Nissan Murano - 2009 Review

For many years now, I have been driving an SUV as my primary vehicle and while I certainly like the large interior, I don’t like the extra costs for gasoline, the added difficulty with manueverability, and other issues. But now, there are SUV alternatives known as crossover SUV that offer some of the positive features of a regular SUV, minus some of the negatives. One crossover SUV that I had the chance to try out while on vacation was the 2009 Nissan Murano, a midsize crossover SUV.
 
Automobile Commentary:
 
The 2009 Nissan Murano is a five- passenger vehicle offered in three different trim levels: S, SL, and LE. The "S" trim level is the most basic, with a nice set of options but nothing exceptional or luxurious. Upgrade to the "SL" and you get a powered driver's seat, leather- wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, and privacy glass. Move on up to the 2009 Nissan Murano LE and you get everything offered on the SL trim level, plus 20- inch wheels, rain sensing wipers, heated seats, satellite radio, Bose audio system, keyless entry, and more.

I like looking at and driving new cars but with my busy life, I get little opportunity to investigate some of the new vehicles and the latest technology they employ. However, I like to travel and any vacation that includes a flight will also include a rental car. This is how I was introduced to the 2009 Nissan Murano. I knew the 2009 Nissan Murano pretty well from the outside, as I know individuals who own this vehicle and drive it to work, but I didn’t know much about the interior and when I opened the hatch and stepped inside for the first time, my impressions very generally good, but mixed overall. One pleasant surprise was the cargo space. From the outside, the 2009 Nissan Murano appears to have very limited space and I was convinced that our largest, tallest piece of luggage would only fit sideways, if at all. But I was proven wrong, and I discovered that I was able to lay my largest piece of luggage down (not sideways, but straight in) and it still fit with room to spare. The official statistics list the 2009 Nissan Murano as having 64 cubic feet of cargo space and this is enough to handle most of your hauling needs. I also liked the comfort of the front seats and I liked the standard, six- disc CD changer, not to mention the center console and other amenities. The lack of a powered seat in the base, “S” model was a little frustrating as I struggled to get the legroom just right. However, the initial level of comfort was good and I was soon locked into place and ready to take off. 

To get going in the 2009 Nissan Murano, one has to insert the unusually- shaped key into a slot and then press a button. However, the start button will not work unless you are pressing the brake pedal. I learned this the hard way as I sat there, in the lot of the car rental company, trying to figure out how to make the vehicle start. Once that obstacle was behind me, I was off to the freeway where I noticed that the acceleration of the 2009 Nissan Murano was more than adequate and it picks up steam quickly when entering a freeway or other high- speed roadway. It isn't lightening fast and by no means is it a substitute for a sportscar, but it can accelerate at a sufficient rate and I felt safe as I quickly maneuvered between the cars and trucks heading north on the interstate. I also found the steering to be good and fairly agile, although not as responsive as some of the other vehicles I have driven of this type. I felt in control, but I didn’t feel much of a thrill as I drove around. There is little in the way of driving excitement with a vehicle like the 2009 Nissan Murano. It is intended to transport family and a small amount of cargo, minus the fun.

One concern I have with the 2009 Nissan Murano is the driver's side blind spot. More than once, I started to switch lanes only to hear the sudden beep of another driver's horn. I had done the standard shoulder check so I could not understand how I missed the vehicle next to me. At first, I was going to chalk this up to my own lack of experience with this vehicle and my lack of time spent driving in hilly terrain. But then it happened a second time, making me a little worried that maybe the 2009 Nissan Murano doesn't offer enough viewing area for safety purposes. 

One of the negative aspects (to some, the greatest negative aspect) with SUV is the poor fuel efficiency. Unfortunately, the fuel economy of the 2009 Nissan Murano isn't much better than most small to meidum SUV. In the city, this vehicle gets a paltry 18 mpg on average, and this number improves to only 23 on the highway. Considering the size of this crossover SUV, I was expecting better numbers than these.

Bottom Line Viewpoint:

Nissan’s 2009 Murano has left me with a moderately positive impression. It has a few good things going for it, like the exceptional comfort, along with the many bells and whistles that come with the luxury LE model. However, there is little in the way of driving excitement and I couldn't overlook the issues with the blind spot and the below average fuel economy. It adds up to an overall middle rating of three stars and a slight recommendation.