2009 Nissan Murano

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But the Murano's pedal feel in medium-duty stops seemed well measured. Nissan fits the Murano with 12.6-inch vented discs in front and 12.1-inch solid discs in the rear, shod with anti-lock control. The wheels themselves are 18-inchers, with 235-series tires; 20-inch wheels and tires are standard on the LE model.

Every Murano gets standard stability and traction control, along with dual front, side, and side-curtain airbags.

In a groove

Click here to find out more! The new Murano carries the torch of the first generation in terms of size, power, and particularly, in its good looks. A smoother, tauter rendition of the shape that made its debut with the original vehicle in 2003, the new Murano looks even more balanced and aggressive than its predecessor.

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. Fog lamps and roof rails add on to the basic shape, which grows increasingly more sophisticated as it sweeps rearward, with its pointed three-quarter windows flowing effortlessly into the tailgate and its LED taillights.

The exterior themes are carried through and refined, but the Murano's old interior has been junked entirely and a suave new cabin's been installed. The soft textures, metallic trims, and graceful air show that Nissan's been listening carefully to owners and drivers complain about the cheapness of its recent interiors.

The driver and front passenger seats are wonderfully simple and comfortable too, in a Volvo way. In the second row -- there are no three-row Muranos, as Nissan is expected to introduce a larger crossover in the near future -- passengers will have less knee and head room to work with. I'm six feet tall and in my stint in the back seat, the Murano's headliner (outfitted with the dual-panel moonroof) touched the top of my head, while the passenger seat sat less than an inch in front of my knees. Put the smaller adults and kids in the second row, turn on the available second-row seat heaters and everyone's happy -- as long as you haven't used the power button to fold down the second-row seat.

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.

A work of art?

Click here to find out more! Along with its standard safety gear, V-6 and CVT, each Murano gets pushbutton starting; dual-zone climate control; a six-CD changer with an auxiliary jack for MP3 audio players; and power windows/locks/mirrors and cruise control.

The option list has grown to include a DVD navigation system with the nifty bird's-eye view and a 9.3-gigabyte music hard drive; iPod connectivity; wood or aluminum trim; a rearview camera; a power liftgate; and the dual-panel moonroof.

The Murano can rightly be criticized for a slightly snug interior and the new tiered nose, but not much else. There's none of the wet-diaper dynamics of the Toyota Highlander or the egregious heft of the Ford Edge -- just quick, natural responses, coupled to a right-sized crossover body with jazzy, urbane styling.

Like the art glass it's named for, the Murano takes a moment of study to appreciate. And while innovation isn't in overwhelming supply, refinement is -- and that is enough to make this Murano into modern art.

2009 Nissan Murano

Base price: $29,500 (est.)

Engines: 3.5-liter V-6, 265 hp/248 lb-ft

Transmission: Continuously variable transmission, front- or all-wheel drive

Length x width x height: 188.5 x 74.1 x 66.9 in

Wheelbase: 111.2 in

Curb weight: 4000 lb (est.)

Fuel economy (city/hwy): 18/23 mpg

Safety equipment: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes and stability control

Major standard equipment: Power windows/locks/mirrors; tilt/telescoping steering wheel; AM/FM/CD player; cruise control; air conditioning; 18-inch wheels

Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles

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