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New car reviews » 2011 Nissan Murano SL FWD

Better than: Murano S
But not as good as: Murano LE
GRM Bang For The Buck Index: 66.24  

Nissan redid the Murano for the 2009 model year, and the mid-sized crossover received a face-lift for 2011. The front and rear fascias are new, including the lights.

We sampled the SL model. Even though it’s one step down from the top-of-the-line LE, it comes with leather seats, a Bose audio system and a 2 GB Music Box sound system. Ours had a $1850 Navigation Package that also included a 9.3 GB Music Box setup. The Murano comes in both all- and front-wheel-drive flavors.

Other staff views:

I see why people like these new SUVs—car-like ride but a tall-in-the-saddle driving position. I’d still like to go on record than a minivan makes more sense. Why have a jacked-up car only to fit it with low-profile tires? Wouldn’t you be better off just keeping the whole package closer to the ground in the first place?

Out of today’s offerings, I’ll give this one credit for being sportier than most. Now, it was just more on the deck….

Reader comments:

1. tuna55: — Mar 14, 2011 3:57 p.m.
   

   Thanks Dave, for stating the best part of the whole Murano, X5, X6 sport SUV thing.

   OEM: “Look what we did, we made this relatively impractical SUV handle acceptably and threw a big engine in it!”

   GRM buyers: “Great. I already have a minivan though, and it was $10k less than that. Can you guys build a sports car again, please?”

2. David S. Wallens: — Mar 14, 2011 4:59 p.m.
   

   Thanks. Someone should give Cadillac a cookie for building the CTS-V wagon, though. It’s fast, boxy and low to the ground. What a concept.

3. Duke: — Mar 16, 2011 11:39 a.m.
   

   Honestly, if I had a ton of money, I’d buy several CTS-V wagons just to thank Cadillac for having the grace to make them.

   The Murano is still hideous and unwantable to me, after all these years. I maintain that this entire class of vehicle, particularly in FWD format, is the worst possible combination of all the elements they are “crossing over” to combine.

4. Vigo: — Mar 16, 2011 2:57 p.m.
   

   Im tempted to call the CTS-V wagon a carrot on a stick. I cant find the numbers now but i believe only ~250 are being produced this year?

   WIll it ever go into higher production? Keeping in mind, full production for the cts-v in general has never been more than 2-3k per year.
   

   I mean i love the idea of the thing, but there are numerous ferraris with higher production numbers than that.

   As for the murano, top of a blah heap, i guess. My question is the murano convertible: WHY?!!?!??!?!?

5. tuna55: — Mar 20, 2011 11:02 a.m.
   

   Agreed Dave, amazing what Cadillac did. I wish other automakers would follow suit.