Contemporary look with the best of a sedan and SUV, Murano SL version

Nissan's eye catching Murano was my first choice for a family car. I wanted a sleek look in a mid-size vehicle, not the boxy look of a SUV. I also wanted great performance backed by the Nissan brand. I chose the 2006 Murano SL for just under $40k. This is not a standard car, it is loaded with options.

My favorite options are:
All wheel drive (you'll appreciate this when it snows!)
V6, 245hp
10 way power drivers seat
sunroof
towing
leather seats
DVD system

The good:
The ride may not be as smooth as the Altima(which I had before), but that is expected because it is much larger. I think it has great pickup and works well for merging onto highways. I travel on the 95 corridor and the Baltimore Beltway. I have no issues when I have to do a high speed merges. A fast tap on the accelerator will give a burst of power when you need it. For the last 2 tanks of gas we have averaged 21 MPG with a 50/50 variety between city and highway driving. The cargo capacity is great for groceries or shopping. It easily fits 2 car seats in the back. One car seat and 2 small boosters will fit with a squeeze. The in dash display shows the temperature and radio station. If the radio station is capable it will tell you the song that is playing. Near the gear shift there are a few small covered storage areas for change and very small items.

The OK, could be improved:
The interior has a rear view camera, but I still look behind the car from habit. I just don't trust to only look in a camera. The interior has a lot going on so it took a few weeks to get use to the dash. I am now very comfortable with the dials but there is a lot. The cup holders and storage space is adequate, but nothing spectacular. They will not fit the bigger cups. I have not used the cruise control. The leather interior color options are limited. The glovebox is on the small side. If you keep your car manual and a map there is not room for anything else.


Overall I am very happy with the Murano SL. I will update this after I have more time to use the cruise control and check gas mileage.