2011 Nissan Murano Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Nissan Murano review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the Nissan Murano, and includes safety, reliability, and fuel economy information for the Murano.

The Nissan Murano was redesigned for 2009 and in the process, improved in terms of reliability and styling. For 2011, the Murano receives a new front and rear fascia, LED taillights, new headlights and standard 18-inch wheels.

The stylish SV trim is also newly available. Inside you’ll find updated center stack colors and new equipment options depending on trim level. Perhaps the most talked about option is the convertible Murano CrossCabriolet that premiered at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. It’s a convertible Murano. Seriously. We’re still scratching our heads a bit on this vehicle and we’re anxious to see how well the CrossCabriolet sells once it arrives in dealerships in spring 2011.

The two-row Murano excels in two areas: performance and price. The mid-size crossover garage is full of three-row vehicles like the 2011 Ford Explorer and 2011 Mazda CX-9 that compete directly with two-row vehicles like the Murano, the Ford Edge, Toyota Venza, Toyota FJ Cruiser and Jeep Grand Cherokee. While the base model Venza and FJ Cruiser beat the Murano on prices, they lag in terms of driving feel and performance. If you plan to get to know the mid-size SUV category, expect to spend some serious time researching your options because you’ll have plenty. The good news is that the Murano is on our short list of two-row crossovers that deserve your attention.

The 2011 Nissan Murano is available in four trim levels: S, SV, SL, and LE.

The 2011 Murano S starts at $29,050 and comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, rear tinted glass, cruise control, Nissan Intelligent Key with push button ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, fabric upholstery, a height-adjustable driver seat, a 60/40 split folding rear seat, and a six-speaker stereo with an in-dash six-CD changer, an auxiliary audio jack and three 12-volt power outlets. The Murano S is also available in All-Wheel Drive (AWD) or Front-Wheel Drive (FWD).

The 2011 Murano SV jumps to $32,590 and adds a dual-panel moonroof, black roof rails, automatic headlights, fog lights, power front seats, a 7-inch color display, rearview camera, eight-way power driver seat, hands-free phone system, satellite radio, iPod integration, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls and Bluetooth.

The SL trim starts at $36,130 and receives a power liftgate, automatic wipers, heated outside mirrors, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, driver seat memory, and a nine-speaker digital Bose audio system with digital music storage.

The LE tops the price pyramid at $38,030 and adds 20-inch wheels, bi-functional xenon headlights, silver-accented roof rails, heated rear seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column and wood interior trim. In addition the Premium and Technology packages come standard.

Optional features for the SL and LE include a navigation system, real-time traffic and weather, a Zagat restaurant guide, Bluetooth streaming audio, increased digital music storage and twin headrest-mounted rear DVD entertainment system.

The Nissan Murano features a single powertrain: a 3.5-liter V6 that generates 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. All models feature a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which means the transmission constantly searches for the optimal gearing for driving conditions. In daily driving, that CVT translates into a smooth system where “shifts” are rarely noticeable and barely perceptible.

The Murano’s engine constantly impresses with its pep and drive. The engine is sprightly, lively and lots of other adjectives that end with –ly that led us to drive this mid-size crossover quite happily. Compared to many larger SUVs that get bogged down due to their larger weights yet fairly comparable horsepower ratings like the Honda Pilot with its 250 horsepower, the Murano feels anxious and willing to push forward and weave through traffic, even fully loaded with passengers. The weight-to-power ratio clearly favors this CUV, since the base two-wheel drive (2WD) Murano weighs only 3,877 pounds while competitors like the 2WD Ford Edge add two-hundred more pounds you have to lug around town.

Fuel economy in the Murano is average for its class. The EPA expects the Murano to return 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. We covered 240 miles and averaged just over 21 mpg in an even mix of city and highway driving. So we beat the EPA-combined average of 20 mpg by a single digit without actively trying to maximize fuel economy. Decent. On the highway, the Murano had no problems traveling with traffic at prevailing highway speeds that topped 85 mph on a trip to Utah’s backcountry.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet crash-tested the 2011 Nissan Murano. The 2011 tests are more strenuous and we’re anxious to see how the Murano performs. For perspective, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2010 Nissan Murano its highest score of Good, although the SUV was not named a Top Safety Pick. The NHTSA awarded the 2010 Murano with four out of five stars.

Every Murano includes 50 standard safety features, including stability control, traction control, antilock brakes, brake assist and electronic brake force distribution that helps you stay firmly planted on the road. You’ll also find front and side airbags and full-length roof-mounted airbags for side impact and rollover protection.

The Murano’s reliability ratings improved in 2009 and 2010 following the major redesign. In both years, Consumer Reports rates the Murano better than average. J.D. Power and Associates agrees, ranking the Murano better than average in their assessment as well.

The Murano is covered by Nissan’s standard five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty that goes along with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty.

There is much to like about the 2011 Murano. Press the gas and you feel quick acceleration. Steering is active and the turning radius is impressively tight (we know because we missed an exit in the midst of a blinding Spring blizzard and easily turned around in tight quarters to rectify the mistake).

A few more words about that blizzard and driving the Murano in wet and constantly changing conditions. Springtime in Utah can be compared to watching a schizoid dog guard a beloved and mangled Frisbee. One moment it’s happy, sunny and bright. The next, it’s howling, growling and trying to rip your head off. We started a drive to Rockport Reservoir outside Salt Lake City on a partly cloudy day. Over the next 50 miles and 35 minutes, we experienced rain, sun, snow, hail, sun, clouds, a blinding blizzard that forced us to decelerate to a crawl for five minutes, then more sun, clouds, rain and finally grey, overcast skies.

During that drive, road conditions changed every few minutes. The AWD of our 2011 Murano SV AWD tester never slipped even on very wet roads. Once we reached the reservoir, we drove on wet, mushy dirt roads to check traction. Although the mud could be described as 2-3-inches of gooey wetness, the Murano tracked well and was never challenged. While we wouldn’t recommend taking this crossover into serious four-wheeling conditions, it performed well on flat and curving mountain roads.

The cloth seats were comfortable and the suspension soaked up small dirt-road boulders and city potholes quite well. Visibility is very good through the front and side windows. However, the upturned side windows at the rear of the car don’t help much and the odd-shaped rear window is small and reminds us of a giant rugby ball due to its unique, rounded shape. If you can swing the upgrade to a trim that includes the rearview camera, we’ll commend your choice. It may help you avoid any ugly parking lot skirmish or kid’s-bike-mistakenly-left-in-the-driveway scrum.

The 2011 Nissan Murano is a vehicle we will recommend to friends who plan to spend around $35,000 for a small but well-appointed crossover. It has a much more powerful engine and a better ride than less-expensive options like the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V. It’s not quite as luxurious or performance-driven as the exceptional Audi Q5 or Volkswagen Touareg, but also costs a lot less. The Murano is probably closest to the Ford Edge in terms of performance and amenities. Both vehicles are solid choices for five-passenger crossover SUVs. The styling of the Murano is futuristic and appeals strongly to many buyers. If you like the style, we’re confident you’ll like the performance and ride of the 2011 Murano as well.

By Michael Waterman