2015 Nissan Murano - Review

PRICE : For 2015 Nissan Murano $29560

We've been impressed amongst the Nissan Murano ever since its debut agency dorsum inwards 2003. One of the starting fourth dimension crossover SUVs, it stood out for its combination of fashionable looks, roomy five-passenger seating, as well as powerfulness as well as treatment characteristics that were to a greater extent than sport sedan than sport-utility. Since then, dozens of crossovers take away followed from almost all automakers. That larger crowd makes it harder for the 2015 Nissan Murano to stand upwardly out, but this is nevertheless i crossover you'll desire to cheque out.

Just equally it did amongst the original, Nissan is taking some risks amongst the novel Murano's styling. Bold as well as futuristic, the 2015 Murano's sporty as well as swoopy lines are highlighted past times a "floating" roof that creates the illusion that the raise roof department is supported solely past times glass. Along amongst prominent chrome accents as well as distinctive winged headlights, the Murano brings a welcome dose of trend to a grade of vehicle that is nevertheless at its centre most practicality.

There is nevertheless enough of practicality inwards the novel Murano, though. It's a picayune bigger than concluding year's model, as well as the added infinite provides to a greater extent than room for passengers as well as their cargo. Nissan's "Zero Gravity" seats also brand their debut on the 2015 Murano. They render swell back upwardly for reduced fatigue on long drives, as well as inwards the Murano y'all instruct them non just for front end occupants, but raise (outboard) passengers equally well. All occupants are surrounded past times lineament materials as well as the latest inwards applied scientific discipline as well as security features. Nissan's three-row Pathfinder mightiness offering to a greater extent than room for a similar price, but the Murano is sure enough nicer.

Nissan has softened the Murano's interruption tuning this year, biasing this crossover to a greater extent than for comfort than has been the representative inwards the past. While the novel Murano isn't equally much fun to drive equally before, the ride lineament is sure enough polish as well as quiet. Largely unchanged are the Murano's 260-horsepower V6 engine as well as continuously variable transmission (CVT), but fuel economic scheme is improve this year.

That sole V6 mightiness nevertheless live a pocket-sized drawback if y'all desire other options nether the hood. Notably, the redesigned 2015 Ford Edge, which is the Murano's closest competitor, offers a arrive at of engines that are either to a greater extent than fuel-efficient or to a greater extent than powerful. If y'all desire some added off-road or towing ability, the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee would live a improve choice. Or, if you're willing to pass to a greater extent than money, y'all mightiness also desire to expression at the 2015 Lexus RX 350 or 2015 Volkswagen Touareg. Overall, though, nosotros similar the newest Murano as well as its mix of style, practicality as well as luxury.

EXTERIOR

The previous-generation Murano wasn’t just a beauty-contest winner, thus the fact that Nissan pose a to a greater extent than down-to-earth styling into the 2015 model is to a greater extent than than welcomed. The novel SUV is apparently inspired past times the Resonance concept ], sporting similar V-Motion front end grille as well as boomerang-shaped headlamps as well as taillights.

On the other hand, the apron is taller similar a shot as well as the hood slopes toward the grille at a smaller angle, making the vehicle bulkier than the concept. The same tin give the axe live noticed around the back, where the diffuser-like department seen on the concept vehicle has been skipped, although the distinct, deep-sculpted lines are nevertheless inwards place.

Overall, the novel blueprint is non overly spectacular, but the 2015 Murano is a massive improvement over the model it replaces.

INTERIOR

The seats mightiness non live the starting fourth dimension thing y'all notice when y'all hop inwards the Murano, but they volition leave of absence a lasting impression. Nissan calls them "Zero Gravity" seats because they are designed to contour to the topographic point the trunk assumes inwards null gravity. Here on 1-G Earth, nosotros mean value they are amidst the finest seats on the market. They are peculiarly supportive of the lower as well as mid back, as well as you'll give away them both upwardly front end equally good equally for the ii outboard raise seating positions.

The balance of the interior is also impressive. While we're non truly sold on the woodlike trim, almost all of the other materials are soft to the touching as well as high inwards quality. The overall outcome is sure enough upscale, as well as the novel Murano's larger size gives it an airy feeling. The Murano also gets Nissan's latest touchscreen interface. It is called Nissan Connect as well as it houses the available navigation organisation as well as offers smartphone app integration via owners' smartphones. We initially constitute the organisation had integration for just i app (Google search) but other Nissan models offering access to several apps, thus improved functionality is sure to follow.

When it's fourth dimension to haul stuff, the 2015 Murano is upwardly to the task, amongst 39.6 cubic feet of infinite behind the instant row as well as 69.9 cubic feet available amongst the raise seats folded flat. Those cargo room figures are competitive amongst rivals similar the Ford Edge as well as Jeep Grand Cherokee.

