megane! Do a get a smiley stamp now teacher?

03 September 2008 22:18

bklynmurano

bklynmurano says

RE: Nissan Murano (2009 European version) CAR review

The reviewer is negative about this car from the get-go. The few compliments he dishes out, he does so grudgingly. What has Nissan done to upset him? I bought a 2009 in the States, and I find it a joy to drive - but perhaps I'm easily pleased? The CVT is quiet and smooth with none of the whining sounds the reviewer complains about. I wanted a car that would be comfortable to drive on long stretches of highway, which this is, and I think the seats are really comfortable, with a lot of leg-roon for rear seat passengers. Maybe I am so happy with it because I paid $34,000 for it, which equates to about 18,000 pounds - how do you in the UK feel paying around 12,000 pounds more for essentially the same vehicle? In the States, they come in 3 versions, S, SL, and LE and the UK version appears to be equivalent to the LE. I bought the SL fully loaded except for Sat/Nav. Cant belive how expensive it is here. Perhaps that is why they aren't selling very many of them here. There are a lot of Murano fans out there in the US

03 September 2008 01:13

Batty

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Batty says

RE: Nissan Murano (2009 European version) CAR review

Another beautifully written and witty piece Mr. ffrench-Constant, thank you. I can't seem to shake the impression of the sperm whale whenever I see the front of this car. Especially so in the fetching grey hue of the photography car above. I am intrigued however about your comment on forward parking. Do you never park forwards even on an empty street? Is it an English eccentricity?

02 September 2008 05:10

Robby1977

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Robby1977 says

RE: Nissan Murano (2009 European version) CAR review

The outgoing model always struck me as cool looking. This one aint.....

02 September 2008 00:32

jrturbo

jrturbo says

RE: Nissan Murano (2009 European version) CAR review

Its sad to see that nissan has missed the mark by such a wide margin, its even worse when they have proved that they can make decent cars, like the qhasgai, I hope after this they learn the lesson that you just cant take a vehicle designed for the american market and sell it in europe. If nissan had their thinking cap on , they would take take the infiniti fx45, put the the Nissan GTR drive train in it, get the same team to sort out the suspension and you would have a lot of people interested. time will tell

01 September 2008 15:39

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