WITH many people complaining that vehicles look too generic, it is refreshing when a manufacturer risks designing a completely different vehicle. This was the 2005 Nissan Murano, a SUV that was unfortunately seen as too bold in design. The chrome grille and odd, 1950s-inspired taillights were just two styling features that polarised potential buyers – and most disliked it. The new, second-generation model has taken a more conservative approach, while still maintaining visual links with the original. Despite price rises due to escalating costs in the car industry, Nissan has taken a sharp knife to pricing and has made the new Murano a well-specified SUV wagon that makes all players in the luxury SUV segment look too expensive.
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Z50 MURANO
Released: July 2005
Ended: January 2009
Family Tree: MuranoWhen Nissan’s introduced the first Murano in August 2005, it was the company’s first go at a luxury SUV soft-roader and was offered in opening ST grade for $51,990 and luxury Ti for $56,990. The Murano shared its platform and engine with other models in the Nissan family and was only offered with a 172kW/318Nm version of the VQ35 V6 engine, derived from the 350Z. The Murano had a Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT), the first in a SUV sold here since the Honda HR-V.
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