2012 Nissan Murano Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Nissan Murano review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Murano, and includes Nissan Murano safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Nissan Murano is a five-passenger crossover SUV that competes with the likes of the Ford Edge and Toyota Venza.

Last year, the Nissan Murano benefitted from a fairly comprehensive update. So for 2012, the only enhancements are the addition of a new Platinum Package, which outfits your Murano with attractive 20-inch aluminum wheels, Sapphire Black exterior paint, Platinum Edition badges and navigation system. You’ll also find a new seven-inch monochrome in-dash information screen on Murano S models.

Four trim levels are on tap for the 2012 Nissan Murano: S, SV, SL, and LE. Each can be configured with front- or all-wheel drive (AWD).

Nissan equips even the base Murano S with a comprehensive list of furnishings. Items you would expect to find in a midsize crossover SUV are present, along with 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, Nissan Intelligent Key with push-button ignition, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, and a seven-inch information screen in the dashboard. Music lovers will appreciate the six-speaker stereo with an in-dash six-disc CD changer and an auxiliary audio input jack. Options for this model are limited to upgraded floor and cargo mats, a cargo cover, a bumper protector, and splash guards.

Next up is the Murano SV, which adds roof rails, automatic headlights, fog lights, power front seats, a rearview camera, and a dual-panel moonroof. Additional entertainment sources include satellite radio, audio/video input jacks, and a USB port with iPod connectivity, and the Murano SV also has Bluetooth hands-free calling and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls. In addition to the options offered on the Murano S, the SV can be equipped with roof rail crossbars and illuminated doorsill kick plates.

Upping the luxury quotient, the Murano SL is built for climates where winter can be especially brutal. It provides heated side mirrors, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Leather upholstery is also standard, along with a nine-speaker Bose audio system with digital music storage, a power tailgate, a HomeLink universal remote, driver memory settings, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a compass, and rear seatbacks that feature a power return function. A hard-drive navigation system is optional on the Murano SL, and it comes with real-time traffic and weather updates, Bluetooth streaming audio, and greater storage space for your music. A rear seat DVD entertainment system with screen mounted in the back of the front-seat headrests is also available.

The top-of-the-line Murano LE adds 20-inch wheels, fake wood trim in place of the standard genuine aluminum, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, Xenon headlights, silver-accented roof rails and heated rear seats. In addition to navigation and rear-seat entertainment, the Murano LE can be upgraded with the new-for-2012 Platinum Edition, which adds unique 20-inch wheels, navigation and sparkly black paint.

Nissan dealers also offer a variety of accessories that can be installed at the time of purchase.

Motivating the 2012 Nissan Murano is a 3.5-liter V6 that generates 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. Power is transmitted to the wheels via a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which means the transmission continually optimizes gearing for driving conditions. The EPA expects the Murano to return 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway whether you choose the front- or all-wheel-drive version.

Keeping the 2012 Nissan Murano from getting into hairy situations are standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, stability control, and traction control. You’ll also find the Murano to be equipped with six airbags, including side curtains with rollover protection. A reversing camera is standard on all except the base Murano S, and the SL and LE models are equipped with rain-sensing wipers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the 2012 Nissan Murano a 4-Star overall crashworthiness score, rating it 4 Stars in the frontal-impact and rollover resistance evaluations and 5 Stars in the side-impact test.

Meanwhile, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not assigned ratings to the ’12 Murano as this review is written. Last year, the IIHS gave the 2011 Murano the highest rating of Good in the frontal-offset, side-impact, and rear-impact injury prevention tests, although the SUV did not achieve Top Safety Pick status since it received a Marginal score in roof strength tests.

Neither Consumer Reports nor J.D. Power and Associates have made predictions about the 2012 Murano’s reliability as of this writing, but the 2011 model received better than average scores from both market research firms.

Here’s something funny, in a scary clown sort of way: there’s a convertible version of the Nissan Murano, the Cross Cabriolet. No one, aside from journalist types, has actually seen one in the wild, but this is partly due to disrupted supply lines caused by the tragic Japanese earthquake. But mostly it’s due to the CrossCabriolet’s poor execution and preposterous just-under-$50,000 price tag.

Here’s another fun factoid. Although the Murano is classified as a midsize crossover, its maximum cargo volume of 64.5 cubic-feet is actually smaller than what many compact crossovers provide.

In the interests of full disclosure, I’m the owner of a previous-generation Nissan Murano. And I love it. Thus, nothing bad may be said about it or any car named Murano in all perpetuity.

Seriously, though, the 2012 Nissan Murano is a well-equipped vehicle full of thoughtful little touches for the urban warrior looking for a little assuaging after a hard day. The ride is a nice blend of compliance over zits in the pavement (although models with 20-inch wheels will undoubtedly be more jarring) and a reasonable amount of athleticism for weekend jaunts on canyon roads. We’re not happy about the fact that cargo space has so drastically shrunk from the previous generation. And that big-mouth trout front end certainly isn’t attractive. But Muranos have a funny habit of growing on people.

By Liz Kim