Nissan Murano's Three Generations

The Nissan Murano crossover SUV was introduced to the American market for the 2003 model year and new versions followed for 2009 and 2015, as this link indicates.

All three have essentially the same wheelbase and the first two have quite similar basic bodies, so just by looking at them, I can't be sure that the 2009 Muranos isn't a major facelift of the original.  The 2015 Murano has similar doors, but the top has a stronger curve front and rear, so at a minimum there was major work done.  (Murano mavens, please comment regarding these observations.)

The initial Murano featured a somewhat symmetrical front/rear fender profile that displeased me when I first saw it.  It gave the vehicle a static appearance.  Apparently Nissan stylists, the car-buying public or both came to a similar conclusion because that feature was ever more strongly eliminated in the succeeding models.

Gallery

2003 Nissan Murano.  Murano is an island cluster in the Venice Lagoon between the Venice proper and the mainland.  It is noted for its glassware.  Note the character line on the fender and how it strongly curves downward near the front and rear wheel openings.  It is these similar curves that create an almost-symmetrical, static feeling to the design.

Front 3/4 view of the 2003 model.  Note the shape of the side windows and the door cut-lines.

This is a 2009 Murano  Its windows and doors are about the same as those on the 2003.  The front character line curve has been eliminated, replaced by a large lip around the wheel opening.  This eliminates the static, symmetrical feel of 2003 styling.  Sheet metal on the doors had been replaced to yield a more sculptured look.

The 2015 Murano.  I might have more to say about its design in a future post.  For now, I'll note that styling has gone into the current fad of rococo overkill.  Observe that the door cut lines remain similar to those of the original Murano.