Nissan Murano test drive since 2008 SUV

All photos of Nissan Murano since 2008

The beast of the house of home

The class of sports crossovers is quite young, but has already acquired its own traditions: such cars are prestigious, aggressive outwardly and not cheap.
But the example of Nissan Murano shows that among them there are not only uncompromising tigers of roads, but also quite flexible pets.
The island of Murano, which is located near Venice, is famous for its artistic glass. Products from it are famous for a unique design.

Well, it’s not bad, but if you draw a reverse analogy, it turns out that the fragile products of the islanders, among other things, look quite predatory. Like this red firing of metal and high technologies called Nissan Murano, menacingly mowing at you with a look of oblong headlights.

Looking at the bewitching combination of soft contours and chopped body lines, you do not even dare to assume what kind of Futurism alloy and techno can wait for you inside.
You open a massive door, sit in a wide leather chair, take up the sorrot, the same steering wheel as in Almera Classic! Well, even if it’s not quite the same, but did you not find another tracing paper for a new stern at the Nissan factory?
The old Japanese rule, implemented in many models, adjusting the steering column only along the angle of inclination, did not pass by Murano.
Well, at least, the chairs have almost the entire set of possible movements (of course, on electric traction) they are enough for the eyes. Nevertheless, the class class requires a more thorough approach to the convenience of the driver.

The Nissan Murano salon is unique in its own way for a prestigious crossover. There are no luxurious wooden inserts and a thorough drawing of details. To remember what the door cladding looks like, I looked at the interior photos three times did not hook ... And all because there are no obvious differences from the same Pathfinder in this regard.
What's on the doors? Well, pens and pens. The fact that they are really comfortable (like an armrest and a lever opening doors, and there is a lot of something else), somehow you forget. And in vain.
Murano chairs are like a light PA towards the American public, for which the car is designed. Soft, with a wide pillow, they are great for long trips to highlights. But with sharp maneuvers from such seats, it is easy to fall out of the fifth point on slippery skin, like on a cheesecake.

The front panel of Murano would have approached Micra so unpretentious, even in its own way it is done. Three small mugs of devices in an absurd plastic casing? Where is this almost a premium class?!
But after a couple of hours of driving, you understand: this flight of designer thought does not distract once again from the road, but is affordable to share information. Still, the backlight would not be dark orange, but more or more with a more fun and to find fault with the execution of devices would not want to.
Unusual part of the front panel, which adjoins the windshield. She is almost flat and pulls to bring a couple of pots with flowers from the house to decorate such a windowsill.
What else is interesting? The screen of the on -board computer, located exactly in the middle of the central console, diagonally has as much as 5.8 inches. But access to it, contrary to modern standards, is not a touch, but through a joystick-manipulator and a set of keys located right there on a horizontal shelf.
Frankly, not very convenient, but tolerant. But for the fact that the Japanese did not bother to Russify the on-board computer a big ay-ai-ai.
Specifications
(manufacturer data):
Dimensions, mm (d x w x c) 4770 x 1880 x 1705
Road clearance, mm 181
Equipped mass, kg 1 870
Trunk volume, l 476
Engine volume and power, l (l. P. At rpm) 3.5 (234/6000)
Maximum torque, NM at rpm 318 /3 600
Acceleration to 100 km/h, from 8.9
Maximum speed, km/h 200
Fuel consumption (city/highway) l/100 km 17.2/9.5

Going to the next overtaking, I reinsure and take the machine gun to the right from myself. Now, in manual mode, I move down one gear down and the car is rapidly going into a gap in the oncoming lane.
In vain! It is clearly heard in the calm whisper of the motor. Perhaps really in vain: such maneuvers by the Xtronic CVT variator in automatic mode are digested no worse than with a regular pen on a different 2.5-3.0-liter sedan. And the hydromechanical box did not dream of such a performance at all.
By the way, Nissan Murano is the first swallow among crossovers equipped with a bearing transmission. Such a box usually gets more modest cars and smaller than a smaller engine.

And everything would be fine, but the owners of such cars began to complain about the absence of a feeling of acceleration and acoustic discomfort, because the motor hangs at constant speeds! But in Murano you don’t even remember this: the noise insulation is canceled, and the accelerator pedal even delights so accurately it allows you to dose the effort.
Bach! The next pit was clearly not a disposition of the suspension. Independent in a circle (multi-link), it is not very susceptible to a broken roadway. But it is worth the asphalt to cover the acceptable part of our path, as Nissan turns into a soft, obedient and affectionate home cat.
With a road clearance of 181 mm, we were careful at each exit from a civilized road, although the designers stood the rear differential blocking for the machine, and, accordingly, forced inclusion of all -wheel drive, because on dry asphalt, the car gets the moment only on the front axle

Murano for a large family? Why not? Not the largest trunk, under the floor of which a full -size reserve fit, is easy to increase due to the folding rear seats (in the proportion of 40:60 or completely), and the transformation process itself is worthy of applause: you can easily pull the loop at the junction of the pillow and back, and before you already in front of you A flat platform. Comfortable!
Nissan Murano was sorry to part. Possessing such a harsh appearance and controversial interior, it turned out to be extremely balanced in running qualities. Friendly and understandable, this car will become a good friend on the road, but if you order, it’s ready to show the teeth of the 234-horsepower V6 to this with excess.
And, as if wanting to show his mutual sympathy for the driver for the last time, Murano farewell to a light buzzing pushed the driver's seat, they say, come in, if that. Glorious small!
Prices
One engine, one equipment and, as a result, one price. For a car with a 234 -liter V6 engine. p., Equipped with the variator of the Xtronic CVT, you will be asked from 1,545,900 rubles. The equipment of Nissan Murano includes: 4-channel ABS, antibux system (TCS), brake force distribution system (EBD), emergency braking amplifier (BA), stabilization system (ESP+), frontal and side airbags, as well as side cushion pillows. and active head restraints of the front seats.
You will also receive bixenon headlights, climate control, route computer, Bose stereo system, 6-disc chainer, subwoofer and hatch in the roof.
A car warranty is 100,000 km, or 3 years.
The car is provided for the ADR test by the official Nissan dealer.

Text: Alexander Mikhailov
Photo: Roman Ostanin