Second Hand SenseIN THE current era of environmental conciousness, the position of a second-hand Nissan Murano might seem about as secure as that of Tyrannosaurus Rex a few years before the asteroids hit.
The car only comes with a 3.5 litre petrol engine taken directly from a sports coupé, emits 295 grammes of CO2 per kilometre and you would be lucky to get more than 20 miles to the gallon in city driving. That may be sufficient information for some people to lose interest straight away and is certainly enough to have the second-hand value of the Murano drop like a stone on the open market.
The Murano has been around for some three years, and was designed by Nissan as a competitor for Lexus, Volvo, BMW and Mercedes four-wheel-drives, among others. It has better looks than some of these vehicles because it does not have the same blocky design. It is fast and comfortable to drive, but lacks the flexibility of the Volvo, for instance, in terms of rear passenger and boot space.
The engine is mated to a CVT (continously variable transmission) automatic gearbox that is smooth and gives good all-round torque. The smart exterior is matched by a smart interior, with several cues from the 350 Z sports car.
The Murano is not a true off-roader, and belongs more in the grass and gravel category than that dominated by the Land Rover Discovery, say. However, the point is academic because with no diesel option the Murano was never going to be a rural choice. The trim, finish and the levels of standard equipment also confirm that the real market for the car was always going to the US.
The Murano has not been crash tested in the EuroNCAP programme and its reliability record has been good. There have been complaints about unexpected rattles and the CVT belt system has caused problems for some owners.
The big issue here is how to value it. A 2007 Murano with 63,000km up and every conceivable extra is on offer from one Midlands dealer for €36,900. A 2006 model with the same specfication and 41,000km is on offer for €38,999. With a car like this, hard bargaining will be required.
STAR RATING: 4/10