Nissan says the 2019 Murano is the ‘most social vehicle we’ve ever built’, but the latest version of the SUV goes far beyond that. Named after the Italian city of Murano, it’s been on sale in Canada since 2003 and is now in its third generation which brings with it outstanding looks and even more equipment and versatility than it has ever had before,
SLEEK EXTERIOR
The first generation of the Murano was definitely unique and obscure as it was one of the first crossover SUVs offered to the market. Since then, the 2019 Murano has been refined into a powerful looking, sporty SUV that’s one of the best looking SUVs on the road today.
There’s no doubt that a lot of effort has been made by the designers to make the new 2019 Murano stand out from the crowd, in a very saturated SUV market. Around the front of the vehicle, you will notice more points and angles than ever before. The front end still showcases the corporate Nissan face, with a thick, wide, chrome V-shaped grille giving the 2019 Murano a massive road stance. Boomerang shaped headlamps and daytime running lamps increase the dramatic feel of the car.
From the side, a dramatic accent line stretches from the A-pillar to the rear lights and a similarly angled chrome strip on the bottom edge of the doors give a real sense of purpose to the side of the car. A floating roof emphasised by black panels on the C-pillar makes the 2019 Murano look light on its feet, while a Massive rear LED light clusters wraps around the side of the Munaro and finishes off the dramatic exterior design.
BOLD INTERIOR
Nissan has redesigned the control panel to be simpler and more intuitive, with ambient lighting giving the cabin a soft, warm glow. The 2019 Nissan Murano’s cabin can be waiting for you at a pre-set temperature thanks to remote engine start system with intelligent climate control.
Rear passengers enjoy available heated seats, plus a USB connection port with a smartphone interface. The Nissan 8 inch Connect, multi-touch screen is a fantastic system and works seamlessly and intuitively with both Apple and Android all as standard.
The already generous cargo space can be doubled to 67 cu. ft by collapsing the 60/40 split rear seats with just the pull of a lever that can be found in either the driver or the cargo area. Pulling it again, a power function will return the seats to their original position.
The chunky, sporty, multi-functional steering wheel gives the 2019 Murano a well-built feel about it and the wide centre column in the front allows more interaction with the rear passengers (according to Nissan). Generally though, the interior quality is top notch, elegant and comfortable with great quality materials throughout.
ENGINE AND DRIVE
Nissan has backed up the amazing looks of the 2019 Murano with a mighty 3.5L V6 engine producing an equally impressive 260hp. The single engine choice is paired with a FWD as standard or optional Intelligent AWD and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), to provide a smooth acceleration and superior mileage yielding 11.7L/100km in the city and 8.3L/100km on the highway.
With plenty of power and looks, you’d expect driving the 2019 Murano would be an exciting experience? Well, it is! The 2019 Nissan Murano sits well on the road and hugs the corners with great steering and road feedback. With plenty of power at hand, you will be sure to receive an exhilarating ride on pretty much any road surfaces.
The Intelligent AWD combined with the endless list of safety technology come together to make the 2019 Murano one of the safest vehicles on the road. It also certainly helps when driving the 2019 Murano harder than normal into the corners and of course, in tricky weather conditions. Nissan’s mantra when it comes to safety is to Monitor, Respond and Protect and numerous safety features come into play at each stage and for various conditions.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The 2019 Nissan Murano starts at $32,448 and offers great value for money along with a great set of base features. For a crossover SUV, the 2019 Murano does everything really well, and there will be few people that will be disappointed with it. It’s innovative, exciting, has adapted with the times and most of all you will certainly be noticed when cruising down the street in the new Murano.
