Can’t believe the commenter thought I’m too stupid to know how to unlock or start a car I spent a week driving. Dude, the smart key is available ONLY on the SL (optional) and LE (standard) models. It IS NOT available on the S, which, as stated, was the model tested. Oh, and you DO have to use the fob to lock/unlock the doors.

Because otherwise I find the Murano to be the hidden gem of family vehicles. No contrived third-row “seat” (*cough* Q7RAV4X5Commander *cough*), excellent passenger and cargo room, a normal seating position in the rear (*cough* ladderframeSUVs *cough*) and refined road manners. Plus a handsome interior that is lexus-luxurious in the higher trim levels.

It’s just really too bad about the nose. The consolation that the Murano can take is that at least Nissan didn’t do to it what Acura did to their TL. [dry-heave.] Sorry happens everytime I say TL. [dry-heave.]

(BTW, in the next-to-last paragraph, this sequence of words needs hyphens:
“the usual tippy over but it won’t will it“)

The new one is forced, contorted. Different than the old one for the sake of being different. Creases and folds placed here and there to make it different than the old one. The Venza suffers from the same fussiness, but there was no predecessor to make a direct comparison, so it works a little better for me there.

I’d take and Edge over this. I like the exterior design that much more. I’ve not been impressed by the Rogues I’ve seen in person, though it would be the smarter choice for me. Both the exterior and interior seem substantially down-market from mid-size CUV’s. The center stack, in particular, reminds me of the Pontiac G6. I can’t get past it yet.

If I were ever in the market for a CUV it would be a Ford Edge. Possibly a SRX if I was willing to throw money at it.

to the garish angular interior to the overblown exterior details

the fact they made it worse than the old one speaks volumes of what they are trying to achieve

it even affects the new GTR

I don’t mind the Xtrail or the Navara/Titans but things like the Versa/Tiida and Maxima are just too much.

Full disclosure though… I have two Skylines… of the turbo variety… you know the ones… this isn’t the Nissan Motor Company I grew up with…

don1967: You’re with me. I love my 02 Maxima SE. I can’t really find a Nissan replacement that I like at all (the 370Z and GT-R are not realistic vehicles for me to own). The Altima is ok, but I don’t like it more then a Sonata. The current Senta seems horrid, and the Versa even worse.

Of course, maybe it’s me that’s changed and not them. I find myself really appreciating the Kia Rondo, for example, which has got to be one of the most anti-cool cars on the road.

The whole color scheme is very reminiscent of my Mother’s 2002 Taurus, and the silver, black, and beige steering wheel looks cheap and out of place in a $31,000 vehicle.

Perhaps don1967 is right. Detroit used to produce base model cars that felt like base models cars… only the top tier trims seemed worthwhile. Japanese base models might have been missing equipment but they never felt like they were done on the cheap, this Murano S, however, screams cheap.

Where I disagree with some of your readers is in the assumption that Toyota does it any better. I suspect that Japan Inc. as a whole is rushing to fill the void left behind by the Big 2.8, with increasingly crappy products that shame the memory of their predecessors.

I recently converted to Hyundai (I know, I know), and suspect that the Koreans are the only ones trying these days.

I am digressing here, but I’ll come to my point now; I know this was not the author’s intent with his “target customer” statement, but if the Murano is designed, engineered, and constructed with a similar philosophy to that of Toyota in mind, I fear for the owners’ peace of mind in years 5-15 of ownership. It doesn’t help that betting on a Nissan’s durability and reliability is akin to the odds of hitting the jackpot with a scratch-and-win ticket.

Agree. Some people feel more fulfilled in bashing Microsoft or Toyota. It’s a way of saying “look at me, I am different (and thus better),” while he is probably the 389,341,808,008th buyer of the Mac OS.

If you want to be unique and cool, write your own OS, just like Linus. Using Mac or driving VW isn’t an effective way of saying your are different, IMO.

That’s on the upper line models with the “smart key.” The S requires sticking the key in the slot and pushing the button.

BEAT :
Common TTAC whassup with these SUV.

I take the press cars the manufacturers offer. (But it’s looking up. My last one was an A4 3.2 and currently I’m driving a G37 Sport — reviews on both to follow.)

Jason :
“Like MS OS users, Nissan Murano drivers don’t know any better and couldn’t care less.”
You should be a little careful commenting outside your area of knowledge. There are plenty of extremely knowledgeable MS OS users. Suggesting otherwise is, in car terms, blaming one particular car company for the stupidity of drivers.

Author’s disclaimer: That statement was added by a Macaholic editor. But as far as my “area of knowledge” about computers, I’ve worked with them from the days of CP/M and TRS-DOS to the latest iterations of Windows, Linux, Solaris and OS X.

You should be a little careful commenting outside your area of knowledge. There are plenty of extremely knowledgeable MS OS users. Suggesting otherwise is, in car terms, blaming one particular car company for the stupidity of drivers.

Also, Highlander’s coming out with a new more efficient 4-cylinder!! Toyota wins, again.

All CUVs are ugly. I cannot think of one that looks nice.

Even the Dodge Journey competes somewhat based on the price one would pay for it.