Japanese company unveils fourth-gen SUV with 240hp turbo power
Anyone with even a slight interest in cars might recognize the Nissan Murano. It was one of the first large SUVs that focused on appearance and driving comfort rather than practicality. Nissan has unveiled the new Murano. What is it like now?
This marks the fourth generation of this Japanese SUV, which is primarily aimed at the American market. The Murano debuted as a model in 2003 and was notable for being the first SUV with a convertible body. While the first two generations were almost identical, the third brought significant changes, making the car larger and more practical.
The latest incarnation of the Murano also won't appear in Europe, partly due to its drivetrain. It features a 2.0 Turbo gasoline engine with 240 horsepower, which powers all four wheels, although the base version drives only the front axle.
The car has grown compared to its predecessor, but the most noticeable change is the new design language, which aligns with that of the electric Ariya. The same can be said for the cockpit—there's a stronger resemblance here. The simple dashboard boasts two 12.3-inch screens without overwhelming the interior with their presence. However, the new Murano's features are something to be proud of, particularly in autonomous driving.
The expanded Nissan Safety Shield 360 system is standard and includes additional functions. The car can be equipped with ProPILOT Assist, which combines intelligent cruise control with lane-keeping assistance, offering almost autonomous highway driving. In the SV and Platinum versions, ProPILOT Assist 1.1 also uses navigational data to adjust speed before curves based on planned route information proactively.
As expected for a car debuting in the American market, towing capabilities have not been overlooked, even if they're largely insignificant. The manufacturer has set the maximum towing capacity at 1,500 pounds, which is roughly 680 kg.
