 On my way to Alex in France
with the cruise control set at 130km/h (to adhere to the highway speed limit) , i was beginning to enjoy my stint with this crossover. Driving in foreign countries can be quite boring for us Indians. People stick to their lanes , roads are butter smooth , road signs keep you well informed and there are no dogs , cows or goats to distract you at high speeds. Speed cameras every few kilometers make sure you don’t go over the specified cruising limit and GPS systems do away with any possibility of you getting lost. On the other hand , such tranquil drives allow you to relax and luxuriate in the lavishness of the vehicle you are driving. In my case , a fully loaded 3.5-liter V6 powered premium SUV from Nissan , the Murano.
The second-generation Murano is a huge vehicle. The leather seats and various steering wheel mounted controls greet you as you step in. The use of high quality materials , soft plastic and clever chrome inserts lend the cabin an upscale ambience and completely justify the Murano’s premium tag. A hard drive-based navigation system and a dedicated iPod interface are also a part of the package. The center console combines vertical controls with a horizontal mini-desk  and a LCD monitor. The Murano has ample space for five , and inspite of my 6 foot 90 odd kg frame , I found the front seats to be utterly comfortable. A small third row is easy to pull out and stow and the best place for kids. Nissan is marketing the Murano as a sporty alternative to the regular SUVs and this theme is reflected in the starter button. Yes , like sports cars , you need to thumb the big potent 265bhp engine to life.
The latest Murano is blessed with the VQ series V6 power plant with another 25 horses and Nissan have hitched it up to the Xtronic continuously variable transmission. Initially I expected the performance to take a hit as there is no substitute for a manual box , but I was pleasantly surprised. The rubber band effect usually associated with CVTs was negligible and the throttle response terrific. In fact , while accelerating from the toll booths (with a fantastic roar from the V6) , the shove from the engine was phenomenal. Nissan claims sub 8 sec timing for the 0-100 km/h sprint. Sticking to the speed limits , I could hardly hear the engine. Smoothness is top rank though the mill is notorious for being too heavy on the gas.
The Murano is a fast vehicle for its size , but with all that weight that it lugs around , the handling leaves much to be desired. In fact , the light feel steering wheel (based on the Altima) and body roll don’t encourage you to push the cross-over into corners. The Murano is also sold with optional  20 inch wheels that add grip and plenty of bling. Out test car was shod with standard 18 inch footwear , and though comfort over typical mountain side road bumps was good , the twisties did have the big crossover rolling over excessively.
The end of the drive left me with enough time to spend an uninterrupted evening with the vehicle that will be hitting the Indian market in the first quarter of 2009. This second generation Murano has received a new grille design and front fascia has freshened up the looks. It always had a striking coupe like look and with the latest design , it looks even sportier. The hood with deeper dips on each side gives a curvier look. The wheel arches are bigger , and filled with larger 18” alloys. There’s a more pronounced character in the body lines. The old vertical tail lights have been turned 90 degrees to run horizontally and the rear fascia has been redrawn. Nissan claim they worked hard to retain the car’s essential “Murano-ness , ” and to my eye , they have succeeded.
Nissan entered the Indian car segment way back in 2004 with the X-Trail. The luxury saloon Teana founds its way here last year and now with the upcoming Chennai facility , Nissan have grand plans for the local market from 2009 onwards starting with the Murano. Selling for around thirteen lakh in Japan , through the CBU route , it should find its way here priced under the Rs 30 lakh mark. For this kind of money , the Murano will literally have no competition. Has Nissan won half the battle already?
More photos:
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The second-generation Murano is a huge vehicle. The leather seats and various steering wheel mounted controls greet you as you step in. The use of high quality materials , soft plastic and clever chrome inserts lend the cabin an upscale ambience and completely justify the Murano’s premium tag. A hard drive-based navigation system and a dedicated iPod interface are also a part of the package. The center console combines vertical controls with a horizontal mini-desk
and a LCD monitor. The Murano has ample space for five , and inspite of my 6 foot 90 odd kg frame , I found the front seats to be utterly comfortable. A small third row is easy to pull out and stow and the best place for kids. Nissan is marketing the Murano as a sporty alternative to the regular SUVs and this theme is reflected in the starter button. Yes , like sports cars , you need to thumb the big potent 265bhp engine to life.
The latest Murano is blessed with the VQ series V6 power plant with another 25 horses and Nissan have hitched it up to the Xtronic continuously variable transmission. Initially I expected the performance to take a hit as there is no substitute for a manual box , but I was pleasantly surprised. The rubber band effect usually associated with CVTs was negligible and the throttle response terrific. In fact , while accelerating from the toll booths (with a fantastic roar from the V6) , the shove from the engine was phenomenal. Nissan claims sub 8 sec timing for the 0-100 km/h sprint. Sticking to the speed limits , I could hardly hear the engine. Smoothness is top rank though the mill is notorious for being too heavy on the gas.
The Murano is a fast vehicle for its size , but with all that weight that it lugs around , the handling leaves much to be desired. In fact , the light feel steering wheel (based on the Altima) and body roll don’t encourage you to push the cross-over into corners. The Murano is also sold with optional
20 inch wheels that add grip and plenty of bling. Out test car was shod with standard 18 inch footwear , and though comfort over typical mountain side road bumps was good , the twisties did have the big crossover rolling over excessively.
The end of the drive left me with enough time to spend an uninterrupted evening with the vehicle that will be hitting the Indian market in the first quarter of 2009. This second generation Murano has received a new grille design and front fascia has freshened up the looks. It always had a striking coupe like look and with the latest design , it looks even sportier. The hood with deeper dips on each side gives a curvier look. The wheel arches are bigger , and filled with larger 18” alloys. There’s a more pronounced character in the body lines. The old vertical tail lights have been turned 90 degrees to run horizontally and the rear fascia has been redrawn. Nissan claim they worked hard to retain the car’s essential “Murano-ness , ” and to my eye , they have succeeded.
Nissan entered the Indian car segment way back in 2004 with the X-Trail. The luxury saloon Teana founds its way here last year and now with the upcoming Chennai facility , Nissan have grand plans for the local market from 2009 onwards starting with the Murano. Selling for around thirteen lakh in Japan , through the CBU route , it should find its way here priced under the Rs 30 lakh mark. For this kind of money , the Murano will literally have no competition. Has Nissan won half the battle already?
More photos: