The latest sporty SUV from Japanese giants Nissan is bursting with style for way less wonga than its ‘upmarket’ rivals, says Guy Bird.
For those that remember Nissan as a manufacturer of dull but worthy cars (think old Primeras and Almeras), the new Murano will be a revelation. The slick and shiny new chrome grille, curvy SUV styling, clean and upscale aluminium and black leather interior: “It can’t be a Nissan” you can sense disbelieving onlooke rs thinking as you glide by.
But in the last few years , Nissan has been quietly sprucing up its product with a series of global design and sales hits from the cute new Micra to the sleek and sporty 350Z – a car so strong it genuinely rivals the Audi TT, Merc SLK and more. So with the ‘dull’ part of Nissan’s legacy being replaced by ‘cool design’ with the ‘worthy’ reliable bit still intact, the Japanese vehicle maker has quite an offering.
But knowing it can’t count on badge kudos like a Merc or a BMW, Nissan has made the Murano fantastically well-endowed in the kit department |
This review from FQ MAGAZINE November 2005 >> more
too. There’s no confusing and largely meaningless “Dynamique” or “GLXi- TZT” - type trim levels to worry about.
The one version - only Murano for £5 under £30k has as much kit as any dad could wish for. Here are the highlights: leather seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, 225 watt Bose stereo with in-dash sixdisc CD changer, climate and cruise control,
‘automatic-style’ CVT gearbox, birds’ eye view colour DVD satnav (that looks down on the map rather than seeing it in ‘plan’ view and also has automatic traffic alerts to offer diversions around identified congestion hotspots), a colour rear-view parking camera which appears on the same screen as the satnav when you select rev e rse gear, electric driver’s seat and sunroof and UV-reducing rearside privacy glass – which means avoiding the installation |
of those incredibly lame-looking Cat’s head’ window blinds for the kids.
Metallic paint (at £400), Nissan’s Trackstar security tracking system (£599) and DVD rear seat entertainment (£1895) are literally the only three options available.The nearest any rival gets to that sort of equipment is the top-spec Lexus RX300 for almost £39,000. To get a similarly equipped and powered BMW X5 you would have to spend a ridiculous £15k more.
Of course, the Lexus and BMW have more prestigious badges and the X5 drives better on-road – although the Murano is far from a wallow-bucket. But countered by the Murano’s high style, low price, massive kit and relative exclusivity (Nissan only intends to sell 1000 units a year in the UK) – choose this sleek SUV and you’ll be making a big statement for small money.
Price £ 29,995
Engine 234PS 3.5-litre V6
Top Speed 124 mph
0-60 8.9secs
Economy 23.0mpg
>> Subscribe Here
|
