I used to long for a rugged SUV. This was back when SUVs were still built on a truck platform and were ready to take on the elements. I had my eye set on the Nissan Xterra and coveted that truck for years to come.
I did finally get my Nissan but it wasn’t the one I was planning on.
Back in 2004, my husband suggested we take a test drive in the new Nissan Murano. I was perfectly happy with my Ford Escape until… I found out the difference a few thousand dollars can make. It was spacious and felt almost too luxurious for me.
I loved that car all the way up until my husband convinced me to trade it in for something else but that was always the car that just felt like me.
The 2019 Nissan Murano Platinum has shown just how far this vehicle has come since the first generation model I owned. And unlike many of us, it’s definitely improved with age.
Road Trip in the Nissan Murano
In order to experience the Nissan Murano for the week, I made sure I incorporated it into my every day routing – the grocery store, the post office, school pickup. But I also made sure that I took it out on the open road to really understand the driving experience.
We headed to nearby Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a close 45 minutes or so away. Most people think of it as a battlefield but there’s actually more to Gettysburg than just history! We didn’t want to do anything too serious so we planned a lunch in downtown Gettysburg.
I parallel parked the Murano (although I had a LOT of room) with ease, put my money in the meter and walked up and down the square (circle, actually). We stopped and had lunch at the cutest little restaurant that served what I’d call upscale diner food.
Then I took my son to some of my favorite shops in the area including Gettysburg Baking Company and LARK. Delicious goodies to eat and then interesting goodies to buy. And we made our way to Codori’s Gifts, Nerd Herd Gifts & Games, then over to The Christmas Haus and Redbud House. I love the shops in Gettysburg!
When we finishing eating and shopping, I wanted to take my son to just a few picturesque locations before heading back home. First stop – the famous Round Barn! Yes, it’s actually a round barn and is one of few surviving. When in season, it’s an event space with a market down below. (Read more about it here)
After taking a few cool pics, we headed up to a nearby hilltop winery and cidery – not for the drinking but for the view!
As the day was cooling off (it was a surprisingly warm day), we headed back down and made one more quick stop to see an old friend in the Gettysburg Square.
Fun fact: Abraham Lincoln did not drive.
That’s right. Since the very first car was built in 1885 and Lincoln died in 1865, a car is something he would never see. But he is known as Honest Abe and I’m going to take a few cues from him and tell you the honest truth about the Nissan Murano Platinum (that’s an important distinction!).
An Honest Review of the Nissan Murano Platinum
Let me start with my overall thoughts of the Murano after driving it for a week.
I did not want to give it back.
Keep in mind that I drove the Platinum trim level which is the highest trim level. It has the most features and has the highest price tag but, man, was it worth it.
It has a spacious interior, every option I personally want, a smooth and comfortable ride, and halfway decent gas mileage. As far as the negatives go, it’s a little on the pricey side (more on that later) and STILL has an old school emergency brake on the floor!
It’s pretty on the outside and pretty on the inside but the details are what show the intelligent design on the Nissan Murano.
Can’t Miss Interior Features of the Nissan Murano
I tend to focus heavily on the interior because that’s where drivers and passengers are spending most of their time. Right smack in the middle of the console is theNissan Murano 8″ Color Display with Multi-Touch Control. That means the features like factory navigation and SiriusXM Radio can be controlled through the touch screen or the buttons on either side.
I ended up using the Apply CarPlay exclusively, which is why it’s a requirement on any new car I plan to purchase. It’s an easy and familiar system to navigate and Nissan makes it easy to connect.
Just below the console are all of your connectivity ports. You’ll get the 12V port, an auxiliary port, a USB port (used for your Apple CarPlay or Android Auto), and a USB-C connection. That’s the first time I’ve seen that in a vehicle and it’s located in both the front and the back. That means I can actually plug my computer into the car!
Let’s also talk about what else I had forgotten that I love about the Murano – the cargo space!
This is a five passenger vehicle so there is no third row. But you’ll still have plenty of cargo space with 32.1 ft³. Even more impressive is when you put the second row down and have 67 ft³. But what is really noticeable is the width of the cargo space. Nissan lists the cargo space width between wheelhouses, which is typically the narrowest part of the bed. It comes in at an impressive 43.0 ft³ but you really need to see it to appreciate it.
And if you still feel like you need a larger interior feel, you must look at the Power Panoramic Moonroof. A moonroof is a must-have for me. I like the natural light it provides but this one is nicely tinted and doesn’t overheat the car. It also has a shade that retracts to two different lengths.
If you’ve looked at the Nissan Murano in the past, here’s why it’s worth looking at for this year.
What’s New for the Murano in 2019
Here are a few changes you can expect with the Nissan Murano in 2019.
There are exterior updates that include a more pronounced front V-motion grille, redesigned LED headlights and taillights, new LED fog lights, new 18-inch and 20-inch aluminum -alloy wheel designs and three fresh new exterior colors – Sunset Drift Chromaflair, Mocha Almond Pearl , and Deep Blue Pearl (shown here).
For the interior, you’ll see new semi-aniline leather-appointed seats with diamond-quilted inserts and contrasting micro-piping trim for the seats, door armrests, and center console lid for the Platinum grade (seen here).
Other features include Nissan’s innovative Rear Door Alert system and Intelligent Driver Alertness. Also available is Intelligent Around View Monitor and an 11-speaker Bose premium audio system.
From a safety standpoint, the 2019 Murano adds standard 2nd row supplemental side air bags and front passenger supplemental knee air bag. Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of six advanced active safety and driver-assist technologies are available on the SL model and standard on the Murano Platinum.
If you missed my review on the Nissan Leaf, you’ll see how impressed I was with the technological advances Nissan continues to put in its vehicles.
Details of the 2019 Nissan Murano Platinum
My favorite things? The intelligence in the vehicle – from the connectivity to the climate control. The The high quality materials used in the interior. The large cargo space in the rear. The impressive driving – from a comfort and performance standpoint.
My least favorite things? The gas mileage. (It’s totally acceptable at 20/28 MPG and I averaged 24 but I’d still like to do better). The old school emergency brake.
- 3.5 Liter V6 Engine
- 260 hp
- Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission)
- Intelligent AWD
- Fuel economy 20/28 mpg
- MSRP (as seen here) $46,420
Video Review of the 2019 Nissan Murano Platinum
Want to see the 2019 Nissan Murano Platinum in more detail? That’s what this video review is for!
