2016 Nissan Murano Hybrid
While hybrid models are all the rage,
Nissan has just taken the wraps off the 2016 Murano Hybrid with absolutely no
fanfare.
Despite this, the car will be an
interesting addition to the Murano line-up in the U.S., where it'll be offered
in a limited-run of around 600 examples. The reason behind the launch of the
car isn't known but Car and Driver says it may be using left-over powertrains
from the Pathfinder hybrid which was canned in 2015.
Power for the 2016 Nissan Murano Hybrid
comes courtesy of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine supplemented by a 20 hp and
118 lb-ft electric motor. Complete with a lithium-ion battery pack, the model's
powerplant offers 250 hp, just 10 hp fewer than offered by the 3.5-liter V6
found in other Murano models.
Power is sent through the front wheels
as standard but for a reasonable US$ 1,600, customers can opt for an all-wheel
drive layout. In terms of fuel economy, the front-wheel drive model returns 28
mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway while the all-wheel drive variant
returns 26 city and 30 on the highway, slight improvements over the standard V6
Murano.
Beyond a number of hybrid badges and
some new gauges in the cabin, the Murano Hybrid is visually indiscernible from
other Muranos.
The high-spec SL trim level will set
customers back US$ 40,950 while the Platinum is priced from US$ 43,000.
