When the Pathfinder Hybrid quietly ended production early last year, it didn’t spell the end of Nissan’s electrified crossover plans in the U.S. The powertrain has now been resurrected in another model, but there’ll be slim pickings for U.S. buyers, according to AutoGuide (via Hybrid Cars).
The Nissan Murano Hybrid bows as a 2016 model, and its specifications can more or less be directly imported from a 2014 Pathfinder brochure. However, the new model’s fuel economy is higher than its spiritual predecessor.
Only 600 units of the Murano will make it to U.S. shores, and when they do, expect a price bump of $3,000 over a regular model’s SL and Platinum trim lines. Under the hood, a supercharged version of the automaker’s sturdy 2.5-liter four-cylinder works in combination with an electric motor and continuously variable transmission, boosting mileage by four to five miles per gallon. Combined output is 250 horsepower.
The EPA lists mileage for front-wheel-drive models at 28 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined. All-wheel-drive models are rated 26 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined.
Identifiable only my minimal badging, the stealthy Murano Hybrid packs on 170 pounds (in AWD guise) thanks to the added hardware.
Nissan clearly realizes that hybrids are a tough sell in today’s marketplace, because the limited numbers being shipped to the U.S. seems to be based on a realistic sales projections.
[Image: © 2015 Mark Stevenson/The Truth About Cars]
With such low numbers (and I’m sure low numbers for the Pathfinder Hybrid) I’d be worried that my local dealers techs wouldn’t know enough about it to be able to handle all conceivable situations.
Kudos for offering it in AWD though.
Good point. I’ll wait for the convertible version.
Exactly. At least Nissan is telling us right off the bat that it will be an orphan, so people should know to avoid them.
Enough of these effing funhouse mirrors on wheels.
I didn’t even know there was a Pathfinder Hybrid.
Bummer this has such a boring interior and uses a 4 for its gas engine. A hybrid VQ would be pretty sweet.
Huh, there was a Pathfinder Hybrid??? They are still making the Murano????
Why wouldn’t they still make the Murano? It’s a mid-size CUV–every company needs one in their lineup.
Juke–subcompact
Rogue–compact
Murano–mid-size
Pathfinder–3-row mid-size/”full-size”
“It’s a mid-size CUV–every company needs one in their lineup.” Certainly every company needs ONE, but does Nissan really need two middle of the pack sellers or would they be better off with one top seller?
I admit I am surprised that Murano sales have actually been increasing quite strongly after languishing for a number of years. Meanwhile the Pathfinder is not doing as well as it has in the past. So putting eggs in the Murano basket does make some sense.
I can’t figure how the administration & training costs for importing such a low-volume vehicle are worth it.
But those fuel economy numbers are impressive for a car that size.
I wonder how they’ll allocate the vehicles? I doubt it will be evenly to dealers, there won’t even be enough for one per dealer. Dump them in the metro areas and only train a select number of dealerships?
Well, they probably already trained and prepared for the Pathfinder Hybrid, so I wouldn’t think much would need to be done in that respect.
I’m just unimpressed with the mileage, 4-5 mpg for $3k extra with the added bonus of expensive Hybrid repairs later down the road? No thanks. I wouldn’t expect to sell 6, let alone 600.
To quote Bob Lutz, “An ANGRY APPLIANCE front end.”
The rest is just tortured sheet metal.
Wow, if ever there was a competition for the front end of a car designed for gaudy Chinese design tastes, this could be in contention.
Lexus has it beat, hands down. Lol
I like the Murano.
I like hybrids.
I like a Murano with a supercharged engine.
It all sounds good to me.
The only issue with me will always be the upcharge for the hybrid.
Usually they make no sense.
In sure you’re aware that Lincoln is the only brand (that I know of) that prices its Hybrid (MKZ) exactly the same as the equivalent non-Hybrid.
Doesn’t help with the Murano, but food for thought anyway.
These will be even more of a chore for the dealer techs to start up and run every few weeks like remnant unsold Quest inventory.
With Nissan sales seem to be Rogue, Altima, Sentra. With the rest mainly peripheral.
Wait….there was a Pathfinder Hybrid????
A supercharged 2.5L 4-cyl that only puts out 250hp when combined with the electric motor?
Is it a Miller-cycle, or why bother with the SC?