Fresh Alloy road tests Nissan Murano

[WinkOsmosis]

As far as I can tell from searching, this is the first post about Fresh Alloy's test.
Fresh Alloy article

It looks nice. I would like it in wagon form.

I found this interesting...
Hmmm?the first thing we noticed was the reflection of the upper dash on the windshield due to its extreme rake. Choosing a darker interior will probably resolve that issue.
I have the same problem with my 240sx's dash and it's almost matte black .

 

[KokomoGST]

I think that complaint about the reflection is just a stupid car reviewer nitpick. A lot of cars have that "problem"...

So the Murano or the RX330? DC Pacifica?? What else...

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: KokomoGST
I think that complaint about the reflection is just a stupid car reviewer nitpick. A lot of cars have that "problem"...

So the Murano or the RX330? DC Pacifica?? What else...

Tiger Woods's Rendezvous?

 

[alphatarget1]

nissan ~ driven

 

[prontospyder]

Originally posted by: kenleung
nissan ~ driven

Actually, it's now Nissan Shift_

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: prontospyder

Originally posted by: kenleung
nissan ~ driven

Actually, it's now Nissan Shift_

How do you shift a CVT?

 

[CraigRT]

My dad and I are going to take one of those things out this weekend.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: KokomoGST
I think that complaint about the reflection is just a stupid car reviewer nitpick. A lot of cars have that "problem"...

So the Murano or the RX330? DC Pacifica?? What else...

RX330 for me....mmmmmmmmmmmm Especially now that it has the 3.3 liter 240HP V6

http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/e_article000114655.cfm
http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/e_article000112785.cfm

And there's no doubt that the RX300 will/has better interior and since Lexus invented this class (luxury crossover), it should be a no brainer when it comes to how it will perform/features/etc

The one thing that is just plain odd (and what more than one reviewer has complained about) on the Murano is the instrument pod that juts out from the dash. Your knee keeps hitting it from what I hear. And from this pic it just looks tacked on.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Ugly RX330 make baby Jesus cry!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Ugly RX330 make baby Jesus cry!

LOL, neither car is going to win any design contests (expecially the rear ends), but I like the RX330 shape overall better and also for the fact that the funky swept C/D pillar on the Murano looks STUPID! And the interior will be no contest. Engine performance should be neck and neck. RX330 for me please

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
As far as I can tell from searching, this is the first post about Fresh Alloy's test.
Fresh Alloy article

It looks nice. I would like it in wagon form.

I found this interesting...
Hmmm?the first thing we noticed was the reflection of the upper dash on the windshield due to its extreme rake. Choosing a darker interior will probably resolve that issue.
I have the same problem with my 240sx's dash and it's almost matte black .

polarized sun glasses. jeez, you peeps live in the dark ages

 

[prontospyder]

The Murano is unique. I like it. But I still prefer sedans.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
As far as I can tell from searching, this is the first post about Fresh Alloy's test.
Fresh Alloy article

It looks nice. I would like it in wagon form.

I found this interesting...
Hmmm?the first thing we noticed was the reflection of the upper dash on the windshield due to its extreme rake. Choosing a darker interior will probably resolve that issue.
I have the same problem with my 240sx's dash and it's almost matte black .

polarized sun glasses. jeez, you peeps live in the dark ages

I wear glasses though.

 

[SuperTool]

I like the Murano interior. Looks better and sportier than RX IMO. RX looks too busy. I especially like the Murano interior with red leather..
Not to mention RX is a women's car.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: NFS4
And there's no doubt that the RX300 will/has better interior and since Lexus invented this class (luxury crossover), it should be a no brainer when it comes to how it will perform/features/etc

Well, the RX SHOULD have a better interior than a Nissan considering one is from a luxury brand and one is not. At least the Murano reportedly uses REAL aluminum trim instead of that fake crap - thanks Nissan for finally spending a few $ on the interior!

It would make more sense to compare the RX's interior to the Infiniti FX45's.

 

[Parrotheader]

Looks pretty nice, although for some reason I thought the Murano was the name for Nissan's first venture into the full-size truck market. Obviously I was wrong.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth

Originally posted by: NFS4
And there's no doubt that the RX300 will/has better interior and since Lexus invented this class (luxury crossover), it should be a no brainer when it comes to how it will perform/features/etc

Well, the RX SHOULD have a better interior than a Nissan considering one is from a luxury brand and one is not. At least the Murano reportedly uses REAL aluminum trim instead of that fake crap - thanks Nissan for finally spending a few $ on the interior!

It would make more sense to compare the RX's interior to the Infiniti FX45's.

Considering that fully loaded Muranos run 38-39k, I think its a fair comparison. And the FX45 will be pitted against the GX 470

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
I like the Murano interior. Looks better and sportier than RX IMO. RX looks too busy. I especially like the Murano interior with red leather..
Not to mention RX is a women's car.

