Review: 2006 Nissan Murano SL AWD

In the never-ending struggle to bring something new to the table, or market in our case, car builders are becoming craftier by the year. The Crossover craze really showed its teeth at the 2006 Detroit auto show. It was clear then that everyone needed one of these to complete their line-up. Ford, Lincoln, Mazda, Subaru, General Motors and Mercedes-Benz, to name a few, have recently or will be launching a new crossover.

One of the mixed SUV-minivan-station wagons is the Nissan Murano. In fact, bearing in mind that it has been available since 2003, it could be considered one of the originals. The merger between Nissan and Renault gave life to the Japanese maker especially in the design department. Such hits as the 2002 Altima saved Nissan from harder financial from whence they came. The Murano fits between the Xterra and Pathfinder in Nissan's ever expanding SUV line.

Full review here

moto - 5/19/2007 5:41:40 AM

+1 Boost

There is no such thing as a "crossover", this is such a BS marketing gimmick.

The EPA and NHTSA define vehicle classes in the USA, authorities in other countries do the same. A vehicle body type is not defined by size.

- A "utility vehicle" is one that can tow, typically requiring a full frame. Number and configuration of doors is unimportant. describing a utility vehicle as "sport", though popular with the three-letter-acronym fans, is aggregiously wrong in most cases.

- A wagon or "estate" has a full-width door or hatch in the back for cargo, as well as room for several passengers inside.

- A minivan is a van.

- A van, short for "caravan", is a large people hauler.

- other classic coachbuilding terms have been used and abused over the years: Landau, Limousine, Sedan, Coupe, Runabout, Cabriolet, Targa, etcetera. Each have specific meaning if you bother to read about them.

The Murano is a wagon.