The Revivalist

The Nissan Murano emerges fresh-faced and revitalized from a long-overdue redo.

- David Beard

NISSAN'S MID-SIZE SUV was getting old, almost old enough to need an annual tailpipe inspection. Among a crop of competitive fresh faces, the third-generation Murano had gone stale. Now, after Nissan refreshed or redid nearly every other major player in its lineup, the Murano finally gets its day.

The fourth-generation Murano is more of a major refresh than an all-new vehicle. Underneath its shapely new sheetmetal, distinct lighting elements, swooping roofline, and bulging fenders lie structure and chassis components from the outgoing model-and that's fine. The Murano's sleek and clean design conceals those historic elements. Though the wheelbase and overall length stay roughly the same, the new Murano is 2.6 inches wider than its predecessor, and its front and rear tracks have grown by 2.1 inches.