The third generation of the Nissan Murano crossover has received a mid-cycle facelift at the same time as the Maxima sedan, both having been revealed at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show despite having a one-year difference between them.
One of the main focus points was a slightly updated exterior and interior, although the modifications are minimal for a facelift. The LED headlights and taillights have been redesigned and the so-called V-motion grille is now more pronounced compared to its predecessor. There are also three new interior trim finishers called Dark Wood-Tone (Platinum), Light Wood-Tone (S, SV, SL) and Metallic (S, SV, SL).

The third generation of the big SUV Nissan Murano was unveiled at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The new design language completely changed the vehicle.

When the first Murano generation appeared, it was unusual to see an SUV without a ladder chassis underneath, but in 2015 it was unusual to see an SUV with a body-on-frame structure. Apart from a few American models, most of the others are unibody type.

The overall look was more aggressive and bolder than on the previous generation. Its boomerang style headlights were inspired by those installed on the Nissan 370 Z sports car. The lowered greenhouse and the raked A-pillars enhanced the drag coefficient. In the rear, the Z-theme for the taillights was continued.

Inside the Murano, Nissan installed zero-gravity seats for both front passengers and the rear outboard occupants. That kind of seats is designed to support the body weight of its occupant on a bigger area. Thus, there was a sensation of floating on a cloud instead of seating in a chair. At least, that’s what they said. The 2015 Murano came with more legroom for the rear passengers. The infotainment unit was installed on the center console, integrated into its shape. The instrument cluster featured two big round dials and a TFT screen between for the board computer and other information required by the driver.

For the technical department, Nissan didn’t look that it improved over the second generation. There was the same V6 engine mated to a CVT with either front or all-wheel-drive. The downside of the CVT was the limited towing capacity of only 1500 lbs (680 kg).

The Murano was the flagship of the Nissan’s SUV lineup for the U.S. market. The second generation was unveiled at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show and sales started in 2008 as a 2009 model.

The first generation of the Murano was built mainly for the U.S. market, but there was a version for the Japanese market as well. The second generation took into account the European market but its sales were hardly affected by the world economic crisis. Its futuristic design was too much for customers and the sales slumped in more countries. In the U.K. it was withdrawn in 2011.

The second generation featured the same wheelbase as its predecessor, but the car was built on a new platform, named Nissan D. The most important exterior modifications were made on the front fascia, where a new pair of headlights, a new grille, and new hood found their place on the car. In 2011, a facelifted version was introduced and the taillights were enhanced with LED lights.

Inside, the Murano received four heated seats and a more refined interior. The 360 degrees “bird-eye view” monitor was a carry-over from the Infiniti range. The dashboard was redesigned and received new lights for the instrument cluster.

The all-wheel independent suspension was a good idea for Nissan. It was fitted as standard on the entire range and it offered more comfort. The engine bay was still dominated by a 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a CVT.

Named after an Italian province famous for its skilled glass hand blowers, the Murano is a reliable vehicle but still far from the flawless product its name hints at.
Nissan’s only crossover SUV, the Murano first entered production for the US market in 2003 only to be sold in Europe as well one year later. Based on Altima’s FF-L platform, the Murano is only sold in one version, powered by a 3.5 L V6 gasoline unit with a power output of 245 bhp. The Murano comes with a standard front wheel drive but is also availaale with an optional 4-wheel drive system for enhanced traction and stability.