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 In the U.K. it was withdrawn in 2011.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.