Mother Proof's view

Luxurious, pretty, soft … no, I’m not describing a fabulous cashmere sweater. These are the adjectives that come to mind when I think about the Nissan Murano. Both inside and out, the 2009 Murano is classy and sophisticated without being pretentious. I thoroughly enjoyed driving this car, and I was pleased that it used so little gas for its size, which allowed for guilt-free cruising. I drove 119 miles before the gauge moved off the full line. Plus, when I needed to fill up I was able to do so for $44 (I got 14 gallons of gas at $3.19 a gallon).

The Murano’s ride is smooth and agile. There’s plenty of power behind the gas pedal, which provides that reassuring feeling we all enjoy during road trips. The interior is so high-class you might mistake the cabin area for a posh hotel room – “Room service, please!”

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT Storage compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Galore Cargo/trunk space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Galore

SENSE AND STYLE Family friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Excellent Fun factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Good times

The Murano’s exterior got a moderate face-lift for 2009, or maybe it was just a bit of Botox. It’s a little sleeker and more refined-looking than in previous model years. Although the Murano is a crossover, I couldn’t help but think I was getting the same looks that I’m used to getting when driving a sportier sedan. The Murano turns heads. Check out the pictures in the photo gallery to see for yourself.

One of my favorite exterior features was the Murano’s power liftgate. You can open the gate with a button on the key fob or with a button near the steering wheel. Here comes the fun part: Instead of having to reach up and pull the gate closed, which can be a dirty job, Nissan has a nice little button that closes and secures the liftgate. No more dirty hands! I also appreciated the bi-xenon headlights for after-dark excursions, and the rain-sensing wipers – all great features.

The Murano is plush. I’m talkin’ high-end, spa-quality features here, folks, so bring your robe and fuzzy slippers. The cream-colored leather (which is tufted on the doors – nice touch!) combined with subtle yet stunning faux wood trim accents that created a soothing atmosphere. Heated seats in the front and back ensure that each passenger will be warm and cozy no matter how cold it is outside the car. The amazing-sounding Bose speakers added a touch of ambience to this tranquil setting (unless, of course, you take the Murano along for a girl’s night out and blast hits from the ’90s loud enough for the entire county to hear). I adored the eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support – probably the most lumbar support of any car I’ve tested – but I was disappointed that the passenger seat didn’t offer the same accommodations. If we’re heating the rear seats, don’t you think our friend who’s riding shotgun should get some lumbar support? It’s just a tip for the suggestion box.

In addition to the well-appointed cabin space, Murano boasted a long list of interior amenities, including dual-zone temperature controls with front and rear vents, ambient lighting, three 12-volt power outlets, a navigation system, a rearview camera, auxiliary audio and video inputs in the backseat, an iPod connector, and a Bluetooth hands-free phone system with steering-wheel controls, just to name a few. I also loved that there were places to put all of my little travel goodies, and many of these storage areas had doors so everything could be concealed. Nice and neat, just the way Mommy likes it!

My kids thought the backseat was spacious, and they enjoyed the center armrest with two cupholders. Their booster seats fit into the backseat easily. My boys immediately noticed the auxiliary inputs for backseat passengers and told me, “Mom, we can play video games back here. See these holes, this is where you plug them in, and I think you watch it on that screen up in the front. This is so cool!” Of course, he was referring to the color display screen in the front seat; I didn’t have the heart to tell him it wasn’t actually a TV. I’m pretty sure the interior’s beauty struck them as something special because they seemed suddenly cautious about not getting the car dirty. Weird! They also adored the front and rear sunroofs and the power shades that covered them both. Most importantly, they were able to get in and out of the Murano easily and were usually able to buckle themselves in. Oh, and Housekeeping found that chewed gum comes off the lovely leather seats quite easily. (Yes, I’m Housekeeping.)

You know how some hotels provide a safe in your room for storing your valuables? With the Murano, you have to imagine the entire car is the safe and that you and yours are the valuables. Not only will the Murano keep you comfortable and riding in style, it also protects you from injury in the event of an accident.

An intuitive all-wheel-drive system and stability and traction control provide the mechanics for keeping all four tires where they need to be at all times. An advanced airbag system includes dual-stage airbags for the driver and passenger, as well as roof-mounted side curtain airbags and supplemental airbags for front and rear passengers. But there’s more to car safety than just counting airbags. The Murano also includes active head restraints, an energy-absorbing steering column, antilock brakes and electronic brake-force distribution – phew! That’s a mouthful!