Test drive Nissan Murano 2003 - 2007 SUV

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America is a genuine clondike for gray dealers. Large, powerful, luxurious cars are sold here, many of which are not supplied to Russia through official channels. Why? This is a topic for a separate conversation, but not so reasons are important. Another thing is important. It so happened that there are enough people in Russia, not only loving large, powerful and luxuriously looking cars, but also have the opportunity to not count money. So, there is a plus, there is a minus, there is a good conductor of the pickled waters of the Atlantic, which means that the current will flow inevitably. So he flows. Naturally, bypassing the pockets of white dealers.

It is clear that Russian representative offices and importers are not always able to influence the global policy of manufacturers whose interests they represent. Otherwise, we would have long seen in official show rooms and Cadillac Escalade, and Lexus GX470, and Chrysler Pacifica cars that perfectly fit into the Russian rulers of the corresponding brands, but instead bringing stable income to sellers. Different semi -official schemes are invented from powerlessness, when cars that are not certified in Russia appear in the interior of official dealers, from which representative offices in which case are violently peel off. So, several years ago, individual Honda dealers brought the Acura MDX crossover, and last winter experimented with the Element model. Someone from Chrysler/Jeep offered Dodge Durango in 2004, and relatively recently, a number of Subaru dealers announced the beginning of sales of the American B9 Tribeca.
Nissan dealers are no exception: even in the spring of 2004, Murano and Infiniti FX, real bestsellers of the gray market were drawn in their salons. However, this example is apart, because in this case the situation received a happy continuation. Part of the very aggressive strategy of the Nissan Motor in the European market was the intention to bring here several American models and even the Infiniti brand. So far, everything is going according to plan: the production of the Pathfinder SUV and the Navara pickup of the same type (known as Frontier) has been established in Spain, both cars are sold in Russia, where the 350Z coupe has compiled. Murano just joined them.

Why so late? Indeed, in America, Murano has been proposed since the fall of 2002! Apparently, the Nissanists for a long time were afraid to put the sophisticated and demanding Europeans to the court of the maximum Americanized product structurally simple car with mediocre running characteristics, but richly equipped and in bright packaging. In addition, Murano was confidently sold behind the ocean, the production capacities were loaded, and only when the demand for the machine stabilized, did the opportunity to prepare its new version. I must say that for Murano the Nissanists in the Old World will not be ashamed: despite the apparent uncomplication, this is a rather perfect car. Here are installed an engine with variable phases, a stranded variator (which happens with an SUV for the first time in the world), the transmission can be blocked in all -wheel drive mode, and the advanced ESP+exchange rate of the ESP+exchange rate is at the head of the active security complex.

Alas, the late entry into the market deprives the extravagant Murano of one of the most important, if not the most important trump card of the effect of novelty. Obviously, in our country, officials are unlikely to be able to sell as many cars today as sold through gray channels a couple of years ago (up to two thousand a year). The car has already bored. Another problem is the abundance in the production program of the Japanese brand of SUVs, one of them, the new Pathfinder, plays in almost the same price niche. Why then do you need Murano at all? Nissan hardly considers its appearance in Europe as a big business. Most likely, this machine is assigned the role of an icebreaker, which ensures the unhindered passage of much more important persons of representatives of the Infiniti premium brand. It is on Murano that the program for adapting these cars to the standards of the European market will be rolled up.

As the press release says, about three hundred changes were made to the design of Murano. The main goals that were pursued by engineers are improvement of controllability, increasing resistance at high speeds and increasing the maximum speed by 10 km/h. This required the body strengthening to ensure a higher stiffness for twisting, reconfiguration of suspensions and correction of aerodynamics. Noise insulation was improved in parallel. Other innovations are not so significant and costly. Outside, the European Murano can be distinguished from the American in missing fog, the altered shape of the external mirrors and the ass with the site for European license plates and lanterns of other graphics. And in the salon, the dashboard and the central console were subjected to easy restyling.

The appearance of Murano as was an amateur, so the amateur remained. Someone to horror like this toothy frog with blind eyes, someone does not, but it is pointless to deny the fact that she has her own style. Another thing is that the bio-design, the canons of which follows the exterior of the car, is not in the best way to combine with the techno-interior. Opening the door, you fall into the kingdom of extensive flat surfaces, like going into the distance under the frontal glass of the front panel or inter -cell console, interspersed with deliberately rough elements, among which an unusual instrument module dominates. As expected in such cases, the whole farm is abundantly decorated with metal inserts.

