It???s anything but conventional, however. Those with a spotter???s eye for odd cars might well remember Mitsubishi Ralliart???s attempts to sell us the 276bhp Pajero Evolution 4x4. That failed rather dismally, so the portents for a 4x4 with the heart of a sports car don???t look good. That is until you clap eyes on the Murano in the metal. It looks like it has escaped from the set of Bladerunner, the combination of swoopy curves and flinty edges combining well in a way that has eluded many reputed stylists. The nose is particularly interesting, offering a canted back cookie cutter grille with vertically stacked headlights. The nose is almost Micra-neat with tail lights that again evoke images of the 350Z coupe. The flanks have definite shoulders and a kicked up beltline and the details fuse into each other nicely as you walk around the car. Although the suspicion that all-round visibility has been sacrificed at the altar of style is never far way, you have to admit the trade off was worth it. The ??29,995 Murano???s underpinnings are as unconventional as its togs. The saloon car chassis combines with a detuned version of the 350Z???s V6 engine all mated to a version of the 4x4 system seen on the X-Trail. It all sounds something of a bastard combination but from this amalgam of disparate elements comes a genuinely attractive whole. Given that it comprises so many parts I???d hesitate to call it greater than the sum of said parts but you get the idea.

The engine cranks out 245bhp which is more than enough for what is a surprisingly compact vehicle. Needless to say, with this sort of power at its elbow, the Murano doesn???t hang around. It???ll bludgeon its way through 60mph in 9.0 seconds but the average fuel consumption figure of 23mpg won???t be making too many Nissan billboard ads. Drive is directed to the front wheels in normal conditions, only being sent astern should things get slippery. A switch can lock the 4x4 system in place if things get very slippery. In truth, the Nissan???s conventional strut front suspension, multi link rear and limited ground clearance combine to reduce its off road capabilities to little more than trail and track duty but you won???t mind when you sample its assurance on the blacktop. The handling is reassuringly car-like and moves the game a few notches beyond what was considered the class standard. You???ll pay a penalty in terms of ride comfort but most will put up with a little more bump and thump in return for the excellent body control. Drive the Murano down the sort of longitudinally rutted surface that comprises many British B-roads and there???s none of that wobbly head syndrome that afflicts many 4x4 drivers. Instead, it sits foursquare on the road. The driving position is in actual fact a good few inches lower than most compact 4x4s and although it???s BMW X5 sized, the Murano feels as wieldy as something like an X3. The interior measures up to what many would expect given the car???s sharp suit. The dashboard offers three inset dials and a tilted centre console pod. Despite its low slung stance and narrow side windows, clever use of pale colours and a big sunroof means that the Murano still feels pleasantly airy. Rear seat occupants won???t be complaining either, as there???s a good deal of both head and legroom. Even the rear doors are reasonably proportioned. The Murano probably won???t be your weapon of choice if outright luggage capacity is your goal, the raked tailgate cutting down on usable room. The cabin offers plenty of storage holes with a two-tiered lockable one between the front seats big enough for a laptop. The ???floating??? centre console adds a sense of space to the reality and houses the standard ???Birdview??? DVD satellite navigation system. Other deft styling touches include the remote flip-down rear seats and the instrument binnacle which moves with the steering column as it???s adjusted just like it does on a 350Z. Unlike many other 4x4s, the Murano doesn???t come with poverty specification and an options list as long as your arm. Therefore Nissan won???t be asking Murano customers to pay more for 18" wheels, xenon headlights, a leather interior, the DVD satnav, a rear parking camera, darkened windows or a Bose 7 speaker audio system. It???s all right there in the sticker price. The Murano has struck a chord in the US where it???s currently shifting around 5,000 units every month. With a price tag that many will still see as quite an ask for a Nissan, will it succeed over here in the land of the ??4 gallon? I can???t see it becoming anything more than a specialist niche car. Buyers in this market are after the sort of image and residuals that only come with the brand equity of a premium badge. Nissan have conquered a number of other markets previously thought beyond them and the Murano is a very strong product. Whether this is a stretch too far for British buyers remains to be seen.