Nissan is increasing its stable of SUVs to three with the new mid-size
Murano crossover SUV Nissan, which takes aim at the Lexus RX300
among others. Crossover means that the vehicle has an automotive 
platform for comfort, ride and handling, but a taller, larger SUV body.

I also had opportunity to test the other Nissan SUVs, the classic Pathfinder
and the newer Xterra, aimed at the younger generation. Nissan is
aggressively building its line, but I have a question about the strategy
behind its SUV line that I will address in this column.

The new kid on the block, the Murano, is built on Nissan¹s new
front-wheel-drive platform, but will offer optional four-wheel-drive as
well. A lusty 3.5-liter V-6 engine delivers power through an all-new
continuously variable automatic transmission.

If the new SUV¹s name strikes you as unusual, that¹s no accident. The
name Murano is applied to arty glass objects that come from the islands
near Venice and have a worldwide cache among collectors. Maybe the
naming of the Murano says something about the vehicle¹s target market. 
Over the years, motor vehicles have been named after people, horses, 
snakes, birds, and fish as well as mountains and deserts, but never art. 
But consumers may have an easer time remembering the name Murano
than the current obsession with numbers and letters, such as MDX, E320 
and I300 even if nobody realizes the origin of Nissan's name.

The Murano is offered in four models: the SE and the SL, each with a
choice of all-wheel or two-wheel drive. The SL AWD starts at an MSRP 
of $29,799 and I am sure that this configuration will be the most popular.
Add vehicle and a few extras and you could hit the mid-$30,000s or 
about the level of the very popular Lexus EX300 and Acura MDX.

The design of the Murano is quite stylish with a sculptured dynamic,
swept-back appearance and a nicely rounded rear end that is quite unique in
SUV design. In fact, if you use your imagination, the new Nissan SUV seems
to have some of the visual character of the so-called Massiccio style of
Murano art glass that is accomplished by forming sculptural objects from
thick glass without blowing, through manipulation of the hot glass with
shaping and molding tools. And that¹s probably more than you really
want to know about Murano glass.

The Murano's design seems to target an urban sophisticate, rather than an
off-road enthusiast. The new Nissan SUV is further evolving the concept of a
sport-utility vehicle. Nissan¹s new national TV ad campaign for the Murano
touts on-road adventures, such as hunting for first editions in rare book
shops and hauling antiques, definitely the obsession of the urban upper
middle class who will never, never go off road.

There are a number of elements in the Murano¹s list of attributes that
should play well with these on-road buyers. Given's its size and interior
room, vehicle weight at less than two tons is commendable. Most of the
so-called mid-size SUVs top the scales at excess of 4,000 lbs. Undoubtedly,
the weight factor is somewhat responsively for the Murano¹s respectable
gasoline mileage by SUV standards.

On the other hand, the Murano's gasoline mileage is not achieved at the
expense of performance. The 3.5-liter V-6 delivers excellent performance,
even when pulling up steep mountain grades.  The new continuously variable
transmission provides manages the engine's considerable power with absolute
smoothness. You just put it in gear and a complex system of pulleys
seamlessly manages engine torque to provide shiftless operation. This type
of transmission is gaining some foothold in the industry and may take a
sizable share of the market in a few years. Ideally, it is said to improve
both performance and gasoline mileage.

The Murano's on road manners are commendable as well. For its size, it
provides both responsive handling and a comfortable ride. The Murano is
equipped with an advanced yaw control technology that virtually eliminates
skids by control of engine torque as well as the ability to brake individual
wheels without any driver input.

So now, back to the question about Nissan's SUV lineup. The Pathfinder was
one of the first SUVs to make major inroads in the market before it was even
defined as much of a market. It has a relatively tall classic design and a
no-nonsense trucklike dashboard, much different than the stylish interior of
the new Murano with its sweeping design and metal accents. The Pathfinder
also overlaps the Murano's price. I think that it is hard to justify its
position in the line going forward. While the Pathfinder has good off-road
capability, the market seems to be shifting toward vehicles like the Murano
that promise to be a big hit with upwardly mobile middleclass buyers.

On the other hand, the Xterra seems to remain a good bet for Nissan.
Although its ride and handling are a bit crude by contemporary standards, it
has good off-road capabilities and features the type of bold trucklike
styling and price point that should appeal the young single guys who
wouldn't be caught dead in a fancy crossover Murano.

Vehicle: Nissan Murano

Price as tested: Unavailable

Engine:

         Type: 3.5-liter V-6

         Horsepower: 245 @ 5,800 rpm

         Torque: 246-ft. lbs. @ 4,400 rpm

Fuel economy, automatic transmission

         City - 20 mpg

         Highway - 24 mpg

Curb Weight: 3,955