Item: Used Nissan Murano 4x4 2005 - 2008
Author: What Car? Team

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<p dir="ltr">Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.</p>


NISSAN

MURANO

<p>The Nissan Murano is a real alternative to a prestige 4x4, if you don't mind the badge or the bills</p>


Used Nissan Murano 4x4 2005 - 2008

<p>Some may find the Murano's running costs dear, and more in keeping with those of more prestigious rivals. Its official combined fuel consumption of 23mpg is only equal to the equivalent petrol-engined versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a> and less than that of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/rx/4x4/review/n137">Lexus RX350</a>. There are no diesel or hybrid versions.</p>

<p>That said, its insurance rating is lower than these rivals' and routine service costs less than for an X3. What's more, if you need unscheduled work, there's more good news: Warranty Direct says both dealer labour rates and average repair bills are at the lower end of the scale.</p>

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The Nissan Murano is a real alternative to a prestige 4x4, if you don't mind the badge or the bills

<p>Other than take it or leave it, there isn't really a choice when you're looking at buying a Murano. It has only ever come with one engine and one (automatic) transmission, so once you've decided to buy one, the only real choice is what colour to look for.</p>

<p>The standard equipment already includes pretty much every item of safety and luxury kit you can think of - four airbags, traction control and an electronic stability programme, as well as a superb Bose stereo, sat-nav, leather upholstery and climate control - so you probably won't need to worry about finding a car with any options fitted (not that there are many).</p>

<p>For the record, you may find a car with metallic paint, but that's pretty much the only option. However, some owners may have fitted accessories such as body styling, boot mats or a Trackstar security system.</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

<p>We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.</p>

<p>The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.</p>

<p>A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;</p>

Large SUV

<p>Two recalls have affected the Murano, both relating to cars built before the end of 2005. In the first, there was a concern that the rear seat belts might not work properly in an accident, while the second related to concerns about possible damage to the fuel tank.</p>

<p>However, the Murano is still a relatively new car, and every model is covered by the new-car warranty, so these are the only concerns we have heard of about its quality and reliability.</p>

<p>Certainly, the online reviews from owners give no cause for alarm. There are occasional gripes about the fuel economy, but no mention of any problems. Warranty Direct tells us that claim rates on Nissans are lower than average, and the company's cars consistently do well in reliability surveys.</p>

<p>We fully expect the Murano to follow other Nissan 4x4s like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/patrol/4x4/used-review/n523">Patrol</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/x-trail/4x4/review/n51">X-Trail</a> and be extremely solid and reliable.</p>

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<p>The Nissan Murano has the tremendous performance and style of a coupe combined with the space and practicality of a family car, the height of a 4x4 and four-wheel drive to give it a little off-road ability.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, it's on the road where the car is at its best. The 3.5-litre V6 engine (a detuned version of the one in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/350z/coupe/used-review/n514">350Z</a>) gives fantastic performance, and the Murano is surprisingly agile.</p>

<p>That size works to its advantage, too, especially as the car is just a five-seater - Nissan hasn't squeezed everything up to fit two extra seats into the boot. As a result, there's excellent room up front as well as enough head- and legroom on the back seat to make it a genuine five-seater; and enough boot space to make it a fine family car.</p>

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Used Nissan Murano 4x4 2005 - 2008 review

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