2019 Nissan Murano adds V-Motion grille, safety tech

Nissan took the wraps off its revised 2019 Murano crossover in Los Angeles on Wednesday, showcasing a redesigned fascia that leans heavily on the brand's "V-Motion" aesthetic and making its Safety Shield 360 technology suite available in certain grades.

The two-row CUV aimed squarely at the empty nester set keeps the third-generation label, which debuted for the 2015 model year. Like the new 2019 Maxima sedan, which also got a debut in L.A., the Murano gets a more pronounced front grille and redesigned LED headlights and taillights, LED fog lamps and new wheels — in this case, 18- or 20-inch aluminum-alloy designs. It'll come with three new color choices when it goes on sale next month: Mocha Almond Pearl, Deep Blue Pearl and something called Sunset Drift Chromaflair. It keeps the 260-horsepower 3.5-liter V6.

There are some new interior upgrades available as well, including semi-aniline leather-appointed seats with diamond-quilted inserts and contrasting micro-piping seat, door armrest and center console lid trim. Three new trim finishers are also on offer, depending on trim level: dark wood tone, light wood tone and metallic.

Rear Door Alert and Intelligent Driver Alertness notifications are standard across all four trim levels — S, SV, SL and Platinum — as are second-row supplemental side airbags and a front passenger supplemental knee airbag. All trim levels also get the NissanConnect system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and an 8-inch color touchscreen. The two top trim grades add navigation enhanced with 3-D building graphics and satellite imagery, among other features.

Once again like the new Maxima, Nissan is expanding availability of its Safety Shield 360 technology, which adds six safety and driver-assist features including blind-spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning and high-beam assist. It's standard on the Platinum grade and as part of the SL Technology Package, and part of Nissan's push to make the package standard on 1 million new vehicles a year by 2021.