I love it!

Ok the car is for my wife. But hey, the man in the family has to have some say, right?

We actually looked at Murano 2 years ago when we were out shopping for a cross-over. Cross-overs just suit our needs: plenty of internal space, no serious horsepower required, and fuel-efficient when compared to similar-sized SUV. Eventually we settled on a lease for Chevy Rendezvous, mainly because the discount my wife had with it because of her job. At that time Murano felt a little on the premium side and we weren't entirely confident on its CVT (continuous variable transmission).

Fast forward 2 years. We're at the Nissan dealer again. The Rendezvous' lease is up and the vehicle was issue-prone; so naturally it's time to start new. We test-drove the 2006 Murano again. It really felt good!

On paper Murano's engine is decent, but not quite impressive: 245hp 3.5L V-6. However when you drive it, the performance exceeds our expectation. The vehicle feels nimble and responsive, even runs better than some more muscle type SUVs. The 18" alloy wheels and independent front/rear suspension handle the ground curves comfortably.

Murano's Xtronics CVT is definitely a major winning factor. The unconventional transmission keeps the engine running at its optimal output level. That helps the performance and fuel economy. Gone forever the gear-shift shock and it's a smooth ride always. I think CVT has become very mature. That's probably why Nissan is planning to roll it out to most lines of its offerings.

Murano has all the safety bells-and-whistles you can imagine: front and side air bags (with occupancy sensor), 4-wheel ABS, active head restraints, body crumble zones, tire pressure monitoring - all standard. You can add traction and balance control option too.

At 19/24 (19/25 for FWD), the fuel economy is respectable. It should help to reduce the anxiety in the time of ever-increasing gas prices. Our own driving after buying the car shows result pretty close to the EPA rating. The car does require premium fuel though.

When you drive a 2006 Murano, the interior design and shape of the windshield gives you a commanding view and a sense of control, even the vehicle isn't that huge. I particularly like the color LCD screen on the dashboard, which makes viewing and changing information easier. If you decide to put in a navigation system, the screen will serve that purpose very well.

The cargo space in a Murano isn't the best in its class, but we found it adequate for our use. With the rear seats folded down flat, it's spacious enough unless you need to move mattresses often.

The sleek exterior design of Murano may be a little controversial to some, but we just love its modern look. The 2006 model doesn't have that trade-mark copper-tan color, which I miss.

Overall, 2006 Murano is a capable, comfortable, and handsome vehicle. You won't be disappointed with what you paid for.