Review of the new Nissan Murano Range

Nissan's Murano isn't lacking in road presence, character or equipment but will that be enough for it to win out in an increasingly competitive 4x4 market? As a crossover 4x4, it's biased very much towards road use which is no bad thing and the 3.5-litre V6 engine promises thrilling performance, albeit with underwhelming running costs. If that puts you off, there's a 2.5-litre 190PS diesel alternative.

Why have one thing when you can have elements of two melded together? That's the question that Nissan's Murano posed to buyers of large 4x4s when it was launched in 2005. Other marques will argue otherwise but Nissan insists that the Murano was the first 'crossover' luxury 4x4 in so much as it blended elements of SUV design with bits more commonly associated with conventional cars. The public didn't go crazy for the Murano concept in the way Nissan had hoped but other crossover products, notably the marque's own Qashqai, have done brisker business since. The MK2 Murano we look at here is better equipped for a wider appeal, most notably with diesel power for the first time.

The idea behind the crossover 4x4 hinges on the fact that by stiffening-up the chassis and smoothing out the shape of an ordinary family 4x4, manufacturers can arrive at a vehicle that handles markedly better on your average British B-road and looks markedly better cruising down the average British high street. The downsides tend to be that some off-road capability is lost, along with a bit of the interior space and practicality. Given the typical usage patterns of large 4x4 vehicles in the UK, It's a trade-off that a good proportion of buyers should be willing to make. All of which bodes well for the Murano, especially in light of the improvements brought to bear on the latest model.

The Murano these days offers two engines - a 2.5-litre dCi four cylinder diesel and a 3.5-litre V6 petrol unit that's significantly quicker, making sixty from rest in 8.os on the way to a top speed of 130mph. Power for the diesel is rated at 190PS, while the petrol unit puts out 256PS with torque of 334Nm. ALL-MODE 4x4-i technology continues to provide sure-footed handling no matter how treacherous the conditions. This intelligent permanent 4WD system distributes torque on demand to where it's needed. Under normal driving conditions that means predominantly to the front wheels, but up to 50 per cent can be sent to the rear if required. The system is closely integrated with the standard ESP stability control. The gearbox is a CVT item called Xtronic which features ASC Adaptive Shift Control and does its bit towards keeping fuel consumption in check.

"This car's styling will be a key reason why buyers either reach for their credit cards or run a mile."

A key contributor to the Murano's improved driving feel is a stiffer platform that is more resistant to lateral and twisting forces. Together with tweaks to the geometry of the re-developed multi-link rear suspension and revised front strut suspension, owners will enjoy surprisingly responsive handling combined with the kind levels of comfort levels you'd expect from a luxury 4x4. The speed sensitive power steering system is now lighter at low speeds and gives a more direct feel at higher ones.

This car's styling will be a key reason why buyers either reach for their credit cards or run a mile. Nissan's designers have also taken the opportunity to combine the need for cooling airflow to the diesel engine and radiators with a styling makeover for the front-end. A revised grille and bumper design reinforce the striking looks. As a result, with a big set of wheels filling its bulbous wheelarches, the Murano is quite a sight. Buyers will just have to judge whether or not it's one they want to see outside their houses every morning.

The interior of the Murano goes after an upmarket feel and is broadly successful. There are a lot of buttons as if to underline the quantity of equipment that has been crammed inside but the finishes and the luminescent instruments stop just the right side of over the top given the Murano's extrovert nature. An enormous dual panel glass sun roof is available in the standard model, but if you aren't bothered about that and instead would prefer a roof-mounted DVD player system, then that's available in a version costing just a few hundred pounds more.

There's also a powered tailgate which opens and shuts in 7 and 9 seconds respectively, plus a kerb camera mounted within the passenger door mirror. At speeds up to 12 mph it displays images of the ground beside the car on the 7 inch colour sat nav screen, showing the proximity of walls, kerbs and otherwise obscured obstacles. If those don't impress, try the rear electric seat system. The rear seats split 60/40 and are lowered simply by pulling a lever in the luggage area, but raising them is even easier; press a button on the dashboard or in the cargo area and the seats automatically move into position in just 8 seconds.

The original Murano's positioning as a luxury 4x4 that looked sleek and handled well once made it quite a unique proposition at around £30,000. In today's market, there's more by way of competition. The premium brands have been busy developing scaled down versions of their luxury SUVs and theoretically smaller models like BMW's X3, Audi's Q5 and the Mercedes GLK will present a stern challenge to the Murano in the style and handling stakes. At least the Nissan retains a strong value for money angle with its powerful petrol and diesel engines and elaborate specification.

The availability of diesel power has done much to increase this car's appeal. After all, great unit though the petrol 3.5-litre V6 undoubtedly is, it did serve to limit the Murano's buying proposition, even if a potential regular 25mpg return and 261g/km of CO2 aren't actually that bad. In contrast, the diesel version should enable you to average over 35mpg on a regular basis with 210g/km of CO2.

The Murano is estimated to retain just over 50% of its value after a typical three-year ownership period which is promising compared to other 4x4s in the same price bracket. Plus insurance at around group 15 isn't too bad considering the power and equipment levels it offers.

The markets for 4x4 vehicles of all descriptions are growing increasingly congested to the extent that even Nissan's rather leftfield Murano looks like having a battle on its hands. The vehicle's key strengths include striking looks and generous specification but premium-badged rivals are unlikely to cede ground without a fight.