The new Nissan Murano. Picture by Jennifer Burton.
ROADTEST FACTFILE
Car: Nissan Murano
Model: 3.5-litre V6 automatic
mpg: 25.92
CO2: 261
Price: £32,150
Loaned by Staddlestones Nissan, Ryde
SOMETIMES it’s nice to drive a car that can love you back.
A car that lets you relax in comfortable, soft leather seats, that remembers just how and where you like your seat positioned and slides automatically into place when you push the start button.
It warms or cools the cab to just the right temperature, depending on whether it is a chilly autumn morning or sunny afternoon.
The Nissan Murano does all that and much more, riding easily over bumpy Island roads and gliding effortlessly and safely round bendy country lanes.
Add to that its large interior space, double sunroof and not forgetting its all-mode four-wheel drive and the Murano is an attractive package for drivers who want power, luxury and versatility. The Murano comes in just one model, with a 3.5-litre V6 engine (same as used in Nissan’s award-winning 350Z sports car) ready to turn on the power and automatic transmission to make good use of it.
The four-wheel drive is selected automatically when the car needs it, so there is nothing to worry about there, whatever the conditions.
Key, literally, to getting started is the Nissan intelligent key, which is actually a fob that allows push-button door opening and ignition.
The parking brake is foot operated — and as the car is an automatic it gives your left foot something to do.
The Murano is described as a crossover vehicle, which I think means it takes the best of both worlds, from luxury saloon motoring and rugged, useful all-terrain 4x4s.
My motoring in the very shiny blue Murano, loaned by Staddlestones Nissan, Ryde, was purely on road and, except for the higher driving position, was indistinguishable from a luxurious executive saloon. But it was nice to know the tough-guy 4x4 edge was there for harder weather or terrain.
The Murano is extremely well appointed, with automatic lights and wipers, Bi-Xenon headlights, Bose speaker system, sat nav, colour display, colour rear-view parking camera, heated seats front and back, adjustable seats and storage ideas and even electrically operated blinds on the sunroof. Indeed, it was hard for Nissan to think of any optional extras — metallic paint and rear-seat DVD players was all it could add.
The Murano even features Scratch Guard Paint, whose elastic resin can repair minor scratches within one week by itself.
So all you need to worry about is the colour you want — black, grey, white, bronze, merlot or sapphire — and whether that leather upholstery is to be beige or charcoal.
Then just get in, drive off and enjoy it.