During our recent family crossover roundup, it was remarked that the Rogue might not raise your heart rate, but it could in fact lower it. The Murano is the same idea writ V6-powered, and padded with sound-deadening material. The steering is very numb without being overly sloppy. The brakes seem up to the task, and the 3.5L V6 doles out a goodly portion of its 240 lb-ft of torque low in the range – there’s 260 hp at 6,000 rpm for passing maneuvers, but mostly the Murano’s six would rather hum along below 2,000 rpm.

It’s really quite likeable, while at the same time being about as sporty as a pillow-top mattress. Grip and acceleration aren’t the issue, there’s just a very noticeable comfort-first Prime Directive.

Fuel economy figures are quite good, though please note that a West Coast winter is merely damp, not cold. Official ratings are 11.2 L/100 km in the city and 8.3 L/100 km on the highway. I averaged the same as the outside thermometer has done since January – solidly in the 10s.

The Murano would make for a rather nice après-ski machine, and given the power of the heated seats and steering wheel, is at least partially a jacuzzi. The lumbar support is only two-way adjustable, and only for the driver, but other than that, it’s a nice place to be when you’ve expended your energy shredding the slopes, or cycling, or hiking, or ballroom dancing, or whatever else people in tooth-whitening commercials seem to always be doing.

As I cut through Gastown, out through Stanley Park and back over the Lion’s Gate Bridge, traffic is starting to pick up. Cars are flooding back into the downtown core, some of them early morning business-types who will be putting in a long day behind a keyboard.

If they come down to the parkade at the end of the day to find one of these things waiting to ferry them back to the comforts of home, it’ll be a decompression tank that starts acting right away. Many cars fail by trying to be in-betweeners, too many things at once. The Murano just has one job – provide premium comfort without treading too far into Infiniti’s territory. At this task, it’s excellent.

Warranty:
3 years/60,000 km; 5 years/100,000 km powertrain; 5 years/unlimited distance corrosion perforation; 3 years/60,000 km 24-hour roadside assistance

Competitors:
Ford Edge
GMC Terrain
Lincoln MKC
Subaru Outback
Toyota Venza
Volkswagen Touareg

So back to bed for a quick kip before the kid’s up and banging pots and pans around. Good night sea. Good night Vancouver. Good night taxicabs. Good night skyscrapers.

Good night, Batman.

Good night, Murano.

Pricing: 2015 Nissan Murano Platinum
Base (Platinum): $43,498
Options: Pearl White Paint – $300
Freight: $1,750
A/C Tax: $100
Price as tested: $45,648

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