Test Drive Nissan Murano since 2008 SUV
Mazda CX-7 & Nissan Murano
Mazda CX-7 and Nissan Murano are forced to turn around them after. But what hides their fitness appearance? What feelings cause hot hearts of these cars. It will be about the Japanese car Nissan Murano, and the Mazda CX-7 was created specifically for American consumers, and their main sales market is behind the ocean, but in our test they met on the picturesque expanses of the Yaroslavl region.
At the end of the last century, more than half of all funds allocated by automakers on the experimental design work was spent on the development of traditional SUVs, pickups and minivans. But the demand for classic SUVs began to fall gradually, minivans are also losing popularity. The emphasis began to shift towards multipurpose passenger cars crossovers. In 2006, the segment of light SUV-crossovers in the Russian market increased by 62.1%, and in the first half of 2007 showed an increase of 95% with a total of 64,798 units implemented. Nissan Murano and Mazda CX-7 Some of the brightest representatives of crossover detachments.
True, for each of the brands, these models pursue different purposes. CX-7 claims the role of a leader in the segment and should play for the company on the Russian market the role of sales locomotive. Murano, whose debut in America took place in 2003, and sales in Russia started at the end of 2006, this is a kind of show stopper, causing attention to itself and expressing the emotional component of the Nissan brand. At the same time, the representative office of Nissan in Russia, fateful bets on Murano, in my opinion, does not cross the crossover compared to classmates of roads: its price is about 1545,000 rubles, that is, it is more expensive than CX-7 by 300 thousand, and, for example, Mitsubishi Outlander XL for 340 thousand rubles. And yet we decided to compare CX-7 and Murano. First, because they are close in size, and secondly, because there are motors of approximately the same power. Finally, the main thing: their design in most people causes very positive emotions.
In the target! Which car is more beautiful? I think here you can argue to infinity both deserve five with a plus! In my opinion, Murano looks more aggressive and rapidly than CX-7. Crossover from Mazda is more elegant and sports. Nissan appearance closer to off-road style. CX-7 Something resembles a sports station wagon. Murano is highlighted in bright details: massive front and rear unit headlights, an evil falseradiator grille, pumped wheel arches. All these catchy elements of the exterior add up to a harmonious ensemble. In the appearance of the CC-7, it is difficult to allocate some bright accents, but despite this (and maybe, thanks to this), the car looks very purposeful. Curious, by the way, that the designers Nissan and Mazda use the same technique to give dynamism to the appearance of their crossovers. Pay attention to the lower line of the side windows: both in Murano, and CX-7, it rises noticeably from the side mirrors to the back of the car. Even in the statics, this line creates a visual sensation of movement.
Attention and some other details are drawn. CX-7 door handles are painted in body color, and Murano has chrome. The CX-7 is quite large, strictly parallel Earth front Sve. In Murano, it is visually significantly less largely due to the powerful shock for the protection of the motor compartment. CX-7 has no luggage retardations (special holes are provided for attaching luggage crossing on the roof), Murano has this practical element of the exterior very well fit into the appearance. Externally, Mazda and Nissan are different, but they are similar to energy and dynamics want to quickly be driving these cars and evaluate their true potential. Having settled behind the wheel, I understand that the inner world differs from these Japanese crossovers. Front panel CX-7 duplex. One visor passes through the entire width of the cabin, shading the information display, and the second, optional, covers the dashboard. After breaking the panel into two floors, the designers visually reduced its size, thus shown, thus, the surface under strongly tilted windshield. By the way, to improve the aerodynamics, the angle of inclination of the windshield CX-7 is 66. This is the greatest value among the existing models in this class.
Behind the wheel of the CX-7 you do not feel like a SUV driver landing Typically light: legs stretched, steering wheel is located vertically. Pretty hard chairs with severe side support are well held in turns. And behind the wheel of Murano, I felt the driver of a minivan due to a high vertical landing and a huge front panel, on top of which the shelves for papers are located. The combination of devices of both crossovers is focused on the driver. But the interior design of Murano on the background of CX-7 looks simpler. The central console advanced forward, a combination of devices in the spirit of the Nissan 350Z sports accumulation, it would seem, should bring a sportiness notch, however, inexpressive yellow appliances scales, a simple schedule of the on-board computer display and unassuming plastic spoil the impression.
The front armchairs from Murano are some amorphous and soft, the steering column is adjusted only in height of the American manner, significantly changing when setting the angle of inclination. However, it is convenient to get along the wheel of Nissan will be easy thanks to the adjustable pedal node, which, by the way, is also typical Americanism.
