Nissan Murano Estate 2005 - 2008

The Nissan Murano is the car that the Japanese giant is looking to take on the mighty European premium 4X4s with.  It’s pitched against the likes of Volvo, Audi and BMW premium off roaders and while the badge lacks some of their profile the quality of the Murano combined with it’s cost has to ask some questions of the establishment.

As a start point, and this has to be considered a great idea, the Murano has next to nothing on the extras list.  This isn’t because of a lack of equipment, on the contrary it’s because it has such a great spec as standard.  All cars have satellite navigation, leather upholstery, climate control air-conditioning and a seven-speaker Bose audio system. Metallic paint and a tracking system are the only options.  This will help Nissan when comparing their offering against their rivals.  When looking at an X5 of the same spec the price goes up from £34k basic model cost to over £40k, a full £10k more than the Murano. 

When behind the wheel of the Murano it’s easy to forget that you’re in a big vehicle, as it feels like a smaller car.  The cornering is precise and the handling much more pert than you’d expect to handle like a waterbed.  The suspension does mange to give you the sort of insulation that a waterbed would offer form the potholes on the road, but the steering retains a lively feel that helps the Murano corner effortlessly.  It’s off road looks are a little overstated when it’s abilities are taken into account.  It does offer reasonable grip but if taken into challenging terrain it’ll soon be found out.

The engine on offer is the same unit that’s found in the 350Z and with nothing else on the table at this point, the options of an oil burner are unfortunately not on the horizon.  That said the 230 bhp 3.5 V6 is an admirable performer and with many 305s on the road is a tried and tested powerhouse.  It’s been tweaked to offer performance more suited to it’s size but It sounds good and has plenty of low-down grunt. It can take the Murano to 60mph in 8.8s, which is quicker than a Porsche Cayenne 3.2 V6 and tops out at 124mph. There’s just one gearbox option, a smooth continuously variable transmission automatic that makes driving a linear breeze.

The Nissan Murano is another Japanese motor that punches above it’s weight, or it’s pricetag anyhow.  It may find itself overlooked for it’s badge, but if you’re happy to pay for the badge rather than the performance what can anyone do to catch your eye?

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