Vehicle Showcase: 2012 Maxima

The 2012 Maxima offers performance with its powerful standard engine, and luxury with its impressive interior cabin. See our selection of this Nissan model by visiting us online! http://bit.ly/MuQjSd

Nissan's Summer Savin' Days: Only a few days left!

2012 Nissan Murano Review

The 2012 Nissan Murano remains a comfortable five-seat crossover with a higher-quality interior than you'd expect from a non-luxury brand, but shoppers should watch that gas mileage.

Now three years into its second generation, the Murano is showing its age — not in the driving experience or its interior quality, but in efficiency. This stands out because the Murano was once one of the most efficient SUVs on the market, thanks to car-based construction and an efficient continuously variable automatic transmission, both of which were rare in the midsize class when the Murano made its 2003 debut.

What's New

With the addition of an SV trim level for 2011, the Murano comes in four trims: S, SV, SL and LE. Starting with the 2012 model, the S trim level has a 7-inch monochrome display and the LE is eligible for a new optional Platinum Package, which adds 20-inch alloy wheels and a navigation system. Otherwise, there are few changes for 2012 (see the two model years compared). All trims come with front- or all-wheel drive. We tested a Murano SL AWD.

Rewards Await You

The Murano is a peculiar-looking crossover; always has been. If you can get past that, or like it, rewards await you inside. Particularly in the higher trim levels, the Murano has a nicely appointed cabin. The SL we drove had rich leather and one of my favorite elements: real aluminum trim. Why many luxury automakers continue to use obviously fake stuff boggles the mind. Speaking of luxury, since the beginning the Murano has bumped up against the Infiniti brand, which Nissan owns, but there was never a direct conflict. (The midsize Infiniti FX has rear-wheel drive and a separate platform altogether.) The all-new 2013 Infiniti JX35 is much more like the Murano, though it's larger and seats seven. Merely $1,615 separates the top front-drive Murano trim from the base JX35, however.

The Murano's three-passenger backseat doesn't have the fore/aft adjustment we've come to appreciate in more recent crossover models, but those in the rear seats won't be hurting for legroom, despite a specification that's lower than those of a few key competitors. The cargo area is large enough, too.

All told, the rear seats are exceptionally well executed. A canvas strap on the door side of the outboard seats allows passengers to adjust the 60/40-split backrest's angle easily. The seats also fold flat in a single step. Because they're spring-tensioned, you can lower them from the cargo area, too, using levers on the corresponding side. Even better, an optional power return feature on the higher two trim levels lets you raise them from the same location. If a passenger opens the backdoor to find the seat folded, the driver can raise it remotely using a switch on the dashboard.

Comfort & Poise

All the interior niceties would be meaningless if the Murano were otherwise disappointing, but that's far from the case. It provides a good mix of ride comfort and handling poise, and the standard 3.5-liter V-6 has plenty of power. The Murano was an early adopter of the continuously variable automatic transmission, and its pairing with Nissan's V-6 has arguably been the best CVT execution on the market. Even so, time has passed, and this time around we noticed some hesitation in accelerator response, especially from a standing start. It was consistent and predictable, which makes it a bit less troubling, and there's no shortage of conventional automatics that exhibit the same behavior, and often exhibit worse. Just be sure to pay attention to it if you go for a test drive.

Safety

In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, the 2012 Murano rated four stars overall out of five. Its rollover rating — which predicts rollover likelihood — is a typical four stars. Unfortunately, in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's roof-strength test — which predicts occupant protection in an actual rollover — the Murano scored Marginal, which is below average. This relatively new test cost the Murano the Top Safety Pick designation it had held previously thanks to Good scores in the other tests.

As is required of all vehicles starting with the 2012 model year, the Murano comes with antilock brakes and an electronic stability system. The front seats include side-impact airbags and active head restraints, and there are side curtain airbags to protect both the front and rear seats. See all the standard safety features here.

Perhaps another sign of the Murano's age is the absence of active safety features — things like radar-based blind spot warning and a lane departure warning system.

Murano in the Market

A longtime Cars.com Best Bet, the Murano lost the designation in 2012 due to its below-average mileage and substandard roof strength, but it remains a favorite among Cars.com editors thanks to all its benefits. If you aren't concerned about a mile per gallon here or there, the Murano still stands tall against newer competition.

You Could Win Big in the Nissan Summer Sweepstakes!

The 2012 Nissan Keep Summer Rolling Service Sweepstakes starts on August 1, 2012. Stay tuned to find out how you could win 1 of 3 new Nissans or other great prizes!

Nissan working on Juke-based BRZ/FR-S rival?

Motor Trend says it's been told Nissan is working on its own sports coupe to compete with Toyota and Subaru. It's not the first time we've heard such plans, though. Back in 2008, Nissan was reportedly working on a 240SX successor but as the economy started running out of gas, so did that project.

Nissan did, however, show off the Compact Sport Concept at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show pictured above. Looking very much Juke-like but a bit shorter, and, well, compact.

Coincidentally, rumors say the new plan is to use the Juke platform. Inside the company the project is being called the "Mini-Z," despite the fact it would almost certainly be front-wheel or all-wheel drive. That would help differentiate it from the BRZ/FR-S, but would certainly turn off those of us with sportier intentions.

