Nissan's new design language is growing on me. The upcoming Maxima will probably make me a fan. I love the floating roof and rear quarter windows + tail lamps.
Evander Smart Aesthetically speaking, I'm with you on the Murano. I definitely give the nod to Nissan for the Murano's interior (those seats are soooo comfortable), but that CVT is pretty much keeping me from committing to buy it. After I test drive the new Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX twins, the Murano might be a tough sell for me.
Mike Mitchell CVTs have come a LONG way in the last couple of years. Toyota has a great one in the Corolla, and the Murano's is pretty smart. A manual is better than any slushbox or CVT anyway.
Evander Smart While that is true, I still can't get past the droning when I mash the throttle on CVT-equipped vehicles. I've yet to try the one in the '15 Subaru WRX and Legacy, but from what I've read/heard, it's one of the best on the market.
e does a great review of the Murano, and he shows you from inside the vehicle the CVT doesn't act like that anymore. They have made it sound and act like a regular transmission. It only tool 10 years.
Mike Mitchell I own a 2015 Subaru Forester XT which uses their "High Torque" CVT and once the transmission is at normal operating temperatures, there's absolutely no noise or "droning". I test drove a new Murano last month and the CVT in it isn't quite as quiet as the one in my Subaru, but it's still very quiet and I had to really strain to hear it with the radio off. Nissan has chosen to keep their CVT running in a fixed 8 ratios so it emulates a smooth 8 speed automatic and does so very well. The paddle shifters add to the fun a bit but like the ones in my Forester XT, are more for novelty than necessity. The new Murano is worth a drive, and I'd easily choose it over the dated looking Edge or the unreliable Grand Cherokee. If the wife approves once she test drives it, I'll buy her the Platinum.
I just test drove a 2015 Platinum AWD... it was an amazing ride. I don't care much for the towing. that's what a truck is for. The ride was smooth, had tons of get up and go, and very spacious. Also the Zero Gravity seats are extremely comfortable. You could drive for days and not hurt on those seats. VERY GREAT CAR! Looking forward to buying one!
LUKE! I never in a MILLION YEARS expected you to go through the trouble of answering my questions. Do you know how IMPRESSED I am right now?! You are one SOLID MAN! I know you're a journalist and I am making all kinds of grammar mistakes right now. Wow, as busy as you are to go out of your way to answer my silly common question makes me feel so remarkable special Luke. I ENVY your line of work so much. Rubbing elbows with the big guys and being around the all kinds of awesome cars and then writing about the experience. I know it's not all peaches and cream but all and all. When I was 12 I thought I wanted to be a BODY TECH just to be around cars. If I had been more ROUNDED I would of been introduced to talking about cars or writing about cars I never ended up in that field. Go figure I am at an airport. haha. Thanks again Luke. ;)
Best looking most originally styling CUV I the market right now. All the others look the same: Pathfinder, pilot., traverse, terrains, all boxy looking. This is style. As close as a concept CUV as you will get.
Luke thanks for the review on this vehicle even though I don't like nissan(only the GT-R)... You did a good job man..some of this assholes that put stupid comments don't understand that sometimes is not what you guys want to review is what's available...
The intelligent Awd seems interesting not for off-roading but transfers torque when cornering and starting to improve handling wnd acceleration. Is that correct?
That is correct ! We have a 2011 Murano Cross Cabriolet that comes standard with AWD and we had a 2014 Edge AWD at the and tbh during our winters here in PA i felt more secure in the Nissan because of the AWD than the Ford. I feel the Ford was more slip and grip than being on for whatever may happen. Also the Nissan allowed to to lock the AWD for really deep snow and that helped me get out of a lot of tricky spots with relative ease. In the Ford i would have to really work it to get the same results
Hey Luke, Great Review as ALWAYS. Quick Question (if you read the comments) Was your Tester AWD or FWD? and do the Rear seats Recline on the low end models?
Isn't agility aided by nissan awd torque vectoring that improves cornering understeer/oversteer and with light steering it should handle really well. Despite its size, right?
i think they upgraded the cvt to a high torque xtronic transmission. Please explain what that means. One reviewer said itnshifts must faster no wonder it hits 0-60 in 7. 3!
Are you kidding me?? The Murano strongsuit is its artistic design, this makes everythig else look boring. www.waukeshanissan.com/DealerSites/research/2015-Images/Nissan/Murano/2015-murano.jpg
Nissan is not a premium brand you cant compare this to a Land Rover, Audi much less a Porsche which will probably cost you more money in options than a full price of a Nissan. This competes with the likes of the Ford Edge, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot etc
Is this the xtronic cvt? Nisssan makes some claims on this new cvt. It helps acceleration, has less friction, feels more like a traditional tranny. Guess it is all true.
Does the 2015 Murano's front look like Donald Duck to anyone else? The 2015 Murano is too ugly to even consider buying it. Nissan really needs a new design team.
David Bennett Yeah the front looks like Donald Duck and the back looks like a wide-faced toad. The design team at Nissan must really hate their cars lol.
David Bennett wow really guys, are you get paid bashing all these japanese car industri ? you all make the same lame comment about japanese car in every car video i come across !! that lame !!!
