Nissan x SHARP
For most people, in most cars, the daily commute is little more than a chore. For others, it’s downright stressful. But what if that wasn’t the case? What if getting into your car and driving off could feel like a private moment of calm? That’s what Nissan set out to do with the all-new Murano, to create an SUV that functions not only as transportation but as a kind of personal driving oasis, a thoughtful machine that helps you by making driving less of a chore and more of a pleasure. Admittedly, it’s a tall order. But after trying out the new top-of-the-line Murano Platinum for a week, we think Nissan has pulled it off.
7:45am — Monday Morning Commute
Phone, keys, wallet. Coffee. More coffee. Laptop and backpack. It’s a cold morning in early spring. Into the new Murano for the 35-minute drive to SHARP headquarters. (Location: top secret.) The panoramic moonroof helps brighten up the cabin, which in turn helps brighten the mood. The heated windshield melts a thin layer of frost away while the heated washer nozzles ensure there’s no issue spraying the windshield clean. The heated seat and steering wheel are on blast, and the new massaging seat is doing its thing. Close your eyes for a moment and it could almost be like you’re at the spa. The ambient lighting creates a calming vibe, especially when set to a warm yellow/orange glow, one of 64 available hues.
The more time you spend in Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats, the better they get. The new flat-bottom steering wheel and larger range of adjustments for the driver’s seat means the Murano’s new cabin feels spacious and comfortable — actually, it’s downright luxurious given the new Nissan’s relatively modest price tag.
The Murano’s 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine is a miracle of mechanical engineering, but on this chilly Monday morning we’re not thinking about that, just the 241 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque — which is 20 lb-ft more than the outgoing Murano for all those keeping track at home — that feels eager pulling away from every stop. Its acceleration is brisk, its handling is precise, its stature once you’re cruising is composed and comfortable. Though its interior is wonderfully relaxed, its driving dynamics will keep you smiling from behind the wheel.
6:15pm Friday — Loading the Kid and Camping Gear
The mental checklist of things we need to bring camping has been checked off. After a momentary panic that it won’t all fit in the car, it does, easily. The available powered, motion-activated trunk opens itself while we’ve got our hands full. The Murano’s 60/40 split flat-folding second row seats make it easy to lay the tent down whilst still making space for the kid in the back seat. Three up, even with all our cold-weather camping gear, there’s still a good amount of cargo space to spare.
In the back seat, sunshades are keeping our toddler happy, and (hopefully) soon helping her get to sleep so we can enjoy the Bose stereo in the front seats. Thanks to the Google Built-In option, it’s easy to adjust settings on the go — temperature and music are voice-controlled. Meanwhile, Google Maps keeps us up-to-date with traffic information in realtime. A wireless charger keeps our phone topped up.
It’s dark when we arrive, but the available 3D Intelligent Around View Monitor lets a driver see one of eight virtual vantage points around the vehicle; it makes parking feel almost like a video game. The Invisible Hood View — a feature designed to give drivers better visibility when maneuvering tight spaces — makes the hood appear transparent, ensuring we don’t crunch into any curbs.
4:30pm Sunday — The Drive Home
Feeling both exhausted and recharged from our weekend escape, it’s time to head back into the city. The dual 12.3-inch displays offer plenty of real estate for both navigation info and scrolling through Spotify playlists, all connected to the phone wirelessly via Apple CarPlay.
Note the new side-view mirrors too. They’re a small detail, but by moving the mirrors from the A-pillar to the outer doors Nissan’s engineers made it easier for drivers to see what’s coming up behind. (The standard Blind Spot Warning system certainly helps too.) And, maybe it’s just us, but it sounds like there’s less wind noise making its way into the cabin too. Or maybe that’s the standard Active Sound Cancellation system working its magic.
A long stretch of highway driving is made much easier with the Murano’s available ProPILOT Assist 1.1 system, which combines Intelligent Cruise Control with Steering Assist. It even uses navigation data to proactively adjust speed ahead of curves. As a driver, this cutting-edge system makes it feel as if the car’s watching your back, helping you stay on track and alert. Best of all, you don’t really need to think about it. The system just kind of works, de-stressing the drive.
While the Murano could not, unfortunately, entertain our three-year-old when she finally had had enough of being in the car, or eliminate Monday morning gridlock entirely, the new Murano did become a kind of mobile sanctuary for the family during our week with it. It provided a respite on the road, and all of the space and comfort our journey required — so much so that, yes, we’ll miss it.
