Nissan Murano

Side Exterior View - 2012 Nissan Murano 2WD 4-door S

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Shopping for a 2012 Nissan Murano? MSRP: $29,960 - $40,560

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With underpinnings based on those of the mid-size Altima sedan, the Nissan Murano is a bit more stylish and sportier than the typical crossover vehicle. With seating for five, it does not offer a third row of seating, off-road ability, or impressive towing capability. What it does offer is a more urbane, more fuel-efficient alternative to truck-based SUVs like the current Ford Explorer or even Nissan's own Pathfinder and Xterra SUVs.

Two generations of Murano crossovers have been built. The first 2003-2007 model had a pleasantly edgy, urban shape. Sized like the competition, the Ford Edge and the early Toyota Highlander, the Murano took the styling kudos. Mechanically, it also had an edge over the Ford and the Toyota, with better steering and a more nimble feel, thanks to its family-plan architecture based on Nissan's well-received Altima four-door.

Power in the first-generation Murano came from a 245-horsepower version of Nissan's corporate 3.5-liter V-6. The power flowed to front-wheel or all-wheel drive via a continuously variable transmission--a gearless, stepless unit that uses belts and pulleys to vary transmission ratios. While CVTs can improve fuel economy, they also generally add to powertrain noise and feel slow to respond. The Murano's CVT was easily the least attractive part of its package.

The first Murano's interior offered five-passenger seating and a decently roomy cargo space as well. Safety proved very good, with the crossover earning the federal government's top ratings for front and side-impact protection.

Nissan skipped the Murano for the 2008 model year as it had a new vehicle prepared for an early introduction. The 2009 Murano didn't differ too dramatically from the original underneath, but the sheetmetal changed nearly all for the better--save for a toothy grille slotted in up front. The running gear migrated to the fourth-generation Nissan Altima platform, and the powertrain was updated to 265 hp (it's now rated at 260 hp). The CVT was upgraded to include programmed "gears" that gave the transmission the feel of an automatic gearbox, with paddle shifters enabling driver choice of the ratios. Unfortunately, the Murano lost its five-star front-impact rating from the NHTSA in the transition.

The Murano was Nissan's first crossover vehicle, but since its debut it's been joined by the smaller lookalike Nissan Rogue. Nissan has expanded the Murano family for 2012 with the unusual CrossCabriolet convertible, and it's also spinning off a new Pathfinder seven-seat crossover and a similar Infiniti JX35 seven-seater for the 2013 model year, all from the same basic platform.