Effortless off-roader
10/12/08 09:25 Filed in: Road
tests
When I first drove the
Nissan Murano I had this immediate impression
I was driving in the United States - although I hasten to add I was
on the correct side of the road.
I'm not sure why it felt so American, but it probably does reflect the fact that the USA, where the SUV is king, must be this car's target market.
It doesn't have the bulky look of some off-roaders, but the Murano is a big vehicle. You step up into the driving seat and the Nissan very kindly makes this easy. Until you press the keyless starter button, the seat is set back from the steering wheel and - only as the engine starts does it slide forward.
It also slides back when you switch off. Something which you might want to warn your rear seat passengers about, not that they should need to have their ankles too tightly pushed under the driver's seat. There's plenty of space in the back.
With its 3.5 litre engine and automatic CVT transmission this is an effortless motor to drive. Press the pedal and, with a momentary delay as the gearbox kicks down to a lower ratio, it just powers away. The 0-62 sprint takes eight seconds.
A big petrol-engined off-roader is never going to be economical, so an average of just under 23 mpg seems quite creditable. However the CO2 emissions are 261g/km which puts the Murano in the top tax bracket of £400 per year rising to £440 in 2009/10.
The price for the Nissan Murano is £33,295.00.
I'm not sure why it felt so American, but it probably does reflect the fact that the USA, where the SUV is king, must be this car's target market.
It doesn't have the bulky look of some off-roaders, but the Murano is a big vehicle. You step up into the driving seat and the Nissan very kindly makes this easy. Until you press the keyless starter button, the seat is set back from the steering wheel and - only as the engine starts does it slide forward.
It also slides back when you switch off. Something which you might want to warn your rear seat passengers about, not that they should need to have their ankles too tightly pushed under the driver's seat. There's plenty of space in the back.
With its 3.5 litre engine and automatic CVT transmission this is an effortless motor to drive. Press the pedal and, with a momentary delay as the gearbox kicks down to a lower ratio, it just powers away. The 0-62 sprint takes eight seconds.
A big petrol-engined off-roader is never going to be economical, so an average of just under 23 mpg seems quite creditable. However the CO2 emissions are 261g/km which puts the Murano in the top tax bracket of £400 per year rising to £440 in 2009/10.
The price for the Nissan Murano is £33,295.00.