2011 Nissan Murano

The 2011 Nissan Murano lineup gains a new trim level. This midsize SUV seats 5 and shares elements of its basic design with the Nissan Altima sedan. Murano's roster includes S, new-for-2011 SV, SL, and LE. All use a 265-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that behaves much like an automatic. Maximum towing capacity is 3,500 pounds. All offer front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, front-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags. Keyless entry/engine start are standard on all. Standard on LE and optional on SL are leather upholstery, a rearview camera, and heated front and rear seats. A voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic information and hard drive for storing digital-music files are optional on SL and LE. A heated steering wheel is newly standard on the SL. This report is based on evaluations of the 2010 Nissan Murano.