2015 Nissan Murano Close to Full Luxury Crossover
How have falling gas prices affected car companies? Sometimes it makes it difficult to introduce a new vehicle. Case in point is the 2015 Nissan Murano.
It’s a near-luxury, two-row crossover utility vehicle. In a presentation to automotive media in Napa, Calif., Nissan executives said the target market is 45-year-old empty nesters who like to spend their weekends driving around their apparently also empty-nester friends.
That seems like a particularly targeted niche. How many empty nesters could there be in their mid-40s? Keep in mind, they said “empty nesters,’’ which implies the kiddies have grown up and moved out. Maybe if they had said 45-year-olds without children I could see it.
The thing is, anyone who can afford the $29,560 starting price (and that’s a fairly substantive market segment) should give the Murano serious consideration. After only 10 miles of driving it on coastal Northern California roads, I knew I would be comfortable recommending this car to anyone, not just the elusive 45-year-old empty nesters.
So, why the focus on this near-mythical niche? Because right now it’s not relevant to sell a near-premium crossover as fuel-efficient. That’s probably the greatest accomplishment of this new Murano. Nissan has shaved its weight by 146 pounds and increased its highway fuel economy to 28 mpg. Around town fuel economy is 21 mpg for a combined 24 mpg EPA rating.
Even more impressive? Thanks to rounding in the EPA formula, the Murano all-wheel-drive version is rated the same for fuel economy. You’re barely making a sacrifice for the comfort of all-wheel-drive, an important consideration for New England buyers.
The all-wheel-drive system adds $1,600 to the MSRP. It’s interesting to note that AWD Muranos account for 55 percent of sales. Apparently those mid-40s emptynesters like feeling secure, even without kids in the backseat.
Speaking of the backseat, Murano rear-seat window passengers benefit from Nissan’s advanced Zero Gravity seats that are standard for front and rear outboard occupants. The rear seats are a three-cushion design, a first for a Nissan vehicle. Climate-controlled seats (heating and cooling) are available in front, along with available Quick Comfort heated rear seats.
The ride in the Murano is fantastically quiet. That’s thanks to elements like an acoustic laminated windshield; low noise mirror shape; additional instrument panel and floor carpet insulation; large coverage hood insulator; and acoustic absorption roof material. External road noise is minimal.
The Murano also succeeds in its exterior design. It’s a crossover utility with bold styling that makes it stand out from the relatively ho-hum competition. It has what Nissan calls a V-motion front grille and (brilliantly named) boomerang lights front and rear, which were originally introduced on the Nissan 370Z. Frankly, similar styling across a brand doesn’t always work but Nissan designers have found just the right balance between the crossover and the sports car.
The interior styling is also a thing of beauty with lots of soft touch surfaces and inlaid grain wood designs. One of the great interior accomplishments is reducing the number of buttons for the audio and HVAC controls from 25 to 10. Simplicity in interior design should always be heralded.
The Murano’s cargo area has been reconfigured (vs. the previous generation) to provide a projected best storage space in the segment (with seats up). The rear cargo area accommodates four large suitcases, while the rear seats fold flat for greater cargo convenience. The changes result in an extra four cubic feet of storage, which is projected to be among the largest cargo area in the segment.
The 2015 Nissan Murano is offered in four grade levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. Each is available in front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. The model we drove around Napa over 150 miles was the top-of-the-line Platinum with a starting price of $39,000 for front-wheel-drive ($40,600 for all-wheel-drive). Among other features, it includes 20-inch aluminumalloy wheels, LED headlights, climate controlled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel with power tilt, telescoping and memory, and power-folding second row seats.
The new Murano includes up to four onboard cameras and three radar systems, to provide input to a range of standard and available technologies, including blind spot warning, predictive forward collision warning, forward emergency braking, intelligent cruise control, cross traffic alert, and around view monitor with moving object detection. The last two practically guarantee no parking lot mishaps in your future—unless you are totally reckless.
2015 Nissan Murano
THE BASICS
Price, base (with destination): $29,560.Fuel economy: 21city/28highway/24combined Drivetrain: V6.Body: Two-row crossover utility vehicle.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 260 @ 6,000 rpm.Torque: 240 @ 4,400 rpm.Overall length: 192.8 in. Wheelbase: 111.2 in. Height: 66.6 in. Width: 75.4 in. Curb weight: 3,870 lbs.
THE GOOD
Great fuel efficiency for a vehicle its size, a distinctive exterior design, and an interior that seems a class above.
THE BAD
Confusing marketing message could turn off some buyers;emergency brake can be intrusive for some drivers; some might not like lack of third row.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Nissan has succeeded with the 2015 Murano in creating a crossover that defines the near-luxury segment.
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