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By Steven Cole SmithOrlando Sentinel
February 9, 2008
One of the most difficult jobs in all the automotive world is to design and execute the second-generation version of a vehicle that was profoundly successful in its first generation. Example: 1986 Ford Taurus, a groundbreaker that went straight to the top of the sales charts. The all-new, catfish-faced 1996 Taurus? Uh oh! Ditto the gorgeous 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora, one of the prettiest American-brand sedans in years. The all-new 2001 Aurora? Zzzzzzz. The handsome, futuristic 2003 Nissan Murano set a design standard for crossover SUVs, with its influence obvious in subsequent models such as the Ford Edge. The all-new 2009 Murano? Hey, not so bad. The 2009 Murano still has handsome, distinctive styling, but this one doesn't advance the cause like the original one did. That said, no one will be ashamed to be seen in the '09. It just looks a little more, um, Hyundai-like than I suspect Nissan designers would want to hear. It does not share a single body panel with the 2007 model (there was no 2008 Murano), but the overall profile is pleasantly familiar. Interestingly, Murano sales increased every year since the model was introduced, which is unusual. The 2009, then, has big shoes to fill. One thing its designers retained: The 2009 Murano, like the original, is a five-passenger vehicle. Unlike much of the competition, no attempt was made to squeeze in a third-row seat. The Murano target customer is an empty-nester, a baby boomer who is married, in his or her mid-40s, with a $100,000 annual household income. They are looking for a sport utility vehicle with arguably more emphasis on "sport," less on "utility." Sizewise, the two models are close: The wheelbase, at 111.2 inches, is the same, but the 2009 model is nearly an inch longer overall, and a tenth of an inch wider. Built on the Altima platform, all 2009 Muranos have a 3.5-liter, 265-horsepower V-6 engine with a CVT transmission -- it acts like an automatic, but it has an infinite number of ratios, as opposed to four, or five, or six speeds. The outgoing Murano had a similar powertrain, but this one has undergone some updates, and horsepower is up by 25. Mileage is EPA-rated at 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, for both the front- and all-wheel-drive models. Inside, the 2009 Murano is a definite improvement over the previous model. Instruments and controls are better. The front bucket seats, while comfortable, could use some side bolstering. The Murano uses a push-button ignition that is trendy and a bit annoying: Is anybody really complaining about having to turn a key? The rear seat is roomy for full-sized adults. The seat flips down easily for cargo, and flips back up at the press of a button, a very nice feature. There's also a power lift gate offered. On the road, the 2009 Murano is exceptionally quiet. The ride is supple, handling is reasonably crisp, but the steering lacks feel. Brakes are excellent: The Murano has anti-lock disc brakes, as well as stability control, side and side-curtain air bags standard. Options include a navigation system, a rear-view camera and a big dual-pane glass sunroof. Leather upholstery is also offered, as is a rear-seat DVD-based entertainment system. The 2009 Murano is offered in three models: base S, mid-level SL and top-of-the-line LE. Base price for a front-wheel-drive S starts at $26,330, while an all-wheel-drive LE starts at $35,910. Nissan says that regardless of the model, a 2009 Murano costs, feature-for-feature, about $1,500 less than a 2007. I drove a midlevel, all-wheel-drive SL, but it was optioned heavily and priced like an LE: Base price was $29,480, but with shipping and options, the list was $37,745. That did, however, include a navigation system, leather upholstery, an upgraded Bose audio system, self-leveling xenon headlights, a power lift gate, that big moonroof and several other features. It lacked the LE's 20-inch tires and wheels that really make the design come alive. Overall, the 2009 Murano is a successful update of the original. Nicely done, Nissan. Sentinel Automotive Editor Steven Cole Smith can be reached at scsmith@orlandosentinel.com.
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