Cons: Questionable door construction may lead to rattles and ticks
The Bottom Line: The Murano SL is designed for a comfortable, smooth and sporty ride. It beats the RX330 in driving performance and has a much more comfortable ride than the FX35.
When I first saw the Murano at a Nissan dealership in early 2003, painted in Sunlit Copper with a brick colored interior, I truly thought it was horrific. I even refused an invitation to test drive the car back then. Why Nissan chose the copper color for its sales brochure is beyond me and it seemed like a marketing blunder. It wasn't until October when I saw a Murano actually driven on the road. The body color was Super Black and I couldn't take my eyes off of it. For the first time, I could appreciate the Murano's unique and graceful design which looked stunning in black.
My lease was expiring in a few months, so I placed the Murano on my test drive list which included the Infiniti FX35 and Lexus RX330. The three vehicles share a critical design that was important to me. They looked like big sedans rather than wagons. Since the media has had a problem classifying these new crossover SUV's, I suggest that a new category be formed and name the new group- Super Cars. They are big, roomy and have car-like attributes with state-of-the-art technology.
Exterior Design
When observing a Murano moving toward you, at a distance, it first appears as a full sized car. A side view explains the reason for this phenomenon. Its steeply raked windshield gives it a perceived lowered profile head on. The front grill sweeps wide into the xenon headlights for a combined high tech and traditional design. At the side profile, a short front hood is overtaken by the long upswept windshield and graceful window lines. I like the way the pillar window angles upward into the rear hatch. It gives the Murano a sporty look when combined with its large 18" alloy wheels. Oddly, the rear view is Murano's best profile. That angle displays a muscular appearance enhanced by its long red taillights
Interior Design
The dashboard had been my biggest complaint within the interior. The trio of gauges appears to be tacked on. The flat top contains large rectangles to place maps and an instrumentation pod sticks out over the center console. Weird was my first impression of this layout seen in a beige color. However, the issue seems to disappear with a black interior. The dashboard design melds better in black. When driving, the gauges are perfectly placed and easy to read. The dashboard is out of the way for clear viewing outside. The pod placed next to the right hand for convenient button pushing. After a period of time behind the wheel, my opinion on the dashboard had changed from being weird to being perfectly functional; and this new level of awareness elevates much of the Murano's questionable designs.
The driver's seat adjusts in every direction including the acceleration and brake pedals. This provides superb comfort and all around vision. (Although, every SUV has that blind spot in the lower rear end. A backup camera would be helpful.) The passenger and rear seats are very comfortable with easy entry and plenty of leg room. The rear seats recline yielding additional comfort for passengers.
The Murano has a well designed cargo area with pockets to store small items. One pull of a lever and the rear seat fully collapses flat for a larger storage area. One minor complaint, the rear hatch has to be opened manually. An automatic opener would have been a worthwhile feature. The interior noise level is low with only a slight wind intrusion above 70 mph. Of course, that issue becomes irrelevant when you crank up the volume on the 225 watt Bose Audio System.
Driving Performance
Under the hood of the Murano is Nissan's world class V6 engine. The 245 hp power plant is combined with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) providing excellent harmony between power train and body frame. The CVT has near-infinite number of ratios between first and drive mode. This amazing technology provides one of the smoothest riding vehicles that I've ever ridden. No jerking or shifting of gears, yet the acceleration is delivered when needed.
When driving is the D mode, the CVT provides the torque necessary for quick acceleration from a stopped position. As speed increases, the CVT rapidly drops the rpm's to less than 2k. This programmed behavior works well in normal driving conditions. It creates a smooth, quiet and fuel efficient ride. However, there are times when a more responsive driving is required, such as, a rapid acceleration to change lanes or driving up a steep ascent. The CVT is reluctant to keep the engine revved. Nissan engineers must have known about this because they provided the Murano with a unique Ds mode.