On the rear seat, Murano wins here with the comfort of the comfort, three adults will be able to accommodate. Phone in the back row CX-7 is not so comfortable. But in terms of the volume of the luggage compartment, the convenience of transformation of the salon from these cars parity (rear seats folded easier: it is enough to pull special levers in the trunk, and the backrests of the seats fall down, forming a smooth floor). Running
Under hoods of crossovers installed motors, fully appropriate to the sports image of these cars. On CX-7 there is a turbocharged engine with a volume of 2.3 liters and with a capacity of 238 hp. (350 nm / 2500 rpm). The hot hatchback Mazda 3 MPS is also equipped with a hot hatchback Mazda 3 MPS, however, the crossover power unit is deformed so that it can consume gasoline with an octane number 95. 8.3 s is required to accelerate up to 100 km / h CX-7. The engine quickly accelerates the car from the lowest, making acceleration at the same time comfortable and sports. The maximum vehicle speed is limited by electronics at 181 km / h.
It is curious that at Murano did not wear such a strict electronic collar, this crossover is able to develop 200 km / h. Engine V6 with a capacity of 234 hp I dispersed Murano to hundreds for 9.5 s, but the sensation of the speaker is cleaned by the character of the work of the Klinorenny variator X-TRONIC CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). When accepted, the motor freezes on high speed, and since the transmissions are not switched (there is simplicated in the variator), there is no pickup. When overtaking, I want to go over the reduced transmission, and the variator does not know how to do this, however, there is a manual switching mode, but it must be used to it. Automatic 6-range Mazda gearbox switches on time, quickly and without jerks. However, in the ripped mode of movement, for example, when driving in a column in a city stream, in order to keep up with ahead of the car, it is better to use a manual switching mode. I note that in Europe CX-7 will be sold only with a manual gearbox, and in Russia exclusively with a machine gun.
Schemes of the full drive CX-7 and Murano are similar. In standard road conditions, the torque is transmitted to the front wheels. When they slip, the electronics moves the thrust on the rear axle. Thus, the torque coming, appropriately to the wheels of the front and rear axle, can vary in a ratio of 100/0 to 50/50. The main difference in the full drive systems: Murano has a forced blocking mode of a multi-disc clutch that connects the rear axle, and CX-7 is only automatically blocking. CX-7 and Murano Real Slorvers, these cars are well adapted for long-distance travel. However, CX-7 in turns and on bad asphalt feels more confident. Managing the Mazda crossover, I sometimes forgot that I am driving, in principle, a large and heavy car with a high center of gravity, CX-7 kept the road no worse than the prestigious sedan. The CX-7 controllability is largely reminded by BMW crossovers. Murano, on the contrary, did not allow to forget about its large mass and a high center of gravity: when moving at high speed on a broken asphalt, secondary oscillations of the body were manifested, and in fast turns tangible rolls. Murano reactions during rebuildings are quite lazy, but, however, accurate and
unambiguous. At the desert areas of the roads in the Yaroslavl region, I accelerates at CX-7 to the maximum 180 km / h and enjoyed car management. The threshold of comfortable speed on Murano for me was limited to 140150 km / h (so they will not read these lines of traffic police officers). However, if at high speeds more comfortable in Mazda, then in civil modes of motion it is more convenient than Nissan his suspension is better coping with a broken asphalt when driving in a city stream. It equally calmly overcomes large and small irregularities, asphalt waves. The impression spoils only that the suspension lacks a tangible stock of energy intensity.
Having become acquainted with these pro-American cars on Russian roads, I made my conclusions. Nissan Murano, I think, is suitable for those who appreciate in the car primarily comfort and thoroughness, but at the same time not against excessive attention to his person. And Mazda CX-7 Crossover for people who love cars not only for status, design and versatility, but also for sparking in character.
Specifications Mazda CX-7 Nissan Murano
Dimensions, mm 4675x1870x1645 4770x1880x1745
Base, mm 2750 2825
Pitch, mm 1615/1610 1630/1625
Curb weight, kg 1760 1865
Engine type gasoline 4-cylinder with turbocharging gasoline 4-cylinder with turbocharging
Working volume, cube. CM 2261 2261.
Max. Power, hp / rpm 238/5000 234/6000
Max. Moment, nm / rpm 350/2500 318/3600
Transmission Automatic 6-Range Klinorem Variator
Full drive with automatically
connected rear axis full with automatically
connected back axes
Max. Speed, km / h 181 200
Overclocking time 0100 km / h, from 8.3 9.5
Fuel consumption, l / 100 km 11.5 12.3
Tank volume, l 69 82
price, rub. 1245000 1545000.
Igor Komarov
Photo Yana Segal
A source: Magazine "Autopanoram"
