If you think sport utility vehicles are mostly boring and boxy, the 2003 Nissan Murano may change you mind.

It drives like a champ, has one of the sexiest shapes around and is pure fun. The Murano is another example of Nissan's renaissance into a car company known for leading-edge design and performance.

The engines and transmissions are among the best in the world, the styling is generally years ahead of what everybody else is offering, and it's being done in such short product development time and in such numbers that it's getting tough to keep up with it all.

	Nissan
	2003 Nissan Murano SL AWD. The Bottom Line -- Price as tested: $32,016. Fuel economy: 20 mpg city, 24 highway. Annual estimated fuel cost: $1,058. Powertrain: 245-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, coupled with a continuously variable transmission.

Mine was a Murano SL AWD, the entry level model. It had a base price of $29,799. Options included an SL Premium package with power adjustable pedals, a 225-watt Bose audio system, a cargo net and cargo cover, and splash guards, all of which brought the bottom line to $32,016. You also can get front-wheel drive.

The best way to describe the 245-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 is "lusty." It's plenty fast, sounds like it's all about performance and hits 60 in a respectable 8.1 seconds, according to Motor Trend. The Murano tends to feel a bit sluggish at lower speeds, but takes off like a scalded cat on the highway and interstate.

Handling is unusually flat and tenacious for what Nissan calls an "urban SUV." I never felt tippy or awkward in it, and I always had confidence in the Murano's general road performance.

Inside, I generally liked the layout and ergonomics. I was especially impressed by the climate control system, which has to be one of the easiest ones around to operate.

It's quite intuitive -- easy to figure out how to operate without consulting the owners' manual.

There are nice, chunky knobs that are part of the system, one for temperature and another chunky dial for fan speed, which means it can be more precisely tuned to what you want than a system that has only a few settings.

The design of the instrument panel itself was futuristic. The waterfall-influenced stack in the middle of the dashboard contained controls for the climate control, audio and other functions and had a Star Trek-like appearance.

There's a central screen panel on the dash that tells you outside temperature, what part of the climate control system is in use and whether the dual zone climate control is engaged. The dual zone climate system allows for separate driver and passenger settings.

The console was full of cubbies and spots to store things, and a button on the brushed aluminum console introduced cup holders when engaged. Buttons on the center stack also provided such information as the amount of fuel and number of miles left, average speed and fuel consumption.

One drawback was the shift gate. It made a grinding noise when the lever was moved from gear to gear.

But perhaps the most serious drawback is that the fabric interior didn't appear up to snuff for a $30,000-plus automobile. The quality and texture of the materials was OK at best. And Nissan's new minimalist look for door panel trim -- a few touches of brushed metal -- looks cheap.

Part of the problem is that the look is so dramatically different from what we are used to that it will take some time to understand and assimilate Nissan's approach to interior design.

You will, however, find lots of leg and head room in the back seat of the Murano as well as in the front, but you'll have to get used to the sensation of peering over the door and window sills as you ride or drive along. It's relatively high-waisted compared with other cars I've driven.

The Murano also is relatively wide and short compared with other cars and car-based SUVs.

Another thing you should be prepared for -- the sleek, rounded, dramatic exterior styling exacts a penalty for visibility when you get into the Murano. I found it extremely limited rearward when parking or backing up.

Altogether, the Murano will be a happy choice for those who "want it all" -- strong performance, lots of room, SUV practicality and a generous helping of sophisticated styling.