2015 Nissan Murano Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos ...

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 06:30 AM PDT

The all-new 2015 Nissan Murano isn't intended, first and foremost, to be a family vehicle. Instead, the Murano is a stylish and comfortable five-seat crossover utility vehicle meant to appeal to couples and empty-nesters seeking a vehicle they can use for active daily lives and trips. For family duties, Nissan offers instead the compact Rogue and the mid-size Pathfinder, each of them with optional or standard third-row seating. The new Murano comes in only a single body style, remaining a five-door mid-size crossover; Nissan has said nothing about replacing the current Murano CrossCabriolet two-door convertible utility with a version based on the all-new vehicle.

The design of the new third-generation 2015 Murano, according to Nissan execs, is to build on the striking looks of the first-generation Murano (sold from 2003 through 2008) while retaining the much-improved interior of the version that's replaced by this one. Previewed last year by the Nissan Resonance concept vehicle, it has retained much of that concept's striking looks. At the front, the grille and air intake continue the Nissan "V-Motion" frontal design, with accent lines in the hood sweeping down to a V-shaped center form outlined in chrome.

Both the front running lights and taillights are boomerang-shaped, using LEDs for a distinctive nighttime appearance. LED headlights are also available as an option. The new Murano's hood wraps over the tops of the front fenders, which initiate deeply sculptured and angled body-side lines that sweep the length of the vehicle. A complex rocker-panel-and sill accent piece that starts at the bottoms of the doors includes not only contrasting plastic but also a sort of chrome swoosh. The roofline "floats" over a very small, upswept third side window in the pillar, and the tailgate is sharply raked, with a long trailing roof spoiler at its top under which a horizontal LED third brake light illuminates.

Overall, the Murano's lines are successful at emphasizing the horizontal and drawing the eye away from the height of what is, in reality, a tall crossover utility with substantial ground clearance.

Inside, the 2015 Murano has been designed to emphasize comfort and luxury--no grim, all-black hard plastics can be found--and evoke what Nissan calls an "upscale social lounge." Several two-tone color schemes are offered, including a variety of lighter tones beyond the standard charcoal and beige, and the company's interior designers have accented the dashboard, console, and doors with matte silver, chrome, and some interesting alternatives to the usual mock-wood trim. A long, low console extends past the front seats to offer rear passengers a mobile-phone storage compartment and an optional USB port for charging that phone.

The instrument panel height has been reduced, to open the cabin, and a 7-inch color display in the center is standard, with an 8-inch display optional. Nissan says it has reduced the number of controls for audio and navigation from 25 to 10 for simplicity, reasoning that drivers will come to know the combinations and command sequences they use most often, just as they do now on their mobile phones.

At launch, the 2015 Nissan Murano will be powered by a 260-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine developing 240 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This is essentially the same powertrain offered in the larger Pathfinder crossover, and as with that vehicle, the Murano comes standard with front-wheel drive and offers all-wheel drive as an option. Nissan executives have said that they intend to offer a Murano Hybrid in the future; that vehicle will use a supercharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a mild-hybrid system intended to assist the engine, though it offers no all-electric running. Fuel economy for the Murano with the V-6 is expected to be about 20 percent higher than the vehicle it replaces, which would bring it to roughly 24 mpg combined.

The seats are a new design developed by the company's seating research lab, which says they were inspired by NASA research into zero-gravity living. The rear seats use three cushions rather than two for added comfort. An available power panoramic moonroof is 40 percent longer and 30 percent larger than the previous generation's version. Nissan says it is one of the largest available on any vehicle.

Despite the raked tailgate, Nissan says the cargo area will be among the largest in its segment--and that it can accommodate four large suitcases with the rear seat up. The rear seat backs fold flat, and the controls to do so can be reached from the rear; a power rear seat-back is available to eliminate the need to raise the seat back by hand.

Safety ratings for the new 2015 Murano won't be out for some time yet, but Nissan has fitted the crossover with its full suite of standard and optional safety features, using data from as many as three separate radar systems and four cameras. Available safety systems include adaptive cruise control, Blind-Spot Warning, Predictive Forward-Collision Warning, and Forward Emergency Braking.

The Murano also has a new feature, Cross-Traffic Alert, which detects a vehicle approaching from either side when the driver is backing out. It supplements the Moving Object Detection function within the Around-View Monitor, which alerts the driver to moving objects--from rolling shopping carts to small children--with a warning chime and a message on the rear-view camera screen when the car is put into reverse.

The 2015 Murano is available in S. SV, SL, and Platinum trim levels, all four offered with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive as an option. Dual-zone climate control is standard, as is an intelligent key system with pushbutton ignition. A long list of optional features includes leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, remote engine-starting, and heated front and rear seats and cooled front seats. Memory for the driver's seat, steering-wheel, and mirror positions is also available.

On the infotainment front, the NissanConnect infotainment and connectivity system, incorporating both navigation and mobile apps, and a premium Bose AM-FM-CD audio system with 11 speakers, HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio.

