Adults don’t have to drive boring cars

I have recently come to the startling realization that I have grown up.

I’ve tried to deny it, but it’s just no use. I go to bed at a decent time, monitor my spending, keep a detailed calendar of scheduled appointments, and make my bed everyday.

I even floss on a daily basis.

But I’ve also come to realize that being an adult doesn’t have to mean being dull and boring. I still have plenty of fun (trust me). It’s just a little more, well, refined.

Being an adult doesn’t have to mean driving a boring car, either.

Introducing the all-new 2009 Nissan Murano – a mid-size crossover SUV for grown-ups that is anything but boring.

The Murano was first introduced in 2003 and has been a significant presence in the crossover segment ever since. Last year, the Murano took a year off (there was no 2008 model), and the vacation seems to have paid off.

Refreshed and revitalized, the Murano explodes back on the scene for 2009, with a striking new exterior design, an elegant new interior, an improved drivetrain, and some of the most advanced technological features available.

The exterior has been redesigned quite stylishly, with a new front grille, hood, and rear end. While it definitely still looks like a Murano, it has a much more sophisticated, chic appearance.

The interior is significantly improved, with available double-stitched leather, soft ambient mood lighting, aluminum trim with chrome accents, and an available dual-panel glass moon roof.

The new drivetrain consists of an improved 3.5-liter, 265 horsepower V-6 engine and a second-generation advanced Xtronic CVT (continuously-variable transmission) with adaptive shift control, which offers incredibly smooth shifting for a truly comfortable ride.

The new Murano offers many of the hottest new technological features available right now, including a 9.3GB Music Box hard drive that can store up to 2,900 songs, a compact-flash card slot, iPod connectivity, Intelligent Key and push-button ignition, a back-up camera, a Bose audio system with speed-sensitive volume, MP3/WMA player, and 11 premium speakers (including two subwoofers), XM satellite radio, and Bluetooth hands-free phone capability.

Another great new feature is the available voice-activated hard drive and GPS navigation system with a seven-inch touch-screen, XM NAVTraffic and Birdview imaging.

NAVTraffic is a program that uses icons, color codes, and three-dimensional building graphics to provide real-time traffic information, such as traffic flow, accidents and road closures. It also has a lane guidance feature that shows you which lane to be in when approaching a highway interchange or exit (subscription required).

Other fantastic features available include a remote-controlled power liftgate (can be accessed from inside the vehicle as well), automatic bi-xenon high-intensity discharge headlights, a rear-seat DVD player, rain-sensing wipers, and front and rear heated seats.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2009 Murano a "Top Safety Pick." It comes loaded with tons of standard safety features, such as six standard air bags, including roof-mounted side-curtain air bags; zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones; high-strength side door-guard beams; front-seat active head restraints; four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist; electronic stability control; traction control; and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

An advanced all-wheel drive system is available on all 2009 models. According to Nissan, this system intelligently adjusts to road conditions within a 10th of a second for better traction in all weather conditions. (That’s pretty fast – I certainly don’t adjust to change that fast.)

The 2009 Murano is available in three trim levels: the entry-level S, the mid-level SL, and the premium LE.

The S model starts at $26,870 for two-wheel drive and $28,470 for all-wheel drive. Standard features include dual-zone air conditioning (A/C), power windows/door locks/side mirrors, AM/FM radio with six-disc CD-changer (rarely found on entry-level models), cruise control, remote keyless entry, second-row folding seat, and cargo area tie-downs.

A convenience package is offered on the S model, and it adds rear privacy glass, black exterior roof rails, a retractable cargo area cover, and a vehicle anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer.

The SL model, which starts at $28,420 for two-wheel drive and $30,020 for all-wheel drive, adds a few more standard features, such as a multi-adjustable power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, fog lamps, and deep-tinted privacy glass.

However, the big difference is the huge number of option packages available on the SL.

The premium package adds the upgraded Bose audio, XM (includes activation and three months of service), a radio data system, a seven-inch information display monitor, a trip computer, a rear auxiliary audio/visual input jack, a rear electronic parking aid, an auto-dimming interior rearview mirror, a vehicle anti-theft system, and a Homelink universal garage-door opener.

The technology package adds the remote-controlled power liftgate, Bluetooth hands-free phone capability, voice-activated controls and steering-wheel-mounted controls for A/C, audio system, and Bluetooth, bi-xenon automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and dual heated exterior mirrors.

The leather package adds double-stitched leather seats, driver power lumbar support, front dual heated seats, and a multi-adjustable power passenger seat.

The navigation package consists of the voice-activated hard drive and GPS navigation aid with seven-inch touch screen, NAVTraffic, and Birdview imaging (subscription required), the Bose system, the 9.3GB Music Box hard drive, and the compact-flash audio reader.

The rear DVD entertainment system (with nine-inch overhead screen and wireless headphones) and the dual-panel power glass moon roof are also available as individual options.

The premium LE model starts at $36,450 and is only offered in all-wheel drive. It’s loaded with most of the fancy features listed in the option packages above. The only features that do not come standard on the LE are the navigation system, the rear DVD entertainment system, and the dual-panel moon roof.

EPA fuel-economy ratings for all 2009 models are 18 miles per gallon in the city and 23 on the highway. Those ratings are not all that spectacular, which is one of the Murano’s few shortcomings, but hey—gas prices have come down! (Not far enough, maybe, but it’s a start!)

I tested an all-wheel drive SL model with the premium, technology and leather packages and rear DVD system added, for a total package price of $36,325 (including $745 freight).

The Murano truly is a great buy for those looking for a stylish, well-equipped crossover SUV that’s actually affordable.

Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s getting past this old lady’s bedtime…and I still need to floss.

The automotive columns of Jennifer R. Williams appear regularly in the Star-Telegram. Contact her at autoscribe jennifer@yahoo.com.