SPECIFICATION

►Year:2015
►Make:Nissan
►Model:Murano
►Price:$ 29000
►Engine:V6
►Horsepower @ RPM:260
►Torque @ RPM:240
►Displacement:3.5 L
►0-60 time:7 sec. (Est.)
►Top Speed:120 mph (Est.)

FEATURES

►CONTROLS & INSTRUMENTATION :

In an era when vehicle displays as well as controls deliver to a greater extent than confusion than contentment, the novel Murano SUV's 7-inch customizable display flanked past times massive, circular tachometer as well as speedometer readouts as well as the available 8-inch multi-touch command display is a welcome departure.

►PARKING WITHOUT PEER :

With 4 onboard cameras, iii radar systems as well as a computerized brain, the available Around View Monitor amongst Moving Object Detection combined amongst Predictive Forward Collision Warning as well as Cross Traffic Alert creates a parking organisation inwards which the driver is the weakest link.

COMFORT & QUALITY

Flamboyant exterior designs, such equally those for the 2015 Nissan Murano, tin give the axe cutting into interior infinite as well as usability; but that’s non the representative here. Although this is a real eye-catching, dissimilar crossover on the outside, the automaker clearly used some restraint inside, equally the cabin offers a lot of rider space, reasonably skillful cargo versatility, as well as a quiet, refined ambiance all ‘round.

The driving topographic point is just right, as well as the rather low-set dash should permit fifty-fifty shorter drivers to experience comfortable inwards this model, spell there’s enough of headroom above, fifty-fifty for tall drivers amongst the available moonroof.

We’re conflicted most the seats, for which Nissan uses the term Zero Gravity. Inspired past times a NASA-measured ‘neutral posture,’ they’re aimed at reducing fatigue from long drives, past times providing a to a greater extent than articulated storey of back upwardly from the pelvs to the chest, through the lumbar expanse especially. While nosotros concur that the backrests are real comfortable, they’re missing improve back upwardly for the lower cushions, at the thighs. This admittedly long-legged 6’-6” driver felt similar the lower topographic point cushions were shorter than inwards some competing models (like the Edge as well as Grand Cherokee, for instance). By the way, nosotros truly prefer the suede-like stuff seats inwards due south as well as SV models to the perforated leather, although if y'all desire heated seats y'all take away to instruct amongst leather.

In back, the same philosophy has been applied for the outboard seats, as well as we’re happy to study that they’re amidst the most comfortable, adult-size dorsum seats inwards whatever vehicle—especially i without an all-out luxury badge. Nissan says that they’re its solely vehicle amongst three-piece cushioning inwards back. These seats also aren’t at such a depression height, equally you’ll give away inwards some contender models, thus you’re at essentially the same acme equally those inwards the front end topographic point as well as conversation is easy. Entry as well as instruct out is easy, too.

The oculus console has dual elbow rests, making it expression at a brief glance similar the console mightiness take away a dual-lidded design, similar some luxury vehicles, yet it’s i large lid as well as console compartment. However, Nissan does redeem the infinite amongst some real useful lower storage bins downwards below, side past times side to the footwells. Altogether, amongst the broad oculus console as well as the attending paid to comfort inwards the outboard raise seats, Nissan has termed the opened upwardly middle ‘aisle’ of the Murano “conversation alley.”

One thing to regime annotation is that the middle topographic point inwards dorsum isn’t nearly equally comfortable or contoured equally the outboard positions; the Murano is best left equally a four-seater, unless the middle topographic point is to live occupied occasionally past times children.

Entry as well as instruct out to the front end as well as raise seats is easy, as well as at an optimal height. The dorsum topographic point truly does bend flat, as well as cargo infinite is to a greater extent than usable than y'all mightiness think; spell the raise of the vehicle looks similar it tapers upwardly top, it’s to a greater extent than of a visual describe a fast i on brought on past times the sculpted-outward raise wheelwell area.

One slice of of import advice: While Murano models amongst the 20-inch wheels bask a slight payoff inwards the crispness amongst which they plough into corners, they also transmit to a greater extent than route imperfections into the cabin, without whatever ultimate increase inwards cornering capability or trunk control. Unless y'all alive inwards a part amongst real polish route surfaces or absolutely must take away the 20-inchers for the agency they expression inwards the bike wells (a chip better, admittedly), instruct amongst the 18s.

PERFORMANCE

The 2015 Nissan Murano probable isn’t i of the stronger performers inwards its class, if y'all instruct purely past times functioning numbers. And there’s naught all that leading border inwards what’s nether the hood. But the Murano has enough of what matters to its target buyer: strong, confident, refined performance, all without sacrificing likewise much comfort along the way.

What powers the Murano is a version of what’s powered mid-size Nissan cars as well as crossovers for years—the 3.5-liter double-overhead-cam V-6, making 260 horsepower as well as 240 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired to the latest iteration of the automaker’s ‘high-torque’ continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), hither omitting things similar a tow agency or a depression range.

