IF YOU GET the funny feeling that you’ve seen all this before, you’re not too far from wrong. Nissan’s refreshed 2009 Murano is a case of style evolution, rather than revolution.

Beneath the skin the déjà vu continues thanks to an engine and driveline that look, feel and perform eerily similar to they way they did before (which is not a bad thing by the way).

However, whatever the similarities to the model it replaces, Nissan’s 2009 Murano comes with a healthy dollop of high-tech, high-end luxury appointments and better than average on-road behaviour.

The result is that it stands more than happily on its own four wheels in an overcrowded SUV marketplace.

Put through the cut-and-thrust of the urban cycle - with a little weekend escapism thrown in for good measure - we set about finding out if Nissan’s suburban-dwelling SUV still has what it takes to take the fight up to the segment leaders, Kluger and Territory, and claim a slice of that lucrative sales pie.

Styling

When the first model Murano was released, its ‘stylistic’ approach shunned the usual ruggedness associated with the SUV crowd. Now in its second generation, it follows the same principal, building on the themes established in the first iteration.

With a series of gentle curves and arcs building from the front bumper and sweeping gracefully over the roof and down the tailgate, the Murano lines flow like water.

Most striking when viewed front-on, the chrome grille amplifies a wide V-shaped plane rising back across the bonnet. At the outer edges, multi-element heavily-jewelled headlamps blend into clever décor panels that run back under the grille.

Along the body-sides, blunt-edged wheel-arches blister gently outwards at each corner and a solid faux-sill panel, at the lower edges of the doors, is underscored with a subtle chrome slash.

Higher up, the window line at the rear side glass kicks upward to meet the roof, creating a strong, triangular D-pillar. From behind, the vertical tail-lights that followed the contours of the rear haunches in the earlier model, have been dispensed with, replaced by horizontal forms – a familiar sucked-lozenge shape.

Unfortunately, to these eyes, it’s a bit of a mismatch of shapes here, with vertical indicators and ovoid reverse lamps.

No problems with the tailgate: its sculptured lines integrate nicely with the Murano’s flowing curves – the one-piece polymer skin also including a subtle rear spoiler.

Interior

The Murano’s most compelling case is made once perched inside. Here, the feeling is akin to relaxing in a modern lounge room.

Broad seats, trimmed in soft supple leather, in a choice of black (as tested) or ivory, are serenely comfortable and a world away from the shapeless pews of the working 4WDs of years past that spawned the SUV segment.

Front seats are power adjustable while the rear bench can be reclined in a 60:40 split.

The basic dashboard architecture follows that set by Nissan’s other full-size offerings; anyone familiar with the new Maxima or 370Z will feel right at home.

A broad centre-stack houses basic climate and audio controls, above which sits a multi-function dial and large colour touch-screen for controlling the satellite navigation system.

Brushed aluminium runs through the centre of the dash and the door trims, lending cutting-edge ‘modernism’ to the feel inside.

Cargo accommodation is somewhat hampered by the rounded lines, however wheel-arch intrusion is minimal.

Levers in the cargo-bay walls allow the rear seats to be dropped to create an almost-flat floor and switches in the rear, or on the dash, allow the seats to be hoisted back into position.

Equipment and Features

With a heavy focus on ‘premium’ positioning, the included equipment in the top-shelf Murano Ti does a great job of shaming some established luxury contenders.

Front heated seats are electrically adjustable, as is the steering column – for tilt and reach. A two-setting memory function also helps return everything to where it should be, bringing the power folding mirrors along for the ride.

For entertainment there’s an 11-speaker (including two subwoofers) Bose sound system, incorporating a six-disc CD changer. Auxiliary inputs are also on standby for MP3 and RCA video sources, displayed on the seven-inch dash display.

That same screen also displays satellite navigation data, audio and climate control data, received from the dual-zone climate control system, and fills in rear-view duties from the reversing camera.