| 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2010 Nissan Murano | July 19, 2010 | AUTORIVALS.NET |
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| Decades ago, the Jeep Grand
Cherokee (along with the Ford Explorer) introduced the masses to
a new type of vehicle. It was brawny, muscular, and inefficient but sold by the millions. Today, things have changed but the
Grand Cherokee sticks to its roots to please Jeep faithfuls by
remaining an SUV with true off-road capabilities. It now rides on a
rear-wheel drive unibody platform however, shared with the Mercedes-Benz
ML-Class and features a new air suspension system known as
Quadra-Lift. Three different 4x4 systems are available along
with a new Selec-Terrain system that allows selectable driving
settings such as Auto, Rock, Sand/Mud, Sport, and Snow that
adjusts traction control, vehicle height, and other settings. The Nissan Murano shows how far SUVs have evolved in terms of design. Styling is futuristic and sleek with hardly any traditional SUV styling cues. The Murano is technically a crossover and rides on the Nissan Altima platform powered by Nissan's familiar VQ-series V6 engine. Off-roading is the last of the Murano's priorities with more emphasis on on-road performance. The Murano comes in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Considering most buyers never venture off-road anyways, the Murano's capabilities might be more than enough for most buyers. |
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| 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee | vs | 2010 Nissan Murano |
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| The Grand Cherokee's design keeps
traditional Jeep styling cues such as the seven-slot grille and
muscular stance. The new headlights are more attractive than
before with a thin rectangular shape rather than the circular
shape from the previous generation. The lower front fascia
features a chrome appliqué and is actually removable for
off-roading. The flat front end looks like a true SUV but still
manages a respectable 0.37 coefficient of drag. The hard edges
and wide front fascia give the Grand Cherokee a brawny look that
stays true to its heritage. The Murano's design is unconventional, especially for an SUV. The oddly-styled grille connected with the uniquely-styled headlights create a modern look and feel that somehow works. The front end is curved more dramatically than typical SUVs and there's a good dose of curves and flared surfaces to give the Murano a compelling shape and design. The Murano's design has evolved more rapidly from its predecessor compared to the Grand Cherokee. |
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| The Grand Cherokee is larger than the Murano is every direction but also more than 500 pounds heavier. The wheelbase has been stretched over 5 inches compared to the last generation while overall length increases 1.8 inches. Interior space benefits from the lengthened wheelbase along with increased cargo capacity. Thanks to the new Quadra-Lift air suspension, ride height is adjustable from five different settings that lowers and raises vehicle height by 1.5 inches in each direction. | ||
 The Grand Cherokee's traditional styling continues from front to back. Like previous Grand Cherokees, trapezoidal wheel arches remain that portray a tough, stalwart stance. Front overhang is shortened to help in approaching steep hills while off-roading. Wheel choices range from 17 to 20 inch. |
 Contemporary style seem to be the Murano's design philosophy. Flared wheel arches and coupe-like window silhouette convey a sense of speed and sportiness. Available 20-inch wheels are never meant for off-roading but look attractive enough for on the road. |
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| An ample amount of chrome is used
around the Grand Cherokee's body. Side windows are oulined in
chrome, chrome mirrors and door handles are available, and the
rear features a chrome placard with the Jeep logo. HEMI models
get 3.5-inch dual chrome exhaust tips while Pentastar models get
a single 3-inch exhaust. The Grand Cherokee may be one chrome
piece away from being gaudy but for now it remains tasteful.
Blacked out B- and C- pillars give a sleeker appearance than
before and the overall profile is more refined. The Murano's modern styling is also apparent in the rear. A upside-down trapezoidal rear window matches the rest of the curvy body but the LED taillights have an crude pattern. The amber turn signal and backup light seem to be afterthoughts and don't have the polished look like the Grand Cherokee's simplistic taillights. The coupe-like window design results in a large D-pillar that sacrifices driver visibility for style. The flared rear shoulders add to the Murano's sporty appeal. |
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| Inside, both center stack designs
have a similar shape but the Murano's flares out toward the
driver which looks good and aids in ergonomics. Both feature a
dual panel sunroof that extends across the length of the roof
although the rear portion is fixed. The Grand Cherokee's
interior is a step-up from previous Jeeps and hosts a slew of
new features. Jeep's "uconnect guardian" is standard which
provides automatic crash notification, emergency calling,
roadside assistance, remote door unlock, and stolen vehicle
assistance. SIRIUS Travel Link is added which provides gas
prices, weather conditions, sport scores, movie listings, and
traffic displayed on the navigation system. Safety features
include side-curtain air bags, seat-mounted side thorax air
bags, electronic stability control, electronic roll mitigation,
anti-lock brakes, and four-wheel brake traction control. The Murano lacks any advanced assistance system but available features include heated front and rear seats, rain-sensing front wipers, and a rear-view monitor. Dual-zone climate control comes standard and standard safety features include vehicle dynamic control, traction control, brake assist, and six airbags. |
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PROS +Traditional SUV styling +Refined design +Off-road performer CONS -Portly |
PROS +Unique styling +Sleek shape +On-road performer CONS -Only pretends to be an SUV -Unpolished taillights |
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| Video Source: Motor Trend via YouTube | Video Source: Cars.com via YouTube |
| 2010 Nissan Murano | vs | 2011 Nissan Murano Diesel |
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