2009 Nissan Murano Interior Review [ 2007 ]

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Interior - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Nissan Murano's interior has changed the most with this year's redesign. And with higher quality materials and more user-friendly controls, it's changed for the better.

• "Here, it's a lovely machine. Classy presentation, nothing tries too hard. Might mistakenly think you're in a lux-mobile." -- USA TODAY
• "I was unhappy with the amount of wind noise that found its way into the tester at highway speeds, but otherwise the cabin was quiet and comfortable and the seats were supportive enough for a 100-mile-plus, two-hour drive with no backache." -- Newsday
• "Much like the recent upgrade to the Altima, on which the Murano is loosely based, the logic and function are still there, the cabin just looks better and uses nicer materials now." -- New Car Test Drive
• "Nissan made dramatic improvements to the cabin, skewing it more toward luxury and refinement. It also wisely resisted the temptation of having three-row bragging rights and didn't try to cram another bench seat where there just isn't room." -- Truck Trend

Seating

Though exterior styling changes make the 2009 Murano's interior just a bit smaller than the previous model, it still accommodates five full-size adults. Most find its two rows of seats very comfortable, though a few reviewers have gripes about the rear middle spot.

• "Sumptuous and well-contoured front and rear seats complete the package. By refusing to give in to the trend toward three-row seating, the Murano has been able to maintain class-leading accommodations for the second-row rear passengers." -- Edmunds
• "Seats are unusually comfortable." -- USA TODAY
• "Rather than trying to jam a third row into Murano's cabin, Nissan chose to make the first and second rows very roomy and comfortable. There's plenty of leg room in each position. The front seats are nice and supportive, with a wide beam for healthy American dimension and decent lateral support." -- About.com
• "The front bucket seats, while comfortable, could use some side bolstering." -- Orlando Sentinel
• "The driver and front passenger seats are wonderfully simple and comfortable too, in a Volvo way." -- The Car Connection

Interior Features

The Nissan Murano comes with plenty of standard features and more optional hi-tech gadgets than ever before.

• "The base S model is a touch spartan, but the step-up SL gets standard refinements such as a power-operated second-row seatback and availability of a number of features that are standard on the upscale LE: heated front seats, Bluetooth phone connectivity, and a rear parking camera." -- Car and Driver
• "With $15K compact-cars boasting Bluetooth connectivity and satellite radio, the Murano, which will likely start in the $28K range, offers a host of technological options in the cabin, including a touch-screen navigation system that responds to voice commands and a 9.3 gigabyte hard drive for digital music storage." --Motor Trend
• "Controls have a smooth, premium feel. Gauges are fetchingly illuminated. Nissan has moved away from the weak, cheap-looking orange color of the past to something closer to red." -- USA TODAY
• The Murano has "a choppy and odd-looking but ergonomically effective dashboard. There's a driving computer, but the information on fuel economy is presented in an overly complex graphic format, making it difficult to determine trip average fuel economies at a glance. It appeared I was averaging just over 20 mpg on most of the trips I took, which were heavy on the highway, light on the local." -- Newsday
• "The Murano uses a push-button ignition that is trendy and a bit annoying: Is anybody really complaining about having to turn a key?" -- Orlando Sentinel
• "The navigation system is easy to use, and most audio and climate functions are separate. The navigation screen can wash out in direct sunlight." -- Consumer Guide

Cargo

Unlike many of its competitors, the Murano doesn't offer a rear third seat as an option, though what some reviewers see as a drawback is an advantage for others. With the rear seats in use, cargo space measures a competitive 31.6 cubic feet (31.8 with the optional moonroof), and with the 60/40-split second row folded down, this increases to 64.0 cubic feet (64.5 with the moonroof).

• "The volume itself has shrunk fractionally, so Nissan has added convenience. There's a nifty pop-up grocery organizer first seen in the Rogue, as well as one-pull rear-seat releases in the cargo bay. The rear seats motor back into place with the push of a button either on the dashboard or next to the release lever in the rear." -- Edmunds
• "Available in the cargo area behind the second seat is Nissan's rendition of the cargo organizer, intended to keep small stuff from sliding around in turns, starts or stops and driving you nuts. The organizer has removable vertical partitions. It's hidden in the floor when not in use and pops up when needed." -- Newsday
• "With the rear seat raised, the Murano offers a decent amount of cargo space, with the additional trick cargo organizer available as an option. Touch a button on the cargo floor and a panel flips up, with netting triangles dividing its waterproof compartment into sections perfect for grocery bags or other items." -- The Car Connection