Nissan Murano: Retro Future Today!

Older car enthusiasts remember that already at the beginning of the "dashing 90s", even before the era of universal "SUV-ization" in newly-made capitalist Russia, the "masters of life" were driving around in jeeps. By default - on the "Grand Wide" (Jeep Grand Cherokee) or "Gelika" (Mercedes G-class). "Krutyshi" simpler chose "Kruzaks" or "Padzheriks". Towards the end of the twentieth century, the Lexus RX, Mercedes ML and BMW X5 appeared. But all these cars were unattainably expensive even for the Russian upper middle class. Some connoisseurs will argue that the middle class could already drive a Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV 4 or Suzuki Vitara. Nice cars, of course, but not kid size. And then in 2002 the first generation Nissan Murano appears. The right size, futuristic glamorous design and half the price of the BMW X5.

The second "Murano" (Z51) served me faithfully for 9 years: I bought it at the beginning of 2011 for 1.6 million rubles, and I managed to take a "Japanese woman" in the rare color "three-layer white mother-of-pearl". Interestingly, at the Nissan plant in St. Petersburg, for some reason, they were able to master this color only by the third generation of Murano, which they began to sell here 5 years ago (two years after the debut in the USA).

And here in front of me is again "white mother-of-pearl", but in the back of the Z52. And although the current generation of Murano can hardly be called a novelty, the car still has its trump cards.

Competitors, of course, are not asleep: the Koreans have especially pulled themselves together over the past decade. Let's figure out why it is worth taking a closer look at the hero of our test in 2021.

Let's start with the most subjective part - design. "Kvadratish-prakish" is clearly not about "Murano" - lovers of straight simple lines to look at this model from any angle is contraindicated. Best of all, in my opinion, the car looks in profile. But the front view is controversial: the abundance of chrome and slanting headlights resembling the Telegram logo do not cause delight. On the other hand, Murano's design is distinctive and leaves no one indifferent.

The interior of the Z52 has a vintage-style center console layout. The multimedia system here clearly needs updating: the 8-inch touchscreen already seems small by modern standards, and the absence of Apple Car Play and Android Auto is not encouraging. But all the buttons and "knobs" are real, not touch-sensitive, which can be attributed to the pluses.

The dynamism of the car underlines the impetuous profile of the Nissan Murano

It is strange that his younger brother Nissan Qashqai has even built-in Yandex.Auto for a long time. Again, it is not clear why the Qashqai has an electrically heated windshield already in the base, and in the more premium and expensive Murano this option is not included in any configuration. I am finishing the list of unrealized "wishes" for a future update: we are waiting for auto windows for all 4 doors (and not just for the driver's), a projection on the windshield and a shelf for a smartphone with wireless charging. Yes, and the trunk, albeit a little, but more, and the driver's "seat" - longer.

Although the center console looks dated, all functions are convenient and easy to operate

And yet it's grumble about little things. Because Murano has not lost its basic values ​​and even strengthened it: it is still an amazingly comfortable, spacious and fast crossover. And what its classic atmospheric V6 sounds like! Yes, the same indestructible and time-tested VQ35DE. For his "audifile" noble rumbling during dynamic acceleration, I am ready to pay extra separately. By the way, about the dynamics of acceleration: the passport 8.2 seconds to a hundred "Murano" does. And what is important, it does it without any launch control and starts from two pedals! Here many "experts" will tighten the old song about the variator: they say, unreliable, howls and overheats. I'm sure 99% of these CVT detractors have never owned a Nissan Murano. I will make a reservation right away: "Murano" on the variator is really not adapted for serious off-road conditions. This is not a Range Rover! But in city mode and on the highway, the CVT wedge-chain continuously variable variator in conjunction with a powerful engine is one of the most

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