2009 Nissan Murano Styling

STYLING  | 8 out of 10

The 2009 Nissan Murano wears all-new sheetmetal, but it shares the same general shape of the first version that went on sale in 2003. Reviewers generally liked the style of the new Murano, but some of its details were more controversial.

MyRide dissected the Murano’s styling and compared it to the 2007 version (Nissan skipped the 2008 model year as it prepared the new version). MyRide notes the headlights form a horizontal line with the grille now, while the fenders have "a strong-shouldered appearance.” They also note the climbing line down the side of the Murano, and its “clean new tail design,” with standard LED taillamps.

Automobile lobbed catcalls at the Murano’s “crooked chrome teeth,” its “bulbous bumpers,” and “the ridiculously oversize badging.” But the majority of opinions thought the Murano’s new shape was an improvement on the original. AutoWeek liked the “cleaner look,” while Cars.com thought “the Murano's nose looks like a cross between the previous generation and the smaller Rogue crossover,” and countered that the “rear end isn’t as bulbous.”

AutoWeek approved of the 2009 Nissan Murano’s interior, calling it “warm and modern, with simple, easy-to-navigate controls, abundant storage and good build quality.” MyRide says the new interior is “along the lines of what buyers might expect behind an Infiniti badge,” and notes the integration of the gauges and the more upscale materials. Autoblog says, “Softer plastics are found everywhere one might reasonably be expected to put a hand.” They also complimented the Murano’s dash, saying, “the new orange-lighted instrument cluster is a welcome improvement, as is the more ergonomic and eye-pleasing center stack.”

TheCarConnection.com’s editors think the Murano’s new shape breathes fresh air into the general theme. The oddly stacked front end isn’t as smooth and suave as before, but it’s not without appeal. The style gets more sophisticated at the rear end and especially in the cabin, where Nissan clearly has spent time and money improving the Murano’s biggest weakness.

Conclusion