Star-Telegram.com's view

Nissan’s newest generation of the Murano crossover utility vehicle went on sale this past week with a surprise – even with dozens of improvements and upgrades, the 2009 model’s base price is $1,500 less than that of the previous model, Nissan North America Inc. said.

The base Murano S model with front-wheel drive begins at $27,075 (including freight), while the top-of-the-line LE model with all-wheel drive is $36,655.

In between are the S model with all-wheel drive, $28,675; the midlevel SL with front drive, $28,175; and the SL with all-wheel drive, $30,225.

It follows introductions of new or redesigned vehicles over the past 18 months that have included the Altima, Maxima and Sentra sedans, the first Altima coupe, the subcompact Versa sedan and hatchback, and the Quest minivan, as well as the Infiniti G35 sedan and G37 coupe from Nissan’s luxury division.

When it was introduced for 2003, the Murano was unique among crossovers, with nothing styled even close to it. With its sleek, curved roofline and rounded edges, it was the first crossover utility vehicle that broke from the pack and didn’t have the boxy look of the traditional SUV.

Today, there are several crossovers on the market that have emulated the Murano’s design, and the vehicle no longer stands alone.

Nissan’s biggest Japanese rival, Toyota, unveiled its own Murano-like vehicle last week at the Detroit auto show, a similarly-sized and -shaped five-passenger crossover called the Venza. It goes on sale this fall, joining two traditionally-styled crossovers, the compact RAV4 and midsize Highlander, in Toyota’s lineup.

Ford has a similar model in the new Edge, and others include the Mazda CX-7 and Hyundai Veracruz.

The redesigned Murano builds on the strengths of the original, but retains the same basic shape.

The Murano essentially is an SUV version of the popular Altima sedan. It’s built in Kyushu, Japan, rather than at the Altima factories in Smyrna, Tenn., and Canton, Miss., “because it is a global vehicle” that is sold in other markets as well, Nissan spokesman Fred Standish said.

Unlike many other vehicles, especially when approaching a model changeover, the Murano has gained in sales over the years, with the best sales in 2006 – 81,064 units. And even with the new model on the way, more than 73,000 were sold last year.

That was in line with the boom in crossover sales overall, aided by the rise in gasoline prices. The Murano faces increased competition in the segment, though, which will have 25 different entries this year.

This newest Murano rides on the same chassis as the redesigned Altima sedan, as well as the new Altima coupe.

With the changes, it reaches a “new level of refinement,” model-line director Rich Latek said during a recent media introduction of the vehicle.

Among exterior changes are a new grille, fascia and headlights, along with larger fender flares, new horizontal taillights, and larger fender openings.

The car has a new dual-panel moon roof, standard 18-inch alloy wheels, and optional 20-inch wheels.

Overall dimensions are nearly the same as before, although the car is an inch longer and taller. The rear glass area is larger, allowing for better visibility from inside.

Powering the Murano is the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine used in the Altima sedan and coupe. This engine, the heart of the car’s sporty driving experience, cranks out 265 horsepower and 248 foot-pounds of torque.

It’s connected to a revised version of Nissan’s continuously variable automatic transmission, which has been improved with better shift algorithms to offer smoother acceleration.

The “intuitive” all-wheel drive is designed for all road surfaces, wet or dry, and directs power 50/50 to front and rear wheels for a smooth start-up. During routine cruising, most of the power goes to the front wheels. The rear wheels can get up to half of the power.

“This makes the vehicle more secure and stable in various road conditions,” Latek said.

For better ride comfort and less interior noise and vibration, the new model’s body is 50 percent stiffer than the previous version’s, Nissan said.

The vehicle has subtle “welcome lighting,” and the optional leather upholstery comes with double stitching. Wood and aluminum accents are included on the fancier versions.

Options include a Bose audio system with 11 speakers and a GPS/DVD navigation/audio system with a 9.3-gigabyte hard drive for music storage.

EPA fuel-economy ratings are 18 miles per gallon in the city and 23 on the highway, for both front- and all-wheel-drive models, and are comparable to those of the previous generation.

The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III have appeared regularly in the Star-Telegram since 1995. Contact him at chambers@express-news.net.