BENEATH the crossover styling of Nissan’s Murano beats the heart of the 350Z Sports Coupe. It’s quite a combination - as reports.

Spend an afternoon watching Roger Federer play tennis and the game looks ridiculously simple.

Finding that groove proves beyond most mere mortals and the same goes for building cars. Lately, one manufacturer has made it look supremely effortless. Nissan have realised that the answer is simple. Build great products. The Murano is just the latest in a line of crackerjack Nissans.

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.

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.

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.

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 18in 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 in the sticker price.

FACTFILE

Price: £29,995 - on the road
Insurance group: 15
CO2 emissions: 295g/km
Performance: 0-60mph 9.0s / Max Speed 124mph
Fuel consumption: 23mpg
Dealer details: Bailey’s Nissan, Westminster Road, Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Canterbury; 01227 766777.