liked it so much i bought one!

Overview:
The 2005 Nissan Murano is a well-executed, comfortable crossover SUV that is versatile, civilized, and provides a lot of bang for the buck. It is certainly much better than the cheaper, yet not as good of a value vehicle I had been considering before taking a test drive, the Chevy Equinox. After riding in a coworker's Murano, which can accomodate four adult males over 6' tall without skipping a beat, I liked it so much that I went out and bought one with my own money!

Design:
The exterior styling is positively beautiful, I much prefer this shape when compared to its more expensive sibling, the Infiniti FX. Nissan was brave enough to recognize that most people's car purchases are heavily influenced by how the vehicle looks, and they really hit a grand slam with this concept car for everyday people.
Interior design is modern, yet subdued. Quality of materials is not quite to the levels of an Audi or BMW, but better than average for a Japanese automobile and most definitely eons better than anything the US automobile industry has come up with. The center console is the centerpiece of the dash, draped in brushed aluminum and equipped with a screen for the user interface (owners can upgrade to a factory-installed color GPS navigation unit with rear bumper camera). Some plastic peripheral dash panels do seem a little cheap upon close inspection, and Nissan really should have provided an auxiliary input to the stereo on this vehicle. As noted before, there is cavernous leg room for rear passengers, who can easily recline their seats or even fold them forward flat to transport large items (this can also be done from the trunk). Not only is the vehicle spacious, it uses its space efficiently. I am able to fit three 9' long surfboards INSIDE the vehicle on the starboard side, while still maintaining room for one passenger (in the back seat), a cooler, and a camping grill for barbeques at the beach.

Performance:
Nissan has always had a reputation for producing refined engines, and this 245 HP V6 does not disappoint. However, premium fuel is recommended in order to allow for peak performance and to prevent engine knocking when accelerating from a standstill. Gas mileage in mixed city and highway driving has been about 19 mpg, which is only slightly above average for drivers of this segment with a lead foot, like me.
The Murano is equipped with a truly revolutionary Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which uses not 4, 5, or 6 speeds, but a series of gears and pulleys that allows for a virtually infinite number of gears. This provides improved acceleration and gas mileage, while eliminating lurches forward from the transmission shifting up or down.
While this vehicle will never be mistaken for a Porsche (or an Accord, for that matter), handling is aided by a decent suspension riding on 18" wheels, exhibiting above average cornering for this type of vehicle.
Because the Murano has been developed on the same platform as the Altima and Maxima, it has a comfortable, car-like ride. Road noise is not terrible, but I am sure the Infiniti is probably much quieter at speed.
The FX probably also has a much more capable climate control. Although temperature is supposedly automatically regulated and rear passengers have their own vents, the air conditioning is definitely overmatched for the size of this vehicle. At times, I found myself driving with the windows open this past summer in order to keep cool.