In a year that’s seen a general sense of apathy towards anything of a four-wheeled persuasion, Nissan’s product juggernaut has relentlessly muscled its way into many sought-after segments.
No European marque can claim to have had such an impressive goody bag with which to rouse car buyers from their recessionary slumber. Think Nissan NP200, Navara King Cab, the punchy 370Z sports car and, most impressively, a promise delivered with the first raft of Nissan GT-R supercars reaching fully paid-up customers.
Subjectively, the all-new Murano looks smaller than the one it replaces. Nissan is also full of references to it now being a “crossover SUV”, with “SUV-like conveniences”.
Despite appearances, the new Murano is actually bigger. Wheelbase, height and width are all the same, but the new vehicle is longer — proof that the “I want it all and I want it now” era that gave birth to the original Murano is all but over. It can still be big, but it mustn’t look that big.
One must admit, though, no matter how deft the styling, it is getting harder to justify the excess of large SUVs. Aside from taller ride height and improved visibility in traffic, what are you really paying for? Most new MPVs offer as much storage and convenience on the inside and many smaller, cheaper SUVs offer as much capability when you find yourself off-road.
The answer in the Nissan Murano’s (R488 000) case is in the drive.
As you set off, still mulling over what an absolute dinosaur the large SUV has become, your reasoning slowly comes under cross-examination from all the deft and positive inputs in this car.
The completely decorous ride, thanks to independent front struts and multi-link rear suspension, the capable grip from Nissan’s intelligent All Mode 4×4-i four-wheel drive system, the improved power and torque (191kW and 336Nm) from the V6 petrol engine and even the not-totally-awful CVT (automatic) gearbox, leave you thinking the Murano (191kW and 336Nm) doesn’t quite deserve to follow the dodo down the path to extinction just yet.
The CVT is a bit sticky at the top of the revs, but for the most part, its droning ways are hidden from the driver. Most impressive of all, though, is the new power-steering system. Carrying the unfortunate acronym of “Two Orifice Power Steering” or Tops, it does give faultless feedback at speed, which gives you the confidence to really take the Murano around some corners while still being light around the car park.
An 11-speaker sound system from Bose, rear parking camera, heated front seats, auto retractable rear seats and an electric tail-gate are all new and standard on the vehicle.