Nissan Murano makes its entrance into entertainment

Nissan has come up with a couple of new accessories designed to accentuate the Murano’s head-turning exterior and calming ambience: chrome side-steps which illuminate the ground for the grandest entrance and an integrated, rear DVD system with infrared headphones for the ultimate in entertainment.

The Murano’s interior is an oasis of calm. But not when you add a couple of back seat drivers engaged in ear bending agitation. "Are we there yet?" every two minutes will become a thing of the past with the addition of a roof mounted DVD player. It has to be the best invention in child pleasing, in-car entertainment since the introduction of rear electric windows…

This is not the average DVD accessory either. The system available for the Murano has been designed and tested with the help of Nissan’s European Technical Centre based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. Which means it won’t interfere with the curtain airbags’ deployment. And it’s perfectly integrated into the Murano’s interior furnishings – an important consideration for the design conscious.

The DVD system has two 7" dropdown screens mounted on the roof behind the driver and front seat passenger to give superb screen vision and, unlike centre-mounted alternatives, they won’t impair driver’s rear visibility. It comes with two pairs of cable-free headphones, thanks to infrared connectivity, with a third pair available if required. So all rear passengers can watch a business presentation, or more likely the Jungle Book, without any dangly bits ever getting in the way.

The player itself is hidden in the Murano’s enormous centre console box. It’s so enormous that even with the player installed, there’s still room for other stuff. Popcorn, for example. And the price? £1895 including fitting and VAT.

Steps! No, not the recently disbanded pop group but the things that assist you getting on-board or exiting your 4x4. Handy things but sometimes they would be even handier if you could see where or what you are about to step into, whether it be muddy puddles or odorous animal deposits. Nissan has the answer: a pair of chrome, tubular side steps with smart LEDs that illuminate the ground every time the door is opened. And for the ultimate in car park drama, they also light up when the car is unlocked remotely. It’s pure bling … unlike the price: £715 including fitting and VAT.

With a whiff-free and silenced interior, the driver can calmly consider the journey ahead, play with the Birdview DVD satellite navigation system, and then derive a different kind of entertainment from the Murano’s 3.5-litre V6 engine.