2019 Nissan Murano combines unique style, premium features

When the original Murano was launched 16 years ago, it had an immediate and profound impact on the SUV market. As a pioneer of the CUV trend, it offered a forward-looking design sensibility that combined an elegant style with premium features – without a luxury price tag.

Now in its third generation, Murano receives a comprehensive refreshening for the 2019 model year. The revisions to Murano’s exterior add 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.

Enhancements to the luxurious Murano interior are led by new semi-aniline leather-appointed seats with diamond-quilted inserts with contrasting micro-piping trim for the seats, door armrests and center console lid for the Murano Platinum grade. Other changes include three new interior trim finishers: Dark Wood-Tone (Platinum), Light Wood-Tone (SV, SL) and Metallic (S, SV, SL).

In addition, all 2019 Murano models feature two new standard features – Nissan’s innovative Rear Door Alert system and Intelligent Driver Alertness, which learns each individual driver’s steering patterns and helps alert the driver when drowsy driving is detected. Other available technology includes Intelligent Around View Monitor and an 11-speaker Bose premium audio system.

The 2019 Murano continues as the halo vehicle for Nissan’s wide range of bold crossovers and SUVs, expressing Nissan’s advanced design direction – including its V-motion front end, LED signature boomerang lights and the unique “floating” roof. With the bold new treatment for the new model year, Murano’s “premium-ness” is taken to a higher level than ever before.

The stunning exterior design carries into the interior, which offers an engaging social lounge feel – including features such as advanced Zero Gravity front and outboard rear seating, and the airy atmosphere created by the large windows and oversized Power Panoramic Moonroof.

Safety, security and driver assistance technologies have also been revised for 2019 with the availability of Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of six advanced active safety and driver-assist technologies designed to help provide 360 degrees of confidence.

Safety Shield 360 is a critical part of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, which provides technology in a way that moves people to a better world. Safety Shield 360 includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist and Rear Automatic Braking.

Safety Shield 360 is standard on Murano Platinum and as part of the SL Technology Package. The 2019 Murano also adds standard 2nd row supplemental side air bags and front passenger supplemental knee air bag.

With its highly emotional design, Murano’s sculptural qualities again stand out in a crossover field known more for uniformity and utility-based styling than boldness and light. It expresses the dynamic side of Nissan, but with an urban sophistication and a sense of completeness.

One of the central constructs for both the Murano exterior and interior was to “elevate your experience,” which is counterintuitive to the heaviness and chunkiness of the traditional sport utility vehicle. This helped inspire the push for leading edge aerodynamics and three key elements of Nissan’s signature design language – the V-Motion front end, signature boomerang lighting and floating roofline.

The designers sought to create a gravity-like power to pull viewers into the design visually, while defying gravity with a lightness of form through the use of glass and flowing lines. The prominent glass areas are created through the use of its jet-inspired roof and D-pillars that appear disconnected from the roof that help visually lighten the cabin. The result is a unique floating feeling that can be recognized from far away.

Another key element is the freshened boomerang-style standard LED headlights and taillights. The signature headlights, with their LED Daytime Running Light accents, are instantly recognizable at night. Murano’s sculptural bodysides created an engineering challenge, especially in the strong curvature of the rear fender stampings.

Other critical details, such as the active grille shutter, fender lip moldings, rear bumper surfacing, rear tire deflectors and integrated rear spoiler help achieve its 0.31 coefficient of drag – on par with many sports cars.

The refined intensity of the Murano interior is evident the moment the doors are opened with its available advanced lighting system, open and comfortable feeling and use of premium materials.

Murano’s upscale “social lounge” interior creates an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. The low instrument panel height features a large information and control center with a standard 8.0-inch color display with multi-touch control centered between the outer wings.

Adding to the driver’s sense of connectedness with security is Nissan’s Advanced Drive-Assist Display with a 7.0-inch high-resolution color display. Available audio systems include an advanced Bose design with 11 speakers (including dual subwoofers), HD Radio and standard SiriusXM Satellite Radio (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately).

All 2019 Murano grades feature NissanConnect featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and 8.0-inch color display with multi-touch control. Murano SL and Platinum grades include standard NissanConnect with Navigation featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 8.0-inch color display with multi-touch control, SiriusXM Traffic and SiriusXM Travel Link (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately). For 2019, the Door to Door navigation has been upgraded with connected POI search and premium traffic functions.

Standard on Murano Platinum grade is NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM, which includes services such as automatic collision notification, emergency call and stolen vehicle locator, remote services including start/stop, lock/unlock, flash lights, sound horn, customizable alerts including drive zone, valet, curfew and speed alerts, dealer service scheduling and maintenance alerts (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately).

An Amazon Alexa skill is available free of charge under the connected car category within the Amazon Skills Store, allowing owners to use voice commands to remote lock/ unlock, honk the horn, flash the lights and start or stop the engine of the 2019 Murano (powered by NissanConnect Services).

Nissan’s advanced Zero Gravity seats are standard for front and rear outboard occupants. The rear seats are a three-cushion design. Climate-controlled seats (heating and cooling) are available in front, along with available Quick Comfort heated rear seats.

Other interior features include standard Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control and Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, along with available leather-appointed seating, heated steering wheel, steering wheel position memory, driver’s seat and outside mirror memory and Remote Engine Start with Intelligent Climate Control. Overhead, the available Power Panoramic Moonroof enhances the open, airy feeling.

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