Canadians, and Quebecers in particular, are fond of sport utility vehicles. Yet, SUVs burn a lot of fuel, they don't grip the pavement really well and they are everything but safe. Indeed, these tall and heavy wagons require up to 10 meters longer than a sports car to completely stop from 100 kph. That's not even the worst thing: the suspension on some of them is so soft that they often roll over during a serious accident.

The Murano fully deserves the "sport" part of its "sport utility vehicle" title.

Fortunately, times change and new models are trying to solve the problem. Some are so successful, actually, that they can be considered as true "sport" utility vehicles. One is the subject of today's road test.

The heart of an athlete
Since its introduction in 2004, Nissan's Murano has gained a golden reputation. Its 3.5L engine, derived from the sporty 350Z coupe, had a lot to do with this. In fact, it's one of the best V6s in the industry in terms of power and fuel efficiency. What's more, Nissan paired it with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is unheard of in this category. In just a few short minutes behind the wheel of the Murano, one realizes all the qualities of this engine. With 245 horsepower on tap and most of its torque available throughout the entire powerband, it delivers sedan-like sprints.

On-the-fly accelerations are also outstanding, regardless of the vehicle's initial speed, thanks to the deliciously responsive and efficient CVT. This sophisticated transmission allows you to accelerate steadily without ever topping 2,000 rpm, which significantly improves fuel economy. In this regard, the Murano achieved good results: by driving 60 percent of the time in the city and 40 percent on the highway, it averaged 11.6 L/100 km. Even during sporty driving, which the Murano is good at, fuel economy remains below 14 L/100 km. These figures are even more impressive when you take into account the vehicle's 1,805 kilos.

Fuel economy is good considering the Murano's commanding size and heavy weight.