Nissan Murano Platinum Bumps Up Against Luxury Competitors

Nissan’s redesign of its Murano mid-size crossover is not just a new look; it signifies a substantial shift in Nissan’s direction. This model has captured the attention of several reviewers, including Tom Voelk, a contributor for the New York Times and an Emmy-award-winning podcaster. Dick Smith Nissan of Columbia provides a summary of his insights. 

Voelk’s first question was whether the new Murano was worth the wait, considering the previous design has been around since 2014. Voelk’s answer is an unequivocal “Yes,” especially regarding the exterior styling, which he notes is clearly inspired by the Nissan Ariya EV. He also points out that the front end surprisingly shares some lines with the 1960s-era Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona, one of the most beautiful production cars ever made. He praises the interior styling for its clean layout and innovative use of haptic controls. Most importantly, he commends Nissan for replacing the continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a new, more conventional 9-speed automatic. 

The transmission is only part of a complete powertrain overhaul that replaces the previous 3.5-liter V6 with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder version of its VC turbo engine series. VC stands for “Variable Compression,” which is Nissan’s exclusive technology that allows for high compression when the turbo is at low boost and then scales it back as the turbo boost rises. (Since the forced air of turbochargers effectively compounds compression, compression ratios must be reduced to prevent knocking.) In previous applications of the VC Turbo technology combined with a CVT, many reviewers felt that while the turbo, VC, and CVT were all striving to optimize their performances, there was too much variability between the driver and the vehicle’s response. Voelk believes that Nissan’s decision to retain its exclusive engine technology while discarding the CVT was a positive move. 

In comparing the new engine to the previous V6, the horsepower and torque figures result in a nearly perfect trade-off. The former engine produced 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, while the new engine offers 241 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 9-speed automatic comes standard with paddle shifters, which are very useful during mountain driving. 

As manufacturers often provide their top-tier models to reviewers, Voelk tested a high-end Platinum model, which sits at the top of the Murano’s $42K – $55K price range. While this overlaps significantly with the larger 3-row Pathfinder, Voelk found that if you do not require a third row, the new Murano’s design and interior ambiance easily compensate for its lack of comparative space.  All-wheel drive is a bit of a bargain, adding only $1000 to the price and having no impact on its EPA-estimated fuel mileage of 21 city, 27 highway, and 23 combined.  As he was on very snow-covered streets during the review, he emphasized that all-wheel drive still benefits significantly from winter tires, particularly when braking. 

Regarding dimensions, he mentions that the new Murano maintains the same wheelbase, overall length, and height as the previous model, but it is about a foot wider. This provides more space for seating three across in the rear, with a flat floor, which is undoubtedly a plus for that third passenger. 

Voelk highlighted the “zero gravity” seats that are now available in both the front and rear, as well as special features like the “Invisible Hood,” in which a front camera lets you see “through” the hood on the 12.3-inch center monitor. The monitor is standard across the model line, as is the 12.3-inch configurable digital driver display, and both look sharp, sharing a continuous housing that rests on a mid-layer of the dash. He believes the interior easily rivals those of luxury brand competitors. 

Voelk concludes that the new Murano should definitely be on your shopping list if you are in the market for a mid-size 5-passenger crossover.  If you live near Columbia, South Carolina, the best option is to visit Dick Smith Nissan of Columbia, where we have a generous supply of Muranos in stock and treat all our new car customers to the Dick Smith Advantage 200,000-mile EasyCare Powertrain Limited Warranty.