The 2009 Nissan Murano is a capable crossover…ready to handle whatever Southern California's wine country can throw at it, including marauding hot air balloon gangs.
The 2009 Nissan Murano is dubbed "The Future of the Crossover" by the folks at Nissan. It says so right on the window sticker they gave me. I have never been a big fan of the crossover movement in the automotive industry. I feel automakers should make wagons and SUVs, and that there is really no need for a middle ground. However, if this Murano really is the future of the crossover, then maybe I am ready to reconsider…
We made a brief stop to let the 2009 Nissan Murano rest for a second while the balloon gangs regrouped.
This 2009 Nissan Murano SL is my first time driving a vehicle with a CVT or Continuously Variable Transmission. It was odd at first, but I quickly became used to passing cars on the highway while my tachometer barely moved. The car is a great cruiser and is very comfortable on longer journeys. Also helping out, besides the transmission, is the 265-hp 3.5L V6, front- and rear-stabilizer bars and speed-sensitive power steering. The ride of the Murano is very comfortable, while still providing excellent feedback to the driver, which helps your confidence when moving this car down the road.
My wife and I took the Nissan Murano on a trip from Orange County, California, to the wine valley of Temecula. This is not a very long trip, but to beat traffic, we used the Ortega Highway, which is a two-lane road that meanders up and over the Santa Ana mountains and then down into the Temecula Valley. This road has beautiful views which are unobstructed thanks to the lack of guardrails in many spots. If you are not in a car that makes you feel confident, then the Ortega Highway becomes a very scary place. With the 2009 Nissan Murano, my wife barely noticed that we were going faster than we should,because the car felt great the whole time. Our Murano was equipped with the Premium Package, so it had the upgraded Bose Audio system as well as XM satellite radio. This also helped to keep her eyes glued to the dial as she tried to find a good 80s rock station to set the right mood for our trip.
They are back, but thanks to the 265-hp V6, they were quickly behind us in our Nissan Murano.
Now that we had Bon Jovi playing from all 9 speakers and the dual-speaker subwoofer, I settled into the comfortable and well-laid-out interior of the Murano. The 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat sits up nice and high for a great view of the road. Standard features include a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, dual-zone climate control and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), which foster an environment that keeps both the driver and passengers happy.
The interior of the 2009 Nissan Murano is laid out clearly, cleanly and comfortably.
EPA estimates for the 2009 Nissan Murano show 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. Our gas mileage was right in between, with an average of about 20 mpg. I drove the car both hard and soft, in the city and on the highway, so that that 20 mpg is pretty representative of real-world driving.
If you are looking for the utility of a large SUV, with the comfort and ease behind the wheel that a smaller car offers, then this 2009 Nissan Murano may be for you. As equipped, the Murano I drove costs $29,625 (base MSRP $27,880), which includes many great standard features, the premium package and lots of safety equipment. I can honestly say that I enjoyed my time in this cros…in this crossov…wait, sorry I can't say I enjoyed myself in a CUV. I just can't do it. What I can do, however, is highly recommend the 2009 Nissan Murano for people who do want a crossover. A comfortable, well-equipped, confident car for under $30,000, is a very good thing, and one you should take a look at if you are shopping for a new car.
For more information on the 2009 Nissan Murano head over to NADAguides.com, the most comprehensive vehicle information website on the internet.