Nissan Murano 2004-2007 used car review
Roomy and luxurious, the Nissan Murano is a sporty-looking SUV that is excellent to drive.
Roomy and luxurious, the Nissan Murano is a sporty-looking SUV that is excellent to drive. Cheap to buy, it can be expensive to service.
While sporty SUVs are now the norm, the Nissan Murano and its sweeping styling and sporty instruments was seen as a bit of an oddity when it was revealed in 2002. It crossed the line between SUV and high-riding sports car. Underneath, it shared most of its mechanical components with the well-regarded Nissan Maxima large sedan.
Inside and out
Instead of the square shape of most early SUVs, the Murano features a pointed nose and curvy styling – almost like a large hatchback. The front employs a chrome grille and sharp-edged headlights, while at the rear are twin chrome exhaust tips.
The sporty theme continues inside. The main instruments are housed in a pod that moves up and down with the rake-adjustable steering column. The climate-control air conditioning, radio and CD player sit on a panel pushed out from the main dash for easier access.
Both radio and Bluetooth phone controls are found on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Some buttons on import Muranos have Japanese labels, but it is not hard to work out their functions. For the radio, you will need to install a band expander to receive local stations and New Zealand maps are not available for the navigation system.
The front seats are big, soft and very comfortable. In our 2004 review vehicle, they are covered in black leather and are both electrically adjustable and heated — perfect for cold winter mornings. The rear seat has plenty of legroom, and there is enough width for three adults — or even two child seats and a booster seat in the centre. Taller rear passengers may find headroom limited, reduced by the curvy nature of the car.
The boot is very large — its 923-litre volume will easily take four large suitcases and more. The rear seat splits 60/40 should you need more space. There is no lip at the back of the boot, making loading easier, but shorter users may find it a touch hard to reach the tailgate when it’s open, as it lifts very high.
On the road
Delivering a remarkably sporty drive for an SUV, Murano is a sharp handler with good feeling through the steering and little body roll. The ride can feel too firm, especially over bumpy surfaces.
The 3.5-litre six-cylinder petrol engine is smooth and responsive, producing a healthy 183kW and 334Nm of torque. Even with a full load of people and luggage on board, overtaking and inclines will not be an issue. Engine and road noise are kept relatively quiet. A 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine is also available for buyers not needing as much power or performance.
Our review car's CVT automatic was one of the first fitted to a large vehicle, and feels better than this kind of transmission does in smaller cars. The generous power available removes the need for the engine to rev consistently high. It can also be manually shifted through six preset ratios.
The Murano can do very light offroading, but with low-profile tyres and little ground clearance, it is best kept to gravel roads or slippery ski field car parks.
Visibility is an issue in the Murano, with the sharply sloping bonnet hiding how far forward it reaches. The curvy shape and standard tinted windows make seeing to the rear of the car difficult as well. The 12-metre turning circle is average for a large SUV.
Unlike other large SUVs, the Murano has only a modest tow rating of 750kg (unbraked) and 1500kg (braked) — lower than most medium SUVs with four-cylinder engines.
Reliability
While it doesn't need regular replacement, in rare cases the engine’s timing chain can stretch. It is an issue signalled by an engine check warning light, an engine misfire or reduced performance. Replacing this will cost from $1,200.
All-wheel drive system issues have been reported. In such cases, a transfer unit rebuild or replacement could be required and will cost up to $10,000 at a Nissan dealer.
Front suspension lower arm bushes can wear out and require replacement. A knock from the front of the car when going over bumps will indicate this issue, and replacements will cost from $500 fitted.
The interior can wear quickly. The driver’s seat base side panel is prone to cracking and ripping, while high-use seat areas can show wear.
Safety
Local agencies have not rated the Nissan Murano for safety. The only crash test data we found was from the American Institute for Highway Safety, declaring the 2004 model's frontal impact protection as good. However, the protection delivered by the car’s seats and headrests is poor.
Our vehicle features front airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control. All rear seats have three-point seatbelts, and the two outside positions have ISOFIX child seat mounting points and tether points on the back of the seat.
As rear visibility is restricted, almost all Muranos have a reversing camera fitted, as well as a camera under the left-hand door mirror showing how close kerbs are when parallel parking.
Cost of ownership
You will need to service a Murano once a year, or every 10,000km, with the type of service required varying by the distance travelled. A Nissan dealer quoted us $493 for each service under 80,000km, dropping to $369 from the 90,000km service on. The exception is a major service at 100,000km costing $1,000.
The six-cylinder Nissan Murano is a big car, with a big engine, and can be expected to use more petrol than a normal family car. RightCar estimates that over 14,000km of driving in a year, it could cost $3,140 to fuel. That is $300 less than the Toyota Highlander, and nearly $800 less than a Ford Territory – but both of those vehicles can carry seven passengers.
Sitting in the cheapest ACC levy band, the Murano's annual licensing fee (registration) is just $85.59.
Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for the car will cost $46.95* per month with a vehicle value of $10,440, $4.50 a month more than a similarly-specified Ford Territory.
Buyers’ guide
Nissan Muranos are available on Trade Me from just under $7,000, rising to nearly $20,000 for later and lower-mileage vehicles. Around $13,000 will get you a car with 60,000km to 70,000km on the clock, well clear of the pricey 100,000km service.
Variants
- 250XV – A front-wheel drive version powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine.
- 350XV – Front or all-wheel drive, powered by 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine. Leather interior optional.
Timeline
- 2002 Production launched for the USA and Canada
- 2004 Launched in Japan
- 2006 Minor facelift including new lights and an updated information screen
- 2008 Replaced by new model
Details
2004 Nissan Murano XV350 Four
$10,000 to $19,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km
3.5-litre six-cylinder, 183kW/334Nm (claimed)
CVT automatic, all-wheel drive
Unrated
10,000km or twelve months
Space saver
12.3-litres per 100km (claimed)
Regular
4770mm
1880mm
1705mm
750kg (unbraked), 1500kg (braked)
10.8m
This review covers the Nissan Murano for model years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Review vehicle supplied by 2CheapCars, Botany.
*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.
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Kyle Cassidy 
NZ Autocar Magazine 