A LITTLE-known off-roader than Jeremy Clarkson once praised highly can now be picked up for under £2,000.
The often-forgotten Nissan Murano, which was released by the Japanese car giant in 2005 before it was discontinued in 2010, can be found for a bargain price at second-hand car dealerships.
The first-gen Murano and its facelifted successor were given just a five-year run in the UK, but its polarising looks and petrol-only power saw it shift just a few hundred units per year.
While it still sells abroad – including in the US, where it’s relatively popular – the Murano has failed to make comeback since its 2010 demise, and these days it’s somewhat tricky for Brit drivers to get their hands on one.
But the stylish SUV might be worth seeking out, as Clarkson once described the Murano as “impossible to fault” when he reviewed one for The Sunday Times back in 2008.
Dubbing it an “extremely handsome car,” Clarkson appeared to like nearly everything about the Murano.
He wrote: “You sit up high behind a dashboard that would not look or feel out of place in a Mercedes S-class.”
Praising the Murano’s standard kit such as leather seats, cruise control, and climate control, the former Top Gear star was a particular fan of its driveability.
He wrote: “Under the bonnet we find the same 3.5 litre V6 as in the 350Z.
“In the Murano it has been re-tuned to give less power, less torque and, crucially, a lot less noise.
“Don’t think, however, that the retune and the fitting of a CVT gearbox mean tectonic performance, it’ll still get you from 0-62mph in 8.9sec, and that’s pretty sprightly for a big off-roader, so is the 124mph top speed.
“The Nissan is also a joy to drive.
“Sure, it doesn’t have handling that’s even on nodding terms with the concept of ‘sporty’, but this is a price worth paying for the smoothest ride I’ve encountered in any off-road car.
“I’m struggling here to think of any reason why this should not get a five-star rating.
“Honestly, I cannot think of a single thing wrong with it.”
If you’re lucky enough to come across a Murano, they can be picked up for less than £2,000 these days.
Indeed, we found a 2005-example on the Pistonheads’ website for just £1,995.
And while the model never really caught on in the UK, they might end up being one of motoring’s best kept secrets.
This comes as Honda look set to revive one of their most iconic nameplates of recent times.
Meanwhile, Volvo have already given their fans the greatest hits with two previously discontinued estate models returning to their showrooms.
