2011 Nissan Murano facelift and diesel unveiled, not for Australia

By Tim Beissmann | July 16th, 2010

Nissan UK has unveiled the facelifted 2011 Nissan Murano and revealed that it will be offered with a diesel engine for the first time.

Nissan says the 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine has been completely revised to optimise the performance and efficiency of the Murano dCi.

Combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, the dCi packs 140kW of power and an impressive 450Nm of torque at 2000rpm.

Combined cycle fuel consumption is 8.0 litres/100km and CO2 emissions average out to 210g/km, making the diesel Murano Euro V-compliant. Nissan says an electric power regeneration system and improved aerodynamics also contribute to the Murano’s efficiency.

Those aero tweaks are most obvious at the front where the designers have combined the need for cooling airflow to the diesel engine and radiators with a styling makeover.

The new grille and front bumper design lead a list of 2011 model-year features that includes 20in alloy wheels, power tailgate, colour rear and kerbside camera, 7in navigation touchscreen, 9.3GB music server, iPod/Bluetooth/AUX connectivity and a premium Bose 11-speaker audio system.

Rear privacy glass, bi-xenon headlamps and an electrically folding rear seat also make the list of standard features for the UK-spec Murano.

Orders for the upgraded 2011 Nissan Murano have now started ahead of its arrival in showrooms in September. The dCi model is priced from £37,795 ($66,000).

But Nissan Australia’s Jeff Fisher today confirmed there is currently no plan to introduce the Murano dCi to Australia despite admitting that he believed there would be some demand for the vehicle.

“Diesel is de rigueur in Europe and has been for a long time but we don’t see it as an absolutely essential complement to the Murano range,” Mr Fisher said.

“We see Murano as more of a boutique prestige crossover, not so much a diesel four-wheel drive. We have diesels in Patrol, Pathfinder and so on, but we see Murano in a different market category more akin to something like the Lexus RX segment rather than the traditional off-road four-wheel drive.”

He said given that the Murano underwent a significant upgrade at the beginning of 2009 and recently had some more minor specification enhancements, the Australian Murano range would not adopt the UK vehicle’s facelift just yet.

“Not in the short term. It’s only 18 months old and we don’t want to keep tweaking it every few months, we want some consistency,” Mr Fisher said.

weewaa

Best looking SUV on the market – simple as that.

nickdl

Oops you forgot to look at the photo of the front…

Front’s looking better but still ruins an otherwise very attractive car.

The Oracle

Yep, looks like they are taking their design cues from Hyundai. Overstyled and too much bling at the front.
I’ll pass on this.

Micky

How is it the best looking SUV when it has ugly orange rear indicators? I thought orange indicators went out of fashion in the 90s.

Hung Low

The clear ones look so “Ricer” and imo look dated and cheap!

Micky

Well 90% of cars on the market today use clear. The only other vehicle in Nissan’s range that uses orange is the X-Trail. All the rest have clear.

Baddass

I think it depends what car it’s in and what position in the light they are. In this, it looks alright, in the Corolla sedan, not so good.

Swung Wide

The front kind of reminds me of a catfish….

http://caradvice Onepoppa

Just watch Nissan’s attitude change once one of their competitors – Mazda CX7 and CX9 – or Subaru, come out with an automatic diesel. We ought to be following Europe where 4WDs and crossovers are almost unsaleable unless they are diesel. Even Honda now has diesel autos(CR-V and Accord) from its UK plant

Gilly

The current V6 is so refined, quiet, powerful and economical for the car size. Why would you want a diesel? It does not suit the image of the car!
Imagine a Lexus RX350 clattering at the lights with a diesel!

jojo

Obviously you have never driven a modern Turbo diesel before….Argument of perceived image does not hold any merit given Audi, BMW, Mercedes, VW etc do very well with their Diesel range.

Hung Low

Diesel is popular in Europe because of fuel economy first, thus leading to better resale in Europe.
If Europeans had it their way (i.e if fuel was cheaper) they would probably prefer the petrol model.
The modern diesel has come a long way and has its place here in Aus but it would take one hell of a diesel(not this one) to be a better all rounder than the current VQ35 V6!
Why did they not use the new 6 cylinder diesel destined for the Patrol instead?

willister

Why in the world would you want a petrol variant? Lower torque and higher fuel consumption? Most Diesels today are relatively quiet – but you’ll never get it as quiet as the petrol engines.

Diesel engines reach max torque usually between 1,500-2500 rpms, most petrols can never match this as its usually between 4,000-6,000rpm (the engine would wine like crazy at these revs).

Hung Low

We are talking about a 3.5 V6 here willister not a wheezy small capacity petrol 4 cylinder. So your torque argument is pretty much insignificant as the petrol engine (VQ35) still produces more power over a larger range than the diesel, and the torque band is wider again. Then there is the refinement, acceleration and better NVH of a proven V6 over the 4cyl diesel.
I am not against diesels, I have driven them for many years and they do serve a purpose in larger heavier vehicles like this for the benefits of fuel economy and effortless performance, but the petrol engined Murano will trump this diesel all around.
Your argument stands in the case if the comparison was akin to the petrol vs diesel models of the Hyundai IX35, when the diesel trumps the small capacity petrol variant!

http://baji192.wordpress.com Baji

call me weird, but I actually like the front of the murano. Its the rear end that i hate.

A diesel automatic would definitely prop up murano sales i reckon.
biker

And I just completed my Nielsen rating 3 days ago for my Murano I bought earlier this year.
My only comment/suggestion was a diesel version. Now look!!!

I beg to differ on the diesel doing damage to the image. It certainly not damaged VW Touareg, Tiguan, BMW X5, X3, X1, Hyundai, Mazda, Subaru, Audi, need I continue?
wilson333

but this looks the least like an suv compared to most i see this as a 370z crossover lol can you imagine a 370z clattering away at the lights????
Vibe

The front of it looks like it’s melted. Eugh.
so-pleaz-can-i-have-yo-number?

Just putting it out there:

The front sort of looks like an overweight rapper’s smile with gold teeth.
Simon

“not for Australia”, “not for Australia”, “not for Australia”.
Damn its getting old. Why is it so hard when Japan is LHD?
Panda

Stylish car. Why does the Patrol STILL (even with the upcoming updated design) look boxy and horrid?
Fat Ranga

We test drove the current model today and i must say it is the best vehicle we have come across in a long time. Value for money is excellent and in my opinion it is the best looking SUV on the market. Kluger is tired and boring, CX7 is old hat and the rest are over priced.

All i need now is to know where the best deal in Brissie is. Any suggestions…. i would rather go tht TI if the price is right but the ST is not a bad second…..
Chris

Fat Ranga could not be more right. I test drove it and couldn’t believe I’d been looking at European SUV’s that are in the vicinity of $15,000 more expensive for the same equipment. The Ti was everything I’d been looking for at a reasonable price. And the styling is daring and distinctive, thank goodness.
Kane

Once again Nissan Australia showing contempt for & ignoring its customers & not getting in line with what the market wants. What ever happened to the customer is always right!

Same reason I didn’t buy the Dualis, missing many features that most of it’s direct competitors offer at a similar price level. And no diesel option.

It can’t be that hard or confusing to offer different motor variants. Another sale lost Nissan. When will you learn.