2009 Nissan Murano
The new 2009 Nissan Murano featured with a more angular grille, narrow, sportier headlights, and a much brighter finish. I find it is more aggressive, yet more refined than the old front fascia. Nissan also upgraded the wheel and tire package, with the same result, and 18-inch alloys are standard, with a 20-inch option. Some differences take a little longer to notice, such as the character line along the sides and the new taillight design.
With the next generation comes a new front-drive based platform — called “D” by Nissan — which the Murano shares with the current Altima. Also shared are the Altima’s 3.5-liter V-6 and continuously variable transmission, which are similar to the first generation Murano’s. The updated VQ now puts out 265 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque (up from 240 and 244, respectively), and the new Xtronic CVT (also on the Altima) is also greatly improved. Yes, it still sounds like a CVT, but it reacts more quickly than it used to and feels closer to an automatic, thanks in large part to its adaptive shift control (ASC) system that helps to optimize and quicken the CVT’s operation.
The Murano comes with a plethora of systems and safety options that are now standard fare on most upscale crossovers, such as VDC with traction control, speed-sensitive power steering, ABS and Brake Assist, EBD, tire-pressure monitoring, and numerous airbags: dual front, seat-mounted side-impact front, and curtain side-impact units for front and rear passengers.
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