Contrary to its brutality, Murano turned out to be very convenient and comfortable, although there are enough of its ergonomic absurdities here. For example, a large -looking information display with a bit is stuffed with small, poorly readable iconograms. The steering wheel is regulated not so much in height as in the corner of inclination, as it was on old American cars. Finally, the seats are not even seats, but the worst chairs in which you simply drown. Not a hint of side support! But the adjustments ranges are huge, and the most demanding will please the possibility of changing the position of the pedals. So getting comfortable will not present the slightest complexity. It's nice that the rear passengers are convenient and spacious.

Soft chairs create the illusion of smoothness, but in reality this is not entirely true. The suspension here is characterized by a solid supply of energy intensity, despite the fact that the delicacy of the work does not shine. The car does not notice every trifle, but with an increase in the caliber of irregularities, Murano himself begins to bounce, and its suspension is to launch. Maybe this is a fee for outstanding controllability? Alas. It will rightly call Murano reliable than gambling. Yes, the responses of the car are quite expected and predicted, but they do not have enough efficiency and accuracy. In steep turns, there are problems with feedback that the rolls are small. With the approach to the clutch of the wheels with the road, the machine demonstrates the intention to tear the front axis into demolition, but ESP stiffly suppresses such pranks. In general, Murano behaves as a solid SUV, and by no means like a car. The miracle did not happen.

But where Murano showed the class is on a snowy road. Disconnect ESP and get a high a buzz! The car seems to be created for driving in sliding, and it does not require any serious preparation from the driver. The moment of the transition to the skidding is absolutely predictable, and then the car is clearly obeyed by the gas pedal, which allows you to expose it sideways at any angle and it is also easy to return to the true path. Yes, and the stitching steering with its calm settings in such situations is a reliable assistant.

What else is the Murano transmission for? It is not worth counting on much: the maximum that the car knows how to transfer the torque from the shifting front wheels to the rear. Yes, the center coupling can be forcibly blocked, but this practically does not affect cross -country ability. But painted bumers and a small road clearance affect, and how. It turns out that all -wheel drive is here for slippery roads, no more.

On the other hand, when the last time you saw an expensive SUV that storming dirt? Much more often such cars are involved in street racing, breaking off traffic lights and maneuvering among passing cars. And in this discipline, Murano acts convincingly thanks to the steep motor and variator Xtronic. The car starts hard and at first it is gaining speed with a lazy one, but the transition from the first stage for the second time changes everything. Switching is barely noticeable, the engine does not have time to lose momentum and now it demonstrates its hot temper. Murano immediately breaks away from the stream, and a few moments later leaves competitors far behind. For those who seek to have full control over what is happening, a manual mode of switching variator is provided, but it does not give special bonuses. So, toy.

So, within one year, the Russian Nissan acquired two SUVs of American origin. To be precise, an SUV of them is one Pathfinder. And Murano can be called a multi -purpose vehicle that, having passed through the fearless hands of the designers, turned into a fashion accessory. It remains only to find out for yourself: is this accessory still in fashion?

Nissan Murano: Competition

Lexus RX 300, 2002

A direct competitor of the Murano is the Lexus RX300 in the basic configuration R1, which implies the presence of a VSC stabilization system, 9 pillows, leather interior, alloy wheels R17, xenon headlights and audio systems with a CD changer. Engine 204-horsepower V6 with a volume of 3.0 liters. The price of such a machine is $ 56 900. Warranty 3 years or 100,000 km of run.

Subaru B9 Tribeca, 2005

The basic Tribeca will cost at least $ 59,800 for this money you will receive a VDC stabilization system, 8 pillows, climate control, alloy wheels R18, hatch and audio system with CD/MP3. For a leather salon you will have to pay $ 1,700. The engine is 250-horsepower, opposition. Warranty 1 year or 100,000 km of run.

Subaru Outback, 2004

The most sophisticated outback costs $ 54,700, and this is an interesting alternative to Murano. Such a car is equipped with a 245-horsepower engine and automatic, and a generous equipment includes a VDC stabilization system, a road clearance system, 6 pillows, a leather interior, climate control, 17-inch cast discs, hatch and audio system with CD. Warranty 3 years or 100,000 km.

The car was provided by Aurore Auto, the official dealer of the Nissan Motor group during the test, the car is insured by Rosno.

Text: Leonid Klyuyev
 
 
 
 
   
 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 99/2006]