No pricing information or detailed feature specifications are available yet for the new third-generation 2015 Nissan Murano. It will arrive in U.S. showrooms in "late 2014," the company says. It will also be the first Murano to be built in North America, in the company's assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi, which makes a number of different utility vehicles and trucks.

2015 Kia Sedona Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos - The ...

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT

Is the all-new 2015 Kia Sedona a new try on a vehicle format that's gone out of fashion, or is it a fresh, sensible way to carry people and gear in comfort, without the baggage of the faux-rugged cues and wasteful image of an SUV?

Minivans, like this Sedona first introduced at April's New York Auto Show and due to go on sale this fall, used to be the bread and butter of American familiar. But ask today's moms and dads, and you're likely to get answers to the above question that are as polarizing as those on politics. If you don't believe us, go ahead and ask a few friends.

The Sedona, however, doesn't appear to take a lot of risks. It latches onto an existing format, and cribs from Kia's now well-established design suite. There's a clean front-end appearance and somewhat more upright version of the familiar Kia grille, with swept-back headlamps and LED running lamps. The profile is unmistakably that of a minivan—with practicality trumping any motion to innovate—but it's handsome in the way a solid beltline continues back all the way from headlights to taillamps. Also of note is how the windowline steps a notch up (rather than down, as in the Honda Odyssey) just ahead of the third row. From the back, the new Sedona clearly resembles the latest version of the Sorento crossover—only with its rear pillars hidden away, fashionably, beneath wrap-around glass, and its rear bumper height a several inches lower (for easier loading).

Inside, the Sedona gets updated to a new visually charming, horizontally laid-out instrument panel, along with a two-tone look and glossy piano-black trim. New soft-touch materials take to the upper portion of the dash and door trim, and there's a level of fine detail and better materials from Kia's recent products like the Cadenza and K900 sedans that extends here and looks like it will really raise the ambiance.

The 2015 Kia Sedona should move quite confidently with the same 3.3-liter 'Lambda' direct-injection gasoline V-6 engine that powers Kia's Sorento crossover and Cadenza sedan. It makes 276 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, and has continuously variable valve timing plus a three-step variable induction system. Power is delivered to the front wheels through via a six-speed automatic transmission. All versions will have electric power steering, while brakes have ventilated discs in front, solid discs in back.

The wheelbase of the Sedona is up nearly a couple of inches compared to the previous version, but in overall length and cabin dimensions it's now within a few inches in overall length of its chief rivals like the Honda Odyssey, Dodge Grand Caravan, Toyota Sienna, and Nissan Quest. There's seating for up to eight, as well the kind of versatility that always seems to be at its best in minivans. Kia has raised the seating position of the driver's seat somewhat for better visibility. There's a front center console with several usable storage places. Meanwhile, the second row has a Slide-n-Stow arrangement that can slide forward and flip upright to allow an especially low, level floor without the need to remove the seats. One option for the second row is a so-called 'first-class' lounge seating with retractable lower leg rests. As for the third row, it's somewhat smaller but is split 60/40 and folds flat right into the floor.

In outgoing versions of the Sedona, refinement was somewhat behind the curve; Kia now describes the Sedona as the quietest in its segment, with all sorts of new measures like wheel-house padding, double-sealed sliding doors, and new engine-compartment sound deadening. Ride quality should be considerably better thanks to new rear cross-member bushings and an isolated rear subframe with longer trailing arms. Base models will include 17-inch steel wheels, while alloy wheels in 17-, 18-, and 19-inch sizes are available in higher trim levels.

The 2015 Kia Sedona is built on entirely new underpinnings, and Kia boasts that its new structure, with 76 percent Ultra High Strength or High Strength Steel, provides safety benefits. The automaker anticipates NHTSA (federal) five-star safety ratrings. Brake Assist and Hill-Start Assist are included as standard, as is Cornering Brake Control and Roll Over Mitigation. A Surround View Monitor offers images from multiple cameras, while a Smart Welcome feature will illuminate door handles and unfold mirrors on approach.

Count on minivans to debut some practical yet cool features—and here the Sedona is no exception. There's also a Smart Tailgate that opens the hatch when the keyfob is detected in close proximity for three seconds. A dual-compartment glovebox that features a lower cooled area; and the Sedona gets Kia's first high-power USB charging port, and there's a 115-volt AC outlet.

Kia hasn't released specs or pricing for the 2015 Sedona yet, but we're anticipating that there will be several trims ranging up to a top SX-L model that will offer plush Nappa leather upholstery. The next-generation UVO infotainment system includes app capability from iTunes and Google Play (including compatibility with Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Yelp) plus SiriusXM Travel Link information on traffic weather, fuel prices, and more. It also uses new Siri Eyes Free connectivity and Google Local Search systems to help find (and navigate to points of interest).

The Sedona will be Kia's first model to offer Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert, and Driving Score—all features that look like they could come in handy in keeping tabs on your teen driver. Not that he or she will be particularly thrilled to be driving around in an empty minivan...

Car Prices Blog

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

2015 Nissan Murano Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos ...

2015 Nissan Murano Review, Ratings, Specs, <b>Prices</b>, and Photos <b>...</b>

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