2009 Nissan Murano: Car-like crossover is comfortable and versatile

March 23, 4:51 PMNY Autos ExaminerNick Yost

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   2009 Nissan Murano, above, and instrument panel, below

What is it? 5-passenger crossover vehicle

How much? Base price, $27,660 to $37,260, depending on trim level

What’s to like? Drives like a car, comfortable ride, upgraded interior, stylish exterior

What’s not? No manual override for automatic transmission, no SE sport model

How powerful? 265-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6

How fast? 0-60 mph: 7.5 seconds (est.); top speed: N.A.

How efficient? EPA: 18 mpg city/22 highway

Major options: Navigation, dual panel sunroof, rear entertainment system, premium, 11-speaker audio system, rear-view monitor

Safety features: Seat belts, Front air bags, front and rear side-curtain air bags, traction and stability control, crumple zones, side-impact beams

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When Japanese manufacturer Nissan began planning for the second generation of its successful Murano crossover vehicle, the design teams came up with two very different ideas.

One plan was for a radically changed design, while the other was for a fresh face that retained obvious cues from the first generation model.

The more conservative design won out and the result is the second-generation Murano. Evolution, not revolution, is the keyword.

The decision is not surprising considering the Murano, introduced in 2003 as one of the automotive industry’s first mid-sized, car-based utility vehicles, has been an unqualified success story.

United States sales of nearly 48,000 vehicles in the first year were exceeded every year through 2006, when the total hit 81,000. The Murano is now sold in 130 countries.

Same size as before

Although its design has not changed dramatically, the new vehicle has been thoroughly updated inside and out, striking a somewhat more aggressive pose, but it is nearly identical in size and retains essentially the same amount of interior room as its five-passenger predecessor.

The 2009 model, built from the same platform used for the recently redesigned Altima sedan, is 1½ times stiffer than its predecessor. The result is a quieter, smoother riding vehicle.

The 3.5-liter V-6 engine has been upgraded to produce 265 horsepower, 25 more than before, and 248 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 4. It is mated to an upgraded continuously variable transmission with adaptive shift control that reduces the rubbery feeling typical of CVTs.

However, Nissan has dropped the manual-shift mode that allowed a driver to select from six specific gear ratios, claiming that improved handling and a new, more precise steering system that is shared with the Altima sedan and 350Z sports car give the Murano its expected aura of sportiness.

The upgraded all-wheel drive system, available on all models, works with the stability control system to improve traction in all weather conditions. In addition to simply monitoring wheel slippage, sensors measure the vehicle’s intended direction against its actual direction to direct power to the appropriate wheels.

The revised independent suspension, combined with front and rear stabilizer bars and high-performance shock absorbers, improves stability and ride comfort on rough roads.

The antilock brakes are vented discs at all four wheels that feature electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist. Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steeringis properly weighted and communicative.

In 300 miles of driving, the Murano proved to be a pleasant traveling companion. Body roll was not excessive and highway ride comfort was similar to that of a sedan. The engine-transmission combination provided plenty of power and when the accelerator was pushed to the floor to get around traffic the CVT felt as if it were dropping into passing gear.

As it has done with all new-generation vehicles, Nissan has significantly upgraded the interior. Materials appear to be of better quality and the 2009 Murano has a new instrument panel and redesigned front-row seats that offer more support. Optional leather seating is more luxurious than before and heated seats are available front and rear.

Lots of cargo space

The generous 31.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seat can be expanded to 64 cubic feet when the second-row seats are folded flat. A power-return feature is optional on the base model, standard on the others. A cargo organizer with vertical partitions will pop up from beneath the cargo floor to divide storage space and keep gear from rolling around.

The Murano is available in three trim levels – S, SL and LE. The SE, sportiest of the first-generation Muranos, has been dropped. The S and SL versions are available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The top-of-the-line LE has all-wheel drive as standard equipment.

With a topsy-turvy economy and an uncertain future for gas prices, it’s hard to predict any successes in the auto industry these days. What does seem certain, though, is that the legions of consumers who liked the first-generation Murano will like this one even better.