Acceleration itself isn’t peculiarly quick, within the Murano’s class, but it’s all that most buyers volition expect—with reasonably potent pickup off the line of piece of job as well as quite potent passing power. The Murano also doesn’t take away the number that affects a lot of its other CVT-equipped vehicles—sluggishness at lower speeds when y'all demand a quick outburst of power. Thanks to plentiful low-rev torque from this engine, it gathers speed speedily equally the CVT lowers the ratio.

The CVT shifts amongst fifty-fifty to a greater extent than pronounced ‘steps’ that mimic gears when you’re accelerating rapidly but at to a greater extent than gentle acceleration it simply keeps revs inwards the real depression rev range; on the other hand, total acceleration pegs it inwards the upper reaches of the engine’s rev band. And the engine is remarkably smooth, civil, as well as pleasant-sounding no affair what.

The Murano’s underpinnings are, equally previous versions, real carlike—with a front end strut layout as well as multi-link raise interruption blueprint as well as a front end subframe that helps damp out some of the worst route shocks spell keeping a to a greater extent than ‘connected’ feeling amongst the road. And four-wheel vented disc brakes experience confident as well as good modulated.

Overall, the electrohydraulic rack-and-pinion steering has a good, relaxed experience on center, as well as it loads upwardly nicely. The interruption makes some definite sacrifices inwards ultimate treatment ability, inwards the cite of comfort, but these are sacrifices that the vast bulk of shoppers volition happily make. There’s quite a lot of trunk lean inwards tight corners, but the Murano ever feels buttoned-down as well as quite composed, amongst few if whatever secondary motions equally the route turns rougher.

One thing to travel along inwards heed is that models amongst the 18-inch wheels handgrip just equally good equally those amongst the 20-inch wheels—except for a slight chip to a greater extent than precision inwards quick transitions. With the larger wheels, y'all exercise innovate to a greater extent than route harshness equally well.

ENGINE

The solely engine is the familiar 3.5-liter V6 engine that offers 260 horsepower as well as 240 lb-ft of torque. It has received a re-tuning for the novel model, as well as fifty-fifty to a greater extent than changes were made to the Xtronic continuously variable transmission that similar a shot has novel "D-Step Logic." H5N1 happy termination of aerodynamics, weight reduction as well as drivetrain tweaking is 20-percent-better fuel economic scheme than inwards the previous Murano at 21 city/28 highway/24 combined for both front-drive as well as all-wheel-drive SUV models.

►3.5-liter V6
260 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
240 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/28 mpg (FWD), 21/28 mpg (AWD)

SAFETY

The 2015 Nissan Murano comes touchstone amongst antilock brakes, traction as well as stability control, hill-start assist, front end side airbags, side mantle airbags, a driver articulatio genus airbag, active front end caput restraints as well as a rearview camera.

In Edmunds.com testing, a 2015 Murano Platinum amongst front-wheel drive required 117 feet to halt from threescore mph, a shorter than average distance for vehicles inwards its class.

The SL as well as Platinum models add together blind-spot as well as raise cross-traffic alert systems, equally good equally a 360-degree parking photographic tv set camera organisation that includes a moving-object detection characteristic that lights upwardly quadrants of the around-view monitor as well as sounds a beep if people or objects are moving close the vehicle. Optional for these models is adaptive cruise command combined amongst a frontal-collision alert as well as mitigation organisation that tin give the axe automatically apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate the severity of a frontal crash.

FUEL ECONOMY

The 2015 Nissan Murano isn’t offered inwards hybrid or diesel fuel guises, but against contender touchstone gasoline crossovers, peculiarly contender V-6 models, the Murano is relatively fuel-efficient—a pregnant 20-percent improve than the outgoing model, according to Nissan.

Thanks to a wide-ranging weight-loss strategy from the trunk construction on out, the Murano has lost nearly 150 pounds since concluding year’s version. The Murano has also had its aerodynamics finessed, as well as they’re significantly improve cheers inwards part to its slightly lower, wider, as well as longer proportions. Its coefficient of drag of 0.31 (versus 0.37 before) goes a long agency toward bringing those improved highway numbers.

Elements that assist amongst that are rocker panels that are lower (actually helping inwards ruggedness as well as underbody protection), an active grille shutter system, fender lip moldings, as well as details inwards dorsum that include bumper surfacing, tire deflectors, as well as an integrated raise spoiler.

Although the all-wheel drive organisation does innovate a chip to a greater extent than driveline drag, the difference versus the front-wheel drive version is less than 1 mpg (a rounding difference that leaves them amongst the same EPA rating). No affair which model inwards the lineup y'all choose, it gets official ratings of 21 mpg city, 28 highway.

And nosotros saw enough of evidence that real-world driving volition render numbers inwards that range. In a 120-mile loop amongst a Murano SV AWD, amongst ii dissimilar drivers piloting, nosotros averaged nearly 24 mpg inwards a widely varied mix of route types as well as driving conditions.

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