When the Nissan Murano first went on sale as a 2003 model, it was an early entrant in the two-row mid-size crossover segment and helped kick off America's obsession with on-road utes that have carlike ride and handling.
Its curvaceous styling and solid dynamics earned it kudos in our first test of the vehicle—and we even praised its continuously variable transmission (CVT), which at the time was fresh technology.
The Murano has been redesigned a couple of times since then, saw a hybrid briefly join the lineup, and even spawned an ill-advised two-door convertible model called the CrossCabriolet.
Today, an increasing barrage of competitors has pushed the Murano down the sales charts; it's off 10 percent from last year's numbers through November.
Fresh adversaries in the form of the Honda Passport and the Chevrolet Blazer are gearing up for battle. To fortify it for the coming onslaught, Nissan has prepared a mid-cycle refresh consisting of tweaked interior and exterior styling as well as new tech features and equipment.
The Murano's bold styling and relaxed driving demeanor remain intact.
Under the hood is the same 260-hp 3.5-liter V-6 that sent a 2018 Platinum all-wheel-drive model to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, the CVT's occasional droning slightly marring the energetic acceleration.
The powertrain also delivered 27 mpg in our 75-mph real-world highway fuel-economy test.
The Murano's pleasant driving demeanor remains.
The ride is cushy, the handling is competent, and occupants are well shielded from road noise at speed.
The tech upgrade starts with Nissan's Safety Shield 360 bundle of driver-assist features. Consisting of forward and reverse automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlamps, the package is optional on the SL and standard on the Platinum.
Changes to the Murano's interior are more noticeable, especially in the top-spec Platinum model, which sports semi-aniline leather seats with diamond-patterned inserts and contrasting piping.
The same treatment extends to the armrests and the center console's lid.
We would have welcomed some changes to the Murano's numb steering, which broadcasts precious little information from the road to the driver's hands, and the brake pedal is less firm than we'd like.
Additionally, Nissan now offers Google Assistant integration, updated the available navigation system, and enabled over-the-air updates for the Murano's infotainment system.
New interior trim finds the SV and SL models getting either metallic or light faux-wood inserts and the Platinum wearing dark teak wood accents.
Two USB-C ports for faster charging join last year's standard USB ports, and all Muranos come with a driver-attention monitor and a rear-seat reminder.
The engine can be paired with front-wheel drive.
The exterior sees minor styling changes in the form of updated lighting elements, a revised grille and bumper, a few new wheel designs, tweaked LED fog lamps, and three new colors: Sunset Drift (orange), Mocha Almond (brown), and Deep Blue.
The incremental changes for 2019 probably aren't enough to meaningfully boost Murano sales in the face of new and more heavily revised competitors.
The Murano will continue to rely on its combination of bold styling, a creamy ride, and a ritzy interior to keep it in the hunt.
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