Test Drive: 2012 Nissan Murano Platinum Edition

 

By Kevin Harrison

When I was younger I was once friends with a kid that purposely got his tongue stuck to a pole on a bitterly cold day. Unlike the kids in ‘A Christmas Story’ I decided to stay with him until help arrived to set him free.

“Why did you do that?” I remember asking him once freed.

“It was a dare, so I had to do it,” he replied. “Plus it got me a lot of attention!”

When talking about the mainstream automotive world, Nissan is always that kid that wants to stand out in the crowd for better or worse. It’s clear that Nissan’s design philosophy is to be that kid with green hair in the class picture. Certainly attention grabbing, controversial and perhaps taking the ideology of form over function.

Nissan especially applies this philosophy to its crossover people movers. The Juke, the Cube and the Quest are certainly unique to the eye. It may be a strain for some to call them pretty, but consider it mission accomplished for Nissan when you are chatting about that ‘weird looking car’ you saw on the way to work by the water cooler. Get them talking, and they will (eventually) come.

The Murano could be a part of that rebellious group of crossovers. Its look is like no other and it certainly turns heads. Personally, I find it to be one of the more attractive designs in Nissan’s line-up.

But obviously a car needs to be much more than a pretty face, it needs brains to back it up. Does the Murano have what it takes to compete in this crowded segment? I tested one to find out. 

 

Sticking with the exterior looks for a moment, the Murano does quite well at exuding a unique and sporty look – something that is much coveted in this segment. Its side profile is angular and sleek, while the restyled tail lights with LED’s help to give the Murano a gracious look from the rear. The look is more dramatic up front with an elongated grille, impossibly thin headlights and aluminum accents. Throw on the 20-inch multi-spoke wheels alloy wheels, exclusive to the Platinum Edition, and you’ve got yourself an eye-catching urban crossover that bestows a maddening combination of drama, elegance and sportiness. I’m not sure how Nissan managed to make all those differing design styles work on the same car, but they’ve succeeded.

 

Luckily that loud design language does nothing to hinder practicality inside. That cabin is spacious and all the materials are at Infiniti levels of quality and refinement. The controls are especially user friendly, especially the navigation system. There’s no messing about with it, just punch in where you wish to go and you’re off. Rear leg and headroom is plentiful as is the cargo area which can swallow about 1600 L worth of your stuff. Fold the rear seats down to 60/40 and you’ve got a decent sized cargo area. While probably unnecessary, the power lift tail gate is actually a nice feature. The heated seats and steering wheel was much appreciated, however no matter how much I fiddled with the tilt/telescopic function, I could get the wheel place in an ideal position. Also, that unique design did cause some blind spots and rearward visibility is fairly poor. A back-up camera was welcomed in this instance.

 

The Murano is powered by a 3.5 L V6 which produces 260 horsepower and 240 pound feet of torque. CVT transmissions can be a bit dicey depending on what sort of engine and vehicle they are paired with. Luckily the Xtronic CVT that Nissan uses for the Murano works quite nicely. Other models in the lineup aren’t so lucky, (I’m looking at you, Versa). The transmission is quite cultivated and quiet, with the exception being under heavy acceleration. That said, the CVT always ensures that the engine is in its sweet spot for optimal fuel efficiency when you’re feeling tame and optimal performance when you’re not. For instance highway passing is a breeze in the Murano with little hesitation when your foot is to the floor. When it’s not, the Murano is capable of getting a decent 8.5 L/100 kms highway. It’s rated at 11.7 L/100 kms city. The engine is strong, but you won’t be winning too many drag races.

 

Crossovers and SUVs don’t do cornering so well, but fortunately the Murano is capable of holding its own in the bends. The Murano feels stable and composed thanks to its decently tuned suspension, however push it a bit too far and the Murano will start to complain. This is no Ferrari, after all. But despite its performance style suspension set up, you’ll be hard pressed to find any complainers in regards to comfort.

 

 

The Platinum Edition includes the aforementioned 20-inch wheels with a unique Titanium finish and adds the navigation system, DVD playback compatibility, Bluetooth® Streaming Audio, rear bumper protector, unique badging, chrome exterior mirrors and exclusive paint. Whether or not this is worth the $2,500 extra over the LE trim is at your discretion, however this author believes it to be fairly unnecessary considering the LE trim already comes fairly loaded. The Murano has been around for four model years now in its current body style and auto manufacturers like to make packages like these in order to keep the model seeming fresh without having to design the car entirely. I think it’s a bit gimmicky, but I will concede that the Platinum Edition add-ons really aid with the look of the Murano. But is a bit of exclusivity worth your hard earned $2,500?

 

Those add-ons really aren’t necessary to get the Murano to stick out. It doesn’t even need to get its tongue stuck on a pole for attention or legitimacy. Its looks, value and overall superior performance to its rivals is really what makes the Murano the ‘show-off’ in the class. And it even does it in a less annoying manner than the ‘look-at-me’ nonsense from some of its rivals.  And for that reason the Murano deserves a spot on your crossover shopping list.

 

As Tested Price: $46,598

Pros:

  • Unique and attractive exterior looks
  • Uncompromised interior
  • Good engine and transmission pairing
  • Fair handling capabilities
  • Comfortable and refined ride
  • Easy to use nav

Cons:

  • CVT can get noisy when pushed
  • Blind spots and poor rear visibility
  • Platinum Edition package a bit gimmicky
  • Higher trim levels can get pricey, Platinum Edition’s worth is questionable

Overall: 8/10

 

Related Posts

No Comments Yet.

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.