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My rampant imagination and speculation would have me believe that Nissan is covertly involved with sentient forces that do not obey the laws of nature. It's the only way they could have created the Murano, my senses say.

It's that, or they are selling the XUV for way below what it cost to build it.

The Murano is my kind of vehicle. There is one model only and it has top-end specification. No messing about with variants and trim and options. If you're going to buy yourself a fantastic toy that will bring pleasure to everybody that drives in it, this is it.

The unconventional design was the first thing that worked a spell on me. I found its bulges and curves somewhat quirky and attractive. The white, pearlescent paint added to the magic, the hue and depth of the colour changing with the light and playing tricks on my eyes as the Murano seemed to subtly changed shape in front of me.

No end in sight

The long front end gently drops off in a graceful curve. It's impossible to see the last half of the end that houses the 3.6-litre V6 engine (191kW and 336Nm) and Nissan makes no play to cover this up.

Instead there's a switch on the centre console ? very obviously labeled 'camera' ? that turns on the electronic eye in the left-hand side mirror. The view on the LCD screen in the console is overlayed with a template that indicates precisely where the front of the vehicle is. Precise parking ? and I mean 'precise' ? is now a possibility.

I felt like a bit of a parking wizard myself, swinging without hesitation into the gap between two cars and coming to a halt with room to spare on the front and sides. The camera in the rear ensured that I appeared equally adept at reversing maneuvers.

CVT - get one

But driving this car is about more than just electronic tricks. The continuously variable transmission means there are no gear changes and the power feeds out smoothly.

I soon was accustomed to sinking into the plush leather seat and applying light pressure to the accelerator, which with patient persistence can take the car up to a cruisng speed between 60 and 80km/h with the revs ticking over around 1500. It's a blissful experience I will miss.

The joy I found in the Murano is that it?s designed to make life as easy as possible for you. The audio system is a good example. I loved the fact that I could slot 6 CDs into the caddy, drive away and enjoy an endless (well, almost) stream of songs with audio settings all be managed by my left thumb.

Joys of the laid-back life

Opening the rear door was another piece of entertainment for the idle man in me. With a press of a button on the remote I stood by as the warning tone beeped away and the electric motors drove the door to the end of its travel.

Goods stowed, a second press of the button reversed the process and I had only lifted a finger. The kids were only too happy to pack the shopping in return for the fantastical display of automation.

I learned that if something could be moved inside the cabin, the chances were good that there was a switch and motor connected to it. Exercising only my fingers, especially on a long drive through heavy traffic, is something I can easily live with.

Long list of features

The list of features seems to go on and on. Voice activated audio and phone, Bluetooth connectivity, heated seats, cruise control, mood lighting, dual-zone air conditioning to name but a few.

The only giveaway that the car is just a car is the slight vagueness to the steering. It's also what makes it so noteworthy for me because it?s a reminder that something that has been created by a team of ordinary people can, if even just for a moment, make me believe there's some extraordinary forces at work in its design.

I can't compare the Murano to any other vehicle because it stands, confidently, in a niche of its own.

Price

Nissan Murano - R488 000 (Worth every cent)

Price includes a three-year or 100 000km warranty, a five-year or 90 000km service plan, three-year paint and mechanical warranty, three-year or unlimited kilometers anti-corrosion warranty and emergency roadside assistance.