Review of the 2011 Nissan Murano

"Family Crossover" is a car category that can encompass a wide variety of things, but usually means an SUV-like vehicle that is high on comfort and space and low on styling and performance. The 2011 Nissan Murano is a mid-sized SUV that attempts to meld the functionality of a family crossover with look and feel of a sportier car. Does Nissan pull off this ambitious blend? I will attempt to answer this question and give an idea of the sort of driver that would best appreciate this car.

First, let's get the basics out of the way. The Murano starts around $28,000 and comes with a comes with a six-cylinder engine that gets 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. It has all-wheel drive, as well as traction and stability control. It comes in several packages: the base model S, the slightly better-featured SV, the mid-luxury SL, and the full-featured LE.

The first thing I noticed is the huge dollar difference between the base model and the fuller-featured versions. The LE goes for around $39,000, which is a big jump from the base model. This could be a big turnoff for those looking for a reasonably priced vehicle for their family. However, Nissan has realized that customers are looking for a lower-priced version of the Murano with a few more features than the base model, so it has introduced the SV for 2011, which includes gadgets like Bluetooth and satellite radio.

The looks of the Murano are definitely a strong point when compared to other vehicles in the class, which can be decidedly boring. It has an aerodynamic, dart-like shape that is stylish and eye-catching. The only other vehicle in this class with a similarly bold look is the Mazda CX-9.

Also in the Murano's favor is the sporty handling of the car. It has a far more sports car-like feel to drive than many of the other cars in this class. The unfortunate standard for these vehicles is a comfortable, moderately truck-like ride. Thankfully, the Murano avoids this and can actually be considered pretty fun with it's responsive engine and tight steering.

On the negative side, visibility can be poor, especially out of the rear windows. Also, there doesn't seem to be as much storage space in the Murano as some of the competitors. These problems are basically due to the sleek design of the car and can be a problem if you have a lot to haul.

In conclusion, the ideal driver of the 2011 Nissan Murano would be a parent who is looking for a sporty family hauler that is reasonably priced, at least for the S and SV models. These both offer competitive prices for their class and provide style and performance not found in most competing models. However, those looking for a more upscale, gadget-laden vehicle would be wise to shop around rather than consider the SL or LE packages.

Sources:
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Nissan_Murano/http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/murano/2011/?style=101356431&trim=s