| First Drive | Cortez, France | Nissan Murano |

Nissan is looking to move its Murano SUV further upmarket with an all-new model. It has a new chassis, engine and gearbox, along with a dapper new cabin to take on the likes of the Lexus RX, Volkswagen Touareg and Volvo XC90. Accordingly, the price has increased to £33,000 for the single, generously equipped model that goes on sale in October in the UK.

In the Metal

The original Murano's toothsome front grille is carried through into the new model, though some argue it's not as pleasing on the eye as its predecessor's. Whatever your opinion here, there's no denying the Murano is distinctive and stands out in the large SUV crowd. To emphasise its sportiness, the wheelarches have more pronounced edges, while the roof line is claimed to be more like that of a coupé. The Murano's looks come together well, while inside it's a solid blend of high grade materials, faultless build quality and a generous amount of standard gear.

What you get for your Money

There's no faulting Nissan when it comes to the equipment roster for the Murano. Where most rivals charge extra for satellite navigation and a DVD player for rear seat passengers, these are included as standard with the Murano. There's also climate control, electrically adjusted front seats and steering wheel, heated leather seats in the front and rear, cruise control and a decent CD stereo. Just about the only things left for the customer to choose are the colour scheme and an optional sunroof. On the mechanical side, there's a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) gearbox as standard, so no ticking the options box for an automatic gearbox here.

Driving it

With 22bhp more than the previous Murano, the 3.5-litre V6's 252bhp should make the Nissan fairly swift. Certainly, 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds and a 130mph top speed are not slow for the class, but nor are they especially quick. On the road, the Murano doesn't feel as quick as the figures suggest, as the Xtronic CVT gearbox dulls initial response and even in its manual mode fails to stir its stumps any quicker. Yes, the CVT 'box is seamless, but it does nothing a good conventional automatic doesn't do better and it causes the engine to rev unnecessarily when the driver asks for a bit more acceleration as it races to peak power revs. Driven more sedately, the Murano is a refined long distance cruiser.

There's plenty of grip from the standard four-wheel drive and the steering is direct. It offers more feel than most large SUV's helms, but the Murano's side is badly let down by the ride that fails to settle on anything but the most glossily smooth road. Introduce bumps, ruts and ridges into the equation - or what is more commonly known as the average UK road - and the Murano fidgets and bucks. This adversely affects the handling balance and can send the Murano scuttling across the road mid-corner, even when driven with a modicum of restraint.

Worth Noting

The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine offers better fuel economy than its predecessor, notching up 25.9mpg combined consumption. That's decent compared with its petrol-fuelled rivals, but the Murano is up against some excellent diesel-engined and hybrid competition. Next to these rivals, its economy is just too much to pay for in the present era of sky-high fuel prices. Add in 261g/km carbon dioxide emissions and any potential Murano buyer would do well to wait for the diesel version that Nissan promises will be with us within two years.

Summary

There's a lot to like and admire about the Murano. Its dare-to-be-different looks are a welcome splash of style in a sector that can all too often be very conservative, and it's crammed with standard equipment in a well screwed together package. However, if you sense a 'but' here it is: the Murano has a petrol engine in a sector dominated by diesels. It's also hampered by its CVT gearbox and a ride that is short on comfort and control.