Unlike its smaller counterpart -the Nissan Rogue- the Murano has been around the block a few times and it’s built up a name for itself as a good value crossover. After a year on the sidelines, the Murano is back with some great new features.

Nissan claims the Murano was the first crossover SUV; a statement which is tricky to validate, but does demonstrate the Muranos relative age in the market. All that experience has taught Nissan some lessons which other manufacturers haven’t cottoned on to yet.

All the materials in the Murano are absolutely top quality. While Nissans budget cars might cut every corner safely available to them, the Murano is built for longevity and rugged performance. It’s useful then that the base Murano features a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 265 hp and 248 pound-feet of torque – More than enough to move this large crossover SUV with some purpose.

Equally high quality parts give the 2009 Nissan Murano tough suspension and responsive handling; features which can sometimes lack in crossovers. When these features are combined with the high quality interiors, packed with neat utilities and entertainment options it’s becomes clear that the Murano really is the complete package. This kind of quality doesn’t come cheap, but it’s worth every penny.