2009 Nissan Murano Exterior Review [ 2007 ]

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• Exterior
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Exterior - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Nissan Murano looks very similar to its predecessor. Most reviewers enjoy the look, but a few criticize the modified front grille.

• "Its signature grille-dominated face has been further developed with a new grille that incorporates multi-element headlamp clusters with optional HIDs. We like the arrangement not just because it comes off less like the Cheshire Cat's grin than it did before, but also because it's easy to get a face wrong by going either too far (Acura MDX) or not far enough (Hyundai Veracruz)." -- Edmunds
• "The second-gen Murano looks much like the original, with some notable exceptions. There's the new front end, for example, which uses a more angular grille, narrow, sportier headlights, and a much brighter finish. It is more aggressive, yet more refined than the old front fascia." -- Motor Trend
• "In the preschool parking lot, cheek-by-jowl with a typical parental array -- CX-9, XC70, CR-V, various minivans -- one thing stands out about the new Nissan Murano SUV. It is ugggg-lee. The tugged-back grille resembles the skeletal smile of a dead dog many days gone. Or something discarded as too weird for the Mad Max movies." -- USA TODAY
• "Though bolder than before, the Murano's nose looks like a cross between the previous generation and the smaller Rogue crossover, with new headlight clusters and grille." -- Cars.com
• "The 2009 Murano still has handsome, distinctive styling, but this one doesn't advance the cause like the original one did. That said, no one will be ashamed to be seen in the '09." -- Orlando Sentinel
• "The single fly in the ointment, if it's even that serious, is the tiered look of the new grille and headlamps. Like Honda's new CR-V, the stacked treatment up front looks considerably less elegant than previous generations. In the first Murano, headlamps and grille were integrated into a single, smooth ribbon drawn across the car's face. The new look is toothier and more disjointed but not unappealing." -- The Car Connection
• "The new Murano stands out. Its crisp lines and styling could be happy in an art gallery." -- The Family Car