Nissan's 190-horsepower, 1.6-liter turbo was underhood in the concept, and if used in the production car, would have fewer horses but a wider torque band than its competitors from Toyota and Subaru.

Motor Trend says the U.S. probably wouldn't be the initial target market, but instead China, Japan and Europe would be first with American buyers still in consideration. The mag's source says the Mini-Z should be close in size to Honda's CR-Z and should start production sometime late next year.

 

Courtesy of Autoblog

Stretch Electric: World's First Electric Nissan LEAF Limo Debuts in Tennessee

You have never seen anything like it.  Inside it's a limo and outside it's a stretched Nissan LEAF. "This is the world's first road-worthy, licensed, street legal electric limousine, and this is it," said Trevor Goulding, director of sales for Tennessee's Embassy Suites Nashville South.
 
"I don't know how they did it, if they cut a car in half, but it's really interesting and fun that they did," said first-time passenger Krystal Serrano.

The Embassy suites hotel in Nashville needed a new way to shuttle guests.  Their typical trip is less than five miles from the hotel. The hotel chain is committed to luxury and going green, so they contracted a company to create a LEAF limo.

A company out of Missouri made the modifications.  They kept most of the Nissan LEAF's essential parts intact.  There is still just one battery pack, but it now sits in the back for balance.  They added about 400 pounds in the center of the car to make room for more seating.  And they added mirrors, plush leather and cedar paneling, synonymous with luxury limos.

"People can see, hey, look what we can do with this.  It's not just a family car.  We can turn it into transportation for the masses," said Goulding. The hotel's shuttle driver Phillip Huckelba said he is surprised how well the conversion worked.  It fits a total of 8 adults, including the driver comfortably. "I think it will catch on once the word is out there.  It always takes one to get something started," said Huckelba.

Many of the hotel's guests have never even been inside an electric car before.  Krystal Serrano never had until she rode for the first time in the hotel's LEAF limo. "It feels so smooth.  You can't even really hear the engine running, but it wasn't like being in a golf cart either.  It was like being in a limousine," said Serrano.

Courtesy of Nissan News

Nissan's Summer Savin' Days

The sun is out, the weather is warm, and Nissan's Summer Savin' Days is in full swing! Take advantage of some great incentives by heading to Nissan World of Red Bank, where we offer a great selection and a friendly and knowledgeable staff. Check us out online too! http://bit.ly/N4qV3Q

Car Care Tip: Keep You Car Shaded

Here's a car care tip, courtesy of Reader's Digest: “Of course, a garage is always the ideal place to park your car. But if one isn’t available, minimize interior damage from UV sunlight and heat by always trying to park your car in the shade. If no shade is available or if you find parking under a tree results in bird droppings, use a car shade to minimize the sun’s impact. As a bonus, you’ll have a cooler car to step into on hot sunny days. Car shades come in two basic types: those that you unfold and place on the front windshield and rear window, or pleated types that attach to the windshield posts (with adhesive), window frames (with Velcro), or the windows themselves (with suction cups).”

We've Recieved a 5-Star Review on DealerRater

Here's the latest customer feedback on Nissan World of Red Bank:

"t was a pleasure dealing with World Nissan in Red Bank. They made buying a new car for our daughter a pleasure. I welcome you calling me before you purchase a car. They were excellent."

Thank you!

Nissan helps launch ‘World’s Cheapest Taxi Stand’ (It Tweets, Too!)

An electric Nissan LEAF is six times more efficient than a gas-fueled car, meaning it’s six times cheaper. When you drive a LEAF, it not only adds to your woodland fairy street cred, but the act saves money. Most people don’t realize that, which is why AKQA created a social campaign to inform Londoners about the benefits of Nissan’s electric innovation.

People tweeted their destination to Nissan, then met a Nissan LEAF at a special taxi station near London’s Liverpool station. The journeys often cost less than 10p, or roughly 15 cents. Now that the number is in American money, it’s even clearer how ludicrously cheap that is.

“Every passenger got out of the Nissan LEAF taxi with a smile on their face,” says Nissan GB managing director Jim Wright in a statement, adding, “They loved the near silence and general refinement of the car… and were blown away when they discovered how cheap it is to fuel. Using off-peak electricity – such as when recharging overnight – means it really costs just a few pence in fuel to go anywhere by Nissan LEAF.”

In addition to increasing awareness, the London stunt, which has now expanded to Amsterdam, also helps Nissan gather consumer insight, informing them in their research on the “taxi of the future.” Nissan is also the new exclusive supplier of New York City yellow cabs, in case you didn’t know. We trust they got some good intel across the pond and that they’ll be bringing only the highest quality, affordable vehicles to our grand island. Instead of catching cabs, let’s catch LEAFs. Traffic jams can become LEAF piles. I’m excited already.

Courtesy of Media Bistro

Check out the 2012 Nissan Armada

The 2012 Nissan Armada can seat up to 8 people and comes with features like Nissan's Navigation system. See more of what the Armada has to offer by checking it out in our online showroom! http://bit.ly/Orm4uS

Nissan Creates an Awe-Inspiring 3D Water Show, featuring the 2013 Altima

Special Offers on the 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan

Climb in the big little car, and bring your friends along. Versa Sedan has room for 5 and the most front and rear headroom and legroom per dollar of any vehicle in America. Check out our offers on the 2012 Versa by visiting us online! http://bit.ly/N4qV3Q