Anyone own/have opinions on the Nissan Murano?

With a certain expected bias aside, I would appreciate opinions comments. My wife and I are looking to replace her Mazda Tribute. We're looking for something to take on long road trips, and of course most running around town will occur in this (I just drive my truck to work, and for my own personal uses) so ride comfort and amenities are a major priority.

With that being said, my wife is a VERY tepid driver in the snow, and living where we do, we see a fair share of it. Coming from a 4wd, where she can just press a button, and she's good to go, to a part-time AWD system in the Murano has me a little worried. I've heard some not so great things about part time AWD systems not engaging long enough or with enough duration (especially at speeds greater than 15mph) to truly give a great snow performance feel.

We've test drove both the 11 4Runner and 11 Murano SL (the final two). I LOVED the 4Runner, but of course, I like the ride height, and the feel (a bit more truck like than the crossover Murano). Admittedly, there are not near as many bells and whistles on the 4runner as there are on the Murano, and I didn't get a chance to evaluate long term comfort (although I can tell the Murano is WAY more comfortable).

I know my wife is not planning to offroad this vehicle, but two major things are giving me some hesitation. One, it's a Nissan. I've heard really GREAT things about them, but also some HORRENDOUS stories (i.e. Titan). Secondly, the AWD vs. 4wd system.

I know long term resale value is undoubtedly favoring the 4Runner, but then again, I REALLY don't think my wife likes it as much.

I'll be showing my wife the responses to this thread, so, any input and or opinions (constructive) are really appreciated. Thanks!

 

All I can say is that they are UGLY as _HIT. Other than that I have no idea how good a vehicle they are. But if the wife likes it, ya got to remember: "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"


Good luck!

 

Top gear seem to like them. The AWD should work well in the snow.

Hideous though.

 

The older ones had problems with the CVT transmission. I don't know if they have fixed them, but 75K miles was a common lifespan for them. One owner I spoke with said he paid 4K for a USED transmission to be installed when his went out. A friend that worked in a trans shop told me the 75K figure. I would investigate the transmission's reliability in more recent years.

 

x2 ^ My friend used to work at a car shop before he got a job at toyota. He used to brag he found a shortcut that took a few hours off the time it took to change out the tranny in them. May have involved a little bit of welding but would cost the customer half of what nissan would charge for flat rate. That being said he talked my gfs parents out of buying one.

 

A friend of mine has one and he said it's terrible in the snow. Granted he has a higher trim level with the 20" wheels and likely summer performance tires(although I thought he said he bought better tires). So if you decide on that perhaps wheel choice may be wanted to be taken into consideration since you're in the NE and it will likely see a lot of snow duty. Other than that, I don't have an issue with them(unless you're considering that dumbass cabriolet version lol).

 

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f133968
Gulp.

 

Yeah, the CVT issues I'm aware of, and it's some concern. I asked the sales person about his thoughts on that (just for entertainment purposes), and he fed me a line about the issues arising from people having them flushed at non-dealer service centers.

I don't necessarily think they're terribly ugly, but I agree they certainly aren't the nicest looking vehicles out there.

Thanks for the input so far.

 

If it has a qood warranty on it. There is something to be said for a comfortable vehicle. Road test it this weekend if your getting snow like MA is

 

My buddy and his wife looked at those and said they were too small inside. He liked the AWD, but felt the nissan looked cheap and small inside. They ended up getting a toyota highlander hybrid with the AWD. So far so good with it, from what I've heard.

 

i live where there is alot of snow during the winter. no one here drives a vehicle with AWD, only 4 wheel drive and that's with very good reason. i would think you have a similar, if not just a tiny bit less snow in PA. but still a considerable amount from what you describe.

that being said, i would NEVER consider an AWD vehicle in anyplace that has a decent amount of snow. that goes DOUBLE if the vehicle is going to be for my wife. they do not match true 4wd for snow performance at all. you will be VERY unhappy with an AWD system and you may wind up in some uncomfortable situations going with the murano. snow tires will help, but that is extra cost and still won't match the performance you will get with true 4wd..

i am not surprised your wife prefers the murano to the 4 runner. the murano is more car like and low to the ground. the 4 runner more truck like and you sit up higher. however, the 4 runner is still one incredibly well built and nice vehicle to drive. they have been making it for a very, very long time and it has really become very refined.

i would have your wife take another test drive in the 4runner, and if she liked it enough, that would hands down be my choice.

ps - my wife drives a brand new suburban and LOVES it. she used to drive a nissan sentra before i met her. go figure.

good luck with your decision.

 

Thanks, that's a lot along the lines of what I was thinking. My parents have owned a Subaru Outback (2003, 2008 and now a 2011), and love them in the snow here, and the just plow through everything (parents live on 90 acres, and have a 1/4 mile hillside driveway). BUT, that's a different AWD system.

We have time to decide (there are great incentives now, but her car is paid for, low mileage, and nothing's wrong with it other than lack of amenities and comfort). I don't want regrets with a purchase this big.

 

I had a Nissan Sentra, put 115000 miles on it and it never once left me stranded, VERY dependable vehicle. With that said, I think I would go with the Suburu as far as how good it is in the snow/ice. I really liked the Outback when I was out looking for vehicles before getting my Tacoma, but of course wanting a truck really bad, and it being my first one I'm very happy with my purchase! Good Luck!

 

I would really try to talk her into the 4 runner. Reliability and resale are much more important to me that a couple of extra creature comforts.

 

You might want to check into a certified Lexus. You are covered for 3 years and up to 100,000 miles on the ODO, from the day you purchase...the exclusions are mostly cosmetic thing. As far as I can tell it covers everything a new car would have covered. Unless you are going to lease then its a MOO point.

 

Thanks, guys. While the Subaru's are proven in the snow, they're barebones inside, and I haven't sat in one that was comfortable. That's why we never considered them.

My wife's initial number 1 choice was an RX350, but we just can't justify spending $40k on a used vehicle (low mileage 2011s are the only one's we're looking at) when you're still getting the same part time AWD system that's causing our initial concern.

There truly is a niche in the market that's missing for a luxury 4WD for under $40k MSRP.

 

I'd vote for the 4Runner
My wife has a 4Runner and would never part with it.
I feel very safe knowing my kids are in something safe and dependable.
However, whenever I mod the Taco, she gets jelly and wants the same for the 4Runner...can't really argue there

 

FYI Had two Murano's sold the past 6 months. Both came back. One lost the trans and the other split the transfer case in half.. Just saying......

 

You can't have your cake and eat it too. I feel your pain.

 

i like them the new ones are nice i never had any problems with any of the nissans i ever owned. i test drove the new model fully loaded a couple years back when the first hit our shores and we both liked it a lot the dealer was being a dick so we went a subaru instead thats all my wife has ever driven.

imo look into the new outback my wife just bought a 2012 and its a really nice suv i say suv because i really never knew what else to call them. or the 4 runner man you can't go wrong with a runner imo either.