Livin' large

This luxo-barge doesn’t have feather-light steering. Instead, the steering has a good feel, with a moderate amount of weight to it. Although the Murano has speed sensitive steering, I should have felt the wheel getting heavier at highway speeds - but it didn’t. It just felt the same at any speed, which is somehow ok, since it has a good feel to begin with.

Here is what’s really addictive about the Murano: its engine. The VQ35DE DOHC 3.5 liter V6 is a real gem, all thanks to its 260 horses. Those of you used to the quietness of the VQ engines found in the Cefiro (now Teana) will be in for a shock - it has a voice!

Somewhere around the 4,000 rpm region, there’s a muted-but-raspy V6 growl. It makes you want to keep flexing your right foot, just so you can hear it responding. And the big block doesn’t disappoint either - every stab of the throttle sends you riding on a huge wave of torque. Wanna make that road-hog find his place on the center lane? Not a problem at all.

A dirt road excursion allowed me to sample the car’s 4x4 skills. With those 18-inch wheels and tyres, I had plenty of fun chucking the big boy off the beaten path. Once you hit the 4WD lock, the Murano will be eager to play.

For such a huge car, I was pleasantly surprised with its maneuverability. Multi-story car parks with narrow ramps were not a problem. Well, if you don’t believe me, check with The Ed. He was in a hatchback and can tell you that I hustled the Murano up and down those ramps with relative ease.

In the end though, I could only come to one conclusion - I’d rather be driven in it. Yes, the engine is addictive, but the car’s almost 1,900kg weight blunts its performance. The Murano handles well for its size, but it’s still ultimately more suited for smooth cruising. That quiet and refined interior goes well with the Bose system too.

If I were a busy exec, I’d be listening to Sinatra while reading the papers en route to the office. Well, its SUV form may not appeal to me, but I’m definitely down with the Murano’s luxury factor…

Credits: Story by Azfar Hashim, Jarvis Seo and Jeremy R. Chua. Pictures by Azfar Hashim