AutoTrader NZ
Published 3 September 2020
Nissan gives its Murano crossover SUV bolder front-end styling in the second generation model, due here next year.
The Murano is intended to appeal to customers who want the driving characteristics of a luxury saloon and the security and space of a SUV.
The new model is quicker, more economical, and is said to be sportier and more refined to drive.
It rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, and has rear privacy glass, bi-xenon headlights, cruise control and an in-dash six-disc CD player that is MP3-compatible. It has keyless-access.
As well as a rear view camera, the new model has a kerb camera mounted within the passenger door mirror. At low speeds, it displays images of the ground beside the car on the seven-inch colour sat nav screen, showing the proximity of walls, kerbs and otherwise obscured obstacles.
Like the rear-view parking camera, it uses infrared LED lighting to enable it to function at night.
Rear seats split 60/40 and are lowered by pulling a lever in the luggage area. A button on the dashboard or in the cargo area raises the seats and automatically moves into position in eight seconds.
The power operated tailgate can be opened and closed by remote control in seven and nine seconds respectively, using a button on the key fob, dashboard or tailgate itself.
Nissan says every body panel is new. The Murano now has pronounced wheelarches linked by similarly profiled sections at the bottom of each door.
The side windows taper more sharply into the roofline and a shallower headlight profile blends into the new chrome-effect grille.
The redesigned tail includes triangular LED taillights and a reprofiled tailgate.
An extensively re-engineered Xtronic CVT gearbox, with a 20 percent reduction in friction improves fuel economy and shift speeds to give a more responsive feel.
The Murano has a stiffer, all-new platform that is more resistant to lateral and twisting forces. Nissan has also made tweaks to the geometry of the new multi-link rear suspension and revised the front suspension for more responsive handling and improved comfort.
Nissan has yet to announce the New Zealand specifications for the revised Murano.
