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The optional Bose audio system sounds good and is versatile, with AM, FM, and Sirius Satellite Radio; XM is also available. The in-dash six-CD changer can play MP3 CDs and display ID3 tagging information, but there is no direct MP3 player jack. There is, however, a cassette deck.
The 2006 Nissan Murano's available rear-seat DVD system claims most of the front console, with the player in the console box. The screen folds up from the top of the console, conveniently below the driver's rear vision but readily visible to rear passengers. Bluetooth cell phone integration is not offered in the Murano.
The 2006 Nissan Murano is a distinctive take on the two-box SUV plan. The high roofline, short overhangs, large wheels and tires, and metallic faux front-skid plate (new this year) say truck, but its busy but cohesive styling, full-width chrome grille, faired-in HID headlamps, highly raked windshield, and distinctive LED taillights say car.And underneath, it is a car. The 2006 Nissan Murano shares Nissan's FF-L platform with the Altima and Maxima sedans, and it's not much of a stretch of the imagination to see it as an Altima or a Maxima wagon made tall. It was not designed with serious off-road use in mind. Since the Murano is not a sports car, and its tall stance improves the driver's visibility and interior space, the height is more a plus than a minus.
Power for all Murano models is from Nissan's 3.5-liter, twin-cam aluminum-alloy engine, mounted transversely. It makes 245 horsepower at 5,800rpm, with 246 pound-feet of torque at 4,400rpm. Continuously variable-valve timing and a variable-length intake manifold help improve power delivery and reduce emissions to an LEV-2 level. Other models are available with front- or all-wheel drive, but the SE is AWD only, all the better to get that power to the pavement.
Also helping power delivery is CVT, here called Xtronic by Nissan for its electronic controls. No transmission shifts more smoothly than one that doesn't shift at all, and the CVT adds refinement to the Murano. In the SE, it's also manually shiftable. Virtual gears are programmed into the transmission-control software. Rarely does manual shifting improve acceleration, a tribute to the transmission's design and engineering.
The 2006 Nissan Murano's weight, frontal area, and rather unaerodynamic shape (coefficient of drag of 0.39) negatively affect fuel economy. It's listed by the EPA at 19mpg in the city and 24mpg on the highway; in mostly city driving with some highway time, we averaged 19, several miles per gallon less than that of a sedan but better than that of a truck-based SUV. The maximum trailer weight is 3,500 pounds.
The 2006 Nissan Murano sits on a rigid platform with a fully independent suspension that uses struts in front and a multilink setup at the rear. As with other Nissans, SE means sporty, and here, that means firmer springs and matched shocks. The ride is firm but not too much so, and the Murano stays flat and controlled in corners. The SUV-size P235/65 R18 tires on alloy wheels do add unsprung weight and hence a little thumpiness to the ride, but it's not objectionable. The speed-sensitive power steering allows easy parking and low-speed maneuverability without being overly sensitive at highway speeds.
The skid plate in the front bumper won't fool your typical off-road obstruction, but 7 inches of ground clearance can come in handy in the urban/suburban jungle, as can the AWD. During our week with the 2006 Nissan Murano SE, we were treated to an early-season rainstorm. Several inches of standing water on the roadway didn't faze the Murano at all, even at speeds of up to 40mph.
When it comes time to stop, the 2006 Nissan Murano's standard antilock brakes do the job, aided by electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. The zone-body construction of the Murano's FF-L platform, as well as its front and rear crumple zones, side reinforcement, and energy-absorbing steering column, helps protect occupants in a crash, as do standard front, front-side, and side curtain air bags with rollover sensors.Optional for $750 and highly recommended is the Dynamic Control Package, consisting of the TCS traction-control system; a VDC (vehicle dynamic control) system that reduces engine torque and/or applies one or more individual brakes to reduce understeer or oversteer; and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
Like all 2006 Nissans, the Murano is covered by a 36-month/36,000-mile limited warranty, with five years/60,000 miles of limited power train coverage and a five-year/unlimited-mileage corrosion warranty. Emissions-system coverage varies by location, 24 months/24,000 miles for federal requirements and 36 months/50,000 miles for California-spec states. A factory extended warranty is available.
