2009 Nissan Murano
The 2009 Nissan Murano Has Won Bragging Rights with its Extra Comfortable Interior and Upgraded Materials
The 2009 Nissan Murano is the complete package for drivers who want the versatility and sporty handling of a crossover and interior amenities of an upscale sedan. The new Murano includes several improvements over the previous year's model that reviewers were quick to take note of, such as a refined and more sumptuous interior and an exterior with a more angular grille, brighter finish, and sportier headlights. Reviewers also took special notice of the comfortable seating, which is bolstered by the fact that the Murano sticks to its guns with plenty of room for five and doesn't try to cram a third row into the back. "The redesigned Murano delivers an even more refined ride and interior than its predecessor, making it an attractive and affordable choice within its class," says U.S. News Rankings and Reviews. Another high point for the Murano is fuel efficiency. It achieves 18/23 MPG city/highway.
If you step into a 2009 Murano you'll most likely notice the upgraded feel of the materials. "Much like the recent upgrade to the Altima, on which the Murano is loosely based, the logic and function are still there, the cabin just looks better and uses nicer materials now," says New Car Test Drive. The interior comfort and convenience features include in-cabin microfilter HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) with rear floor ducts and vents, a digital display, dual zone climate controls, and automatic temperature control so that you can decide on your optimum temperature, not mother nature. You'll also enjoy features like a Vehicle Information System (VIS), remote keyless entry, Push Button Ignition, sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors and extensions, power windows with retained accessory power so that they'll go up and down after the car is turned off; and auto-down/up for the driver's and front-passenger's windows, rear reading lights, an illuminated entry/exit fade-out system, auto power door locks with selective unlocking (first click unlocks driver's door, second click unlocks passenger doors), 12-volt power outlets, a front-seat center console, 2-speed windshield wipers with vehicle-speed-sensitive variable intermittent and mist functions, and cruise control with illuminated steering wheel-mounted controls.
The Murano's seating accomodations have drawn praise from the usually skeptic critics. "Sumptuous and well-contoured front and rear seats complete the package. By refusing to give in to the trend toward three-row seating, the Murano has been able to maintain class-leading accommodations for the second-row rear passengers," says Edmunds. Standard seating features include rear seats with 60/40 split folding manual reclining seatbacks and cargo area releases. For more detailed seating information see the trims pages.
The Murano's exterior looks bullet-fast and urban sheek. Motor Trend says, "It is more aggressive, yet more refined than the old front fascia." Hardy exterior components include body undercoating, high-strenght steel body components, and a space-saver spare tire. Attractive exterior elements include a chrome grille, chrome door handles, and a body-color bumper.
There was very little criticism about the new Murano's performance and handling. Motor Trend raves, "Throttle response is noticeably quicker than in the previous crossover, and even though Nissan has successfully made the ride more comfortable, little of its handling prowess was sacrificed in the process. For those who like their crossovers sporty, this one's still a blast on a canyon road." It's little wonder that the 2009 Murano receives such high praise for performance and handling since it includes steering, brake, and suspension features that include an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist (BA); and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), power-assisted, 4-wheel, vented disc brakes, variable-assist power rack-and-pinion steering, tuned suspension,
front and rear stabilizer bars, independent multi-link rear suspension, and independent strut front suspension.
The engine and drivetrain standard features make sure that the new Murano is powering ahead of the competition and include a 265 horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) for individually braking your wheels when there's a loss of control, a Traction Control System for navigating bumpy or steep terrain, Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), a Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System, a liquid-cooled engine oil cooler, electronic sequential multi-point fuel injection, an electronic drive-by-wire system, a variable-flow intake manifold, Iridium/platinum-tipped spark plugs, a Nissan Direct Ignition System (NDIS), a Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS), Timing-chain-driven camshafts, electronically controlled, liquid-filled engine mounts, and an aluminum-alloy cylinder block and heads.
The 2009 Nissan Murano has enough safety features to satisfy even the most careful and vigilant of drivers. You'll benefit from three sets of standard airbags that include roof-mounted curtain front- and rear-seat side-impact air bags (includes rollover sensor), driver and front-passenger side-impact air bags, and driver and front-passenger air bags (SRS) with dual-stage inflation. You'll be extra safe with seatbelt features that include a 3-point ELR driver's seat belt, 3-point ALR/ELR front- and rear-passenger seat belts, front seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, and child restraint seat tether anchors. Other notable safety features include an energy-absorbing steering column, front seat active head restraints, front- and rear-seat adjustable head restraints, front and rear crumple zones, Zone Body Construction, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, High Strength Steel body structure components, and hood deformation point and safety stops.
