Nissan Murano, the company's first crossover sports utility vehicle, won Canada's top award for SUVs, trucks and vans last year, but the 2004 Murano is far from resting on its laurels.
Voted Canada's 2003 Truck of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), the 2004 Murano adds two new front-wheel-drive models to its 2004 lineup.
Other significant enhancements include, an available new six-speed manual-shift mode for the CVT transmission and a new power lumbar support.
"The extensive enhancements to the 2004 Nissan Murano is a reflection of the Nissan philosophy that says even the best can be made better," says Ian Forsyth, Nissan Canada director of marketing.
The 2004 Nissan Murano comes with a standard 245-horsepower 3.5-litre DOHC V6 attached to Nissan's advanced Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), which provides smooth, responsive acceleration, quiet efficient operation and virtually eliminates traditional shift shock.
Conceived as an exciting alternative to the growing number of look-alike crossover SUVs coming to market, Nissan Murano's unique, modern design is made possible, in part, by the use of Nissan's new FF-L (front engine, front-drive) platform, which shares elements with the popular Altima. The FF-L platform pushes the wheels out to the corners, allowing a long wheelbase and wide stance within a manageable overall length. Along with the platform's inherent handling and performance advantages, it allows greater packaging and styling flexibility.
The exterior, guided by a sculpture-in-motion theme, offers a new wraparound surface construction, an architectural front grille and a sporty upswept shaped D-pillar. The lightweight rear cargo door, constructed from advanced composite plastics reinforced by steel, is not only easy to open and close but further enhances the Nissan Murano's sculpted appearance.
Advanced vertical-stack headlights and standard 18-inch alloy wheels contribute to the contemporary, high quality exterior appearance. Aerodynamic body enhancements include use of an under engine body cover, front and rear tire deflectors and rear spoiler.
Murano's interior was designed to provide "first class seating" for two couples (but can comfortably fit five passengers), and ample, flexible luggage space. Murano's seats are specially designed to provide ample roominess, comfort. Murano's interior also offers a wide range of adjustability with a standard 10-way power driver's seat, including power lumbar, power adjustable throttle and brake pedals and a tilt steering wheel.
The split fold-down rear seat includes a reclining feature and a remote flip-down function, so the seats can be released from the rear cargo area. Other interior amenities include standard dual-zone climate controls and rear air conditioning vents located on the B-pillars.
The instrument panel includes aluminum trim, a standard 225-watt Bose® audio system with seven speakers and six-disc CD changer, plus a standard information monitor with HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) controls, audio, trip control and optional navigation system (Navi Package) controls integrated into its one-piece "floating" design.
The combination of long wheelbase, wide stance and compact rear multi-link suspension design helps create a rear cargo area that offers exceptional room and utility. Nissan Murano's highly functional storage systems include a two-tiered lockable centre console storage box with room to hold a laptop computer or purse and door pockets with flip-out function. Additional storage areas include a tray and two bins under the cargo floor and spaces in the centre console for cell phones, sunglasses, coins, cups and bottles.
Murano comes with many standard safety features such as dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seatbelt sensors, front-seat side-impact supplemental air bags and front and rear seat curtain side-impact supplemental air bags. Zone-Body Construction with front and rear crumple zones help dissipate crash energy away from the passenger compartment. Also standard are front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters, LATCH child seat anchors and tether system and front-seat active head restraints.
Nissan's Xtronic CVT with its six-speed manual shift mode (SE only) is unlike conventional stepped-gear automatics, operates essentially as one gear through the use of a belt and two pulleys. By infinitely varying the working diameters of the two pulleys, the transmission eliminates the steps between gears, resulting in a smoother, more efficient operation by keeping the engine in its optimum power range under a variety of driving and load conditions. This benefit is especially apparent in long uphill drives where the traditional hunting for the proper gear is virtually eliminated.
The 2004 Nissan Murano is available in four well-equipped models, two with front-wheel driver, SL (FWD) and SE (FWD), and two with all-wheel drive, SL (AWD) and SE (AWD).
Every Murano comes fully equipped four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Brake Assist (BA), four-wheel independent suspension, power rack-and-pinion steering and a standard 18 Imperial gallon fuel tank for an exceptional driving range. Also standard are reclining rear seat backs, power windows with auto up/down feature on front windows, keyless remote entry system, large center console and much more.
Both SE models include Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), which helps improve vehicle stability by controlling brake pressure and engine torque automatically in understeer, oversteer or slippery road surface conditions, Traction Control System (TCS) and a Tire Pressure Monitor System.
Murano SE (FWD) and SE (AWD) models add a sport-tuned suspension with firmer front/rear springs and struts and shock absorbers, unique six-spoke sporty alloy wheels, High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with manual headlamp leveler and dark silver lower bumpers.
Optional equipment packages include a Sunroof Package that adds a power sunroof with tilt and slide feature and a Navi Package that adds a GPS navigation system with seven-inch colour monitor and DVD map data for Canada and the U.S.