It’s plucky upstart against the segment veteran. Late last year we held one of our mega comparisons. Except, uh, it wasIt’s plucky upstart against the segment veteran.Late last year we held one of our mega comparisons. Except, uh, it wasn’t so mega. Due to a variety of factors we only actually got four vehicles together, and at the end of that four-way face-off, it was the Toyota Crown Signia that emerged victorious.But one of the missing suspects arguably kicked off this semi-premium, slightly-larger two-row SUV segment: the Nissan Murano. After a long, long time, Nissan’s style-focused SUV has a new generation, with a new look, new engine, and new transmission. Can the Crown Signia beat the originator? Let’s find out.StyleKyle Patrick: We first drove the latest Nissan Murano over a year ago and personally, I’m still not sure on the looks. The best Muranos tended to either set a style tone for the brand or go their own way entirely, and this one doesn’t quite do either. There are some great elements, don’t get me wrong: the proportions are excellent and it maintains the huge wheels (21-inchers) that have been part of the Murano recipe since day one. In fact, it seems slightly more compact than its 193-inch long length. Nissan has remixed the chrome roofline blade from the Z here, and even though it’s a bigger canvas, it works—especially that intersection at the D-pillar. I also like the taillights, which seem almost French in design and are full of tiny lighting elements. It looks cool, though the lights lose their brilliance at an angle, like watching an old TV. I just don’t like the nose and its Daytona-mounting-a-Kicks design.The Murano’s cabin may not be quite as swanky as the Crown Signia’s but it’s close and, like previous Muranos, takes a unique approach for the brand. The color-changing trim that dominates the dashboard design is inspired by the island from which the SUV takes its name, adding a world traveller vibe. The super-slick wodden touch controls from the Ariya sit below it: not as functional as traditional buttons but so much cooler. Earning the Nissan huge style points is the blue semi-aniline leather. Not only does it look fantastic, the front-seat quilting is so intricate that it out-fancies some premium brands.