When shifting into Ds and pressing the gas pedal, the rpm's zooms past the 4k level to create peak torque and an instant burst of speed. It's similar to a turbo charged effect without the lag. Once the velocity is met, a shift back to D mode resumes normal driving conditions. If you keep the gas pedal steady when making a shift to Ds, the car speed remains the same and you can't feel a gear change as you would in a normal transmission dropping into 3rd gear. You can hear the engine revving and see the tachometer rise, but unless you do something different to the gas pedal, the Murano doesn't blink. Using the Ds mode frequently, like a manual shift, makes the Murano a blast to drive. It's not only for speed on demand, but also for quick engine braking on a two ton vehicle around curves or at stoplights. When you combine an amazing driving machine with superb braking power, you have complete confidence over any road condition.
Steering and Suspension
The Murano has precision steering and it's easy to maneuver in tight spots. The car's length, less than my Lexus ES300, makes parallel parking a breeze. I found the suspension on the 2004 Murano SL greatly improved over the 2003 model. When I first test drove the 2003, I thought the SL and SE models had the same stiff suspension. I test cars by riding over railroad tracks. The 2003 SL model severely jolted the passengers and had a stiff jiggly ride. The 2004 SL rode over the tracks nearly as well as my Lexus. It has a car-like compliant ride with hardly any body lean around corners. The 2004 SE model has a firmer suspension and feels like a truck. Nissan did add a six gear electronic shift to the SE, but I found it to be too much work compared to using the SL's Ds mode.
Driving the Murano SL at Parkway speeds is a dream for an SUV. You can take your hands off the steering wheel and it will stay straight. It has a stable and smooth ride without torque steer. The CVT's highest ratio is well suited for a heavy SUV at high speeds. It allows the Murano to have a relaxed effortless cruise without having to constantly push the gas pedal. This makes long drives a pleasant journey.
Reliability
When visiting the Internet forums for any model automobile, you may get a feeling that no car is safe from defects. It seems that the early production models for the Murano has had its share of problems, mostly in the form of rattles, but there have been CVT warranty replacements too. A first generation design normally has production issues, particularly one with an unusual body style. I found the Murano's doors to be very light and cheaply constructed. Rattles are destined to happen.
The fuel efficiency was at the low end of the EPA guideline, which is reported to be between 17 and 23 in the city. I've been averaging just over 18 mpg, which is relatively better than other SUV's.
The J.D. Power automobile rating on the 2003 Murano received the highest five star rating by owners, which ties the Lexus RX330 and surpasses the Infiniti FX series. The Murano beat the RX and FX in the performance rating with five stars and tied the RX in the comfort rating with five stars verses only three stars for the FX. It's an interesting report to read at www.jdpower.com. My own rating system for automobiles uses 20 categories based on mechanical, driving experience and design features. A maximum total of 100 points can be earned. Based on my system the Murano SL scored 95, the Lexus RX330 rated 89 and the Infiniti FX35 managed 85.
When I priced the Murano SL at four dealerships, all dealers offered the 2004 model at or below invoice. The MSRP on the 2004 Murano SL with all-wheel drive, the touring package, dynamic control package, navigation system, floor mats, splash guards, cargo area protector, sunroof and wind deflector came to $37,730. The packages include heated leather seats, HID xenon headlights, Bose Audio System, wheel traction control, roof rails and GPS DVD navigation. One dealer's final offer came to $33,574. We're talking about a discount of over $4,150 making the Murano an absolute bargain compared to the RX or FX, which were priced at least $10,000 higher.
A 39-month lease based on the negotiated price with 15,000 miles per year allowance and a $2,000 down payment came to $433 per month before taxes. For about $3 more a month, extended warranty coverage to 49,000 miles can be bought. It includes towing and car rental expenses should a repair take more than a day. The FX and RX with similar options were priced around $100 more per month.
Final Thoughts
Since merging with Renault, Nissan's engineers have bolted out of their boring box to deliver bold new concepts and designs. It's having a major impact on the auto industry. With Infiniti's sales up over 40% last year, other manufacturers are now planning new concept cars and all I can say, it's about time. So if you're thinking about buying or leasing one of these new Super Cars, the 2004 Murano SL is worth exploring and test driving. You might even get the silly thoughts I get when you arrive at your planned destination, Don't open the door, I'm sure there's another place I must drive to. Drive on, brother, drive on. . . .
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 33,574
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: Murano SL, AWD
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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