This is true. I can't help but think of the RX as feminine. The styling is even feminine.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Considering that fully loaded Muranos run 38-39k, I think its a fair comparison. And the FX45 will be pitted against the GX 470

Yes, they are competitors, but luxury brands usually focus more on the interior than the mass-market brands. Plus, a LOADED RX330 will probably be pushing $45K plus, at least 15-20% more than a similarly equipped Murano, I would certainly expect a nicer interior for that much money.

since Lexus invented this class (luxury crossover), it should be a no brainer when it comes to how it will perform/features/etc

You're right, it should be. But that doesn't mean it will be. Personally, I think it's a bit surprising they are releasing the Murano under the Nissan brand. You would think considering the price, technology (i.e. CVT), and avant-garde styling, they could have easily made it an Infiniti product to DIRECTLY compete with the RX. But maybe they didn't want to release two Infiniti crossover vehicles at the same time...?

 

[BigSmooth]

By the way, the V8 in the GX is only supposed to make 235 hp according to Edmunds? What the hey? It's got a lot of torque but for $50K I would expect more horsepower than an Accord.
Infiniti has expressly stated the FX will have more than 300 horses and 300 lb/ft of torque...

 

[KokomoGST]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth
By the way, the V8 in the GX is only supposed to make 235 hp according to Edmunds? What the hey? Infiniti has expressly stated the FX will have more than 300 horses...

Mebbe it's part of the Toyota mindset of "refinement" over power... NFS4 posted about it before.

Usually CVTs have virtual # of gears (Audi's did) I guess this just picks the gear ratio on the fly?

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Murano = 38K USD??? Seriously?

Here is the base pricing for Murano in Canada:
SL - $39,500CDN
SE - $46,500CDN , with NAVI its $49,900CDN

I don't see how the SE should cost $10k more, but at $39K its reasonable.

For comparision,
RX300 base price is $51,600CDN.

I saw around 4 Muranos on the road already and they looked pretty sweet. From I have heard, their interior is of high quality too. Haven't seen it inside personally so I can't say.

With the CDN pricing, the Murano sure is a better buy. And the RX300 don't come with NAV in Canada.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Murano = 38K USD??? Seriously?

Only FULLY loaded is it that expensive. Base price on a FWD SL is $28,739. The AWD SE is $31,139.

It's the option packages that are expensive. The "popular package" which adds Bose, a sunroof, leather/memory seats, etc. is $3,500. Then you have the Nav at $2K, the "mobile entertainment system" at $1600, the chrome wheels at $1200, plus traction control, cold weather package, towing package, etc., etc. Getting just about every option available is the only way to get up to $38K.

 

[prontospyder]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth

Originally posted by: NFS4
Considering that fully loaded Muranos run 38-39k, I think its a fair comparison. And the FX45 will be pitted against the GX 470

Yes, they are competitors, but luxury brands usually focus more on the interior than the mass-market brands. Plus, a LOADED RX330 will probably be pushing $45K plus, at least 15-20% more than a similarly equipped Murano, I would certainly expect a nicer interior for that much money.

since Lexus invented this class (luxury crossover), it should be a no brainer when it comes to how it will perform/features/etc

You're right, it should be. But that doesn't mean it will be. Personally, I think it's a bit surprising they are releasing the Murano under the Nissan brand. You would think considering the price, technology (i.e. CVT), and avant-garde styling, they could have easily made it an Infiniti product to DIRECTLY compete with the RX. But maybe they didn't want to release two Infiniti crossover vehicles at the same time...?

I think the Murano is meant to be an alternative to the Highlander and Pilot.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: prontospyder

Originally posted by: bigsmooth

Originally posted by: NFS4
Considering that fully loaded Muranos run 38-39k, I think its a fair comparison. And the FX45 will be pitted against the GX 470

Yes, they are competitors, but luxury brands usually focus more on the interior than the mass-market brands. Plus, a LOADED RX330 will probably be pushing $45K plus, at least 15-20% more than a similarly equipped Murano, I would certainly expect a nicer interior for that much money.

since Lexus invented this class (luxury crossover), it should be a no brainer when it comes to how it will perform/features/etc

You're right, it should be. But that doesn't mean it will be. Personally, I think it's a bit surprising they are releasing the Murano under the Nissan brand. You would think considering the price, technology (i.e. CVT), and avant-garde styling, they could have easily made it an Infiniti product to DIRECTLY compete with the RX. But maybe they didn't want to release two Infiniti crossover vehicles at the same time...?

I think the Murano is meant to be an alternative to the Highlander and Pilot.

It is. The only reason why I even compared the RX330 is b/c KokomoGST made the reference.

Also, a RX300 bases at $33,000 and a fully loaded RX300 with DVD NAV and leather runs $41,390 so there IS price overlap between it and the Nissan Murano. I would think that Lexus would keep RX330 prices pretty close.