Nissan
2010 Nissan Murano S Front-Wheel Drive
What it Is: A two-row five-passenger crossover.
Who it's For: Families who need no more than two LATCH points and who love the styling.
What's Hot: Unique appearance, nicely appointed interior.
What's Not: Unconventional automatic transmission.
How It Got Its Score: The Murano scores lower than other midsize crossovers on Family Friendliness because it scored four stars on federal front-impact crash tests.
Since its first generation in 2003, the Nissan Murano has offered crossover buyers a unique face, literally. Although the Murano was redesigned a couple years ago, it retains most of the same styling cues as the original. It also retains the qualities that make it a popular crossover, with a roomy interior, plenty of cargo space, and competitive fuel economy. In federal front-impact crash tests, the Murano scored only four stars compared to most of its competitors' five-star ratings, which brings its Family Friendliness score down slightly. However, this doesn't mean in any way that the Murano is unsafe. Another potential problem -- if you want to call it that -- is Nissan's use of a continuously variable transmission (CVT).It's not that reliability or fuel economy are problematic, but the way the transmission works can take some getting used to. For example, while a standard automatic will noticeably shift gears under acceleration -- with a corresponding rise and fall in the engine speed -- a CVT stays at the same engine speed until you lift off the accelerator, a behavior that some drivers simply don't like. However, considering the Murano's many other qualities, we think the unconventional transmission ins easy to overlook.
Specifications
Price |
|
| MSRP |
$28,050 |
| Destination |
$800 |
| |
| |
| |
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Other Models (Base Price) |
SL ($30,400)
LE ($37,380) |
Mechanical
Engine Size |
3.5 liters |
|
Engine Type |
V-6 |
|
Horsepower |
265 hp |
|
Torque |
248 lb.-ft. |
|
Fuel |
Regular Unleaded |
|
Drivetrain |
Front Wheel Drive |
|
Transmission |
Continuously Variable |
Fuel Economy
EPA City |
18 mpg |
|
EPA Highway |
23 mpg |
|
EPA Combined |
20 mpg |
Utility
Vehicle Type |
Midsize SUV |
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Family Friendliness |
7.8 |
|
Doors |
Five |
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Seat Rows |
Two |
|
Passengers |
Five |
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LATCH Positions |
Two |
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Cargo Space |
31.6 cu. ft. |
|
Max Cargo Space |
64.0 cu. ft. |
Safety
NHTSA Driver Front |
4 Stars |
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NHTSA Passenger Front |
4 Stars |
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NHTSA Driver Side |
5 Stars |
|
NHTSA Rear Passenger Side |
5 Stars |
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NHTSA Rollover |
4 Stars |
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IIHS Front |
Good |
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IIHS Side |
Good |
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IIHS Rear |
Good |
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Stability Control |
Standard |
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Traction Control |
Standard |
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Brake Assist |
Standard |
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Side Airbags |
Thorax and Curtain |
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Collision Avoidance |
Not Available |
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Active Cruise Control |
Not Available |
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Photos
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