It's tough to mess with a winner, but Nissan's pulled it off with their new 2009 Nissan Murano -- don't miss it at the auto show.

Being a Murano, the styling has to be daring, and the new model fills the bill with a controversial front-end grille design, that, to my eyes, is futuristic and elegant, with some of the most unusual headlights you'll ever see. But other people, I admit, may look at it and think otherwise.

This car has a gorgeous interior by the way, one that will remind many people of luxury products rather than a crossover.

The 2009 Murano is offered in five models: Murano S FWD, Murano S AWD, Murano SL FWD, Murano SL AWD and a new Murano LE AWD model.

The features list on this car is extensive.

The 2009 Murano S FWD, which has a base price of $26,330, includes standard features like intelligent Xtronic CVT™, dual-zone air conditioning, power front windows with one-touch auto up/down with auto reverse feature, push-button ignition, 60/40 split fold-flat rear seat, auxiliary audio input jack, 18-inch wheels and much more.

The Murano S AWD has a starting MSRP of $27,930 and includes the extensive standard features on the FWD, along with Nissan's intuitive All-Wheel Drive system.

You'll pay $27,880 for the Murano SL FWD, and you'll get all the features on Murano S, plus rear privacy glass, front fog lights, steering-wheel audio switches, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8-way power driver seat and 60/40 split fold-flat rear seatback with power return. The Murano SL AWD, starting at $29,480 adds intuitive AWD.

The top of the line Murano LE AWD puts icing on the cake, with these standard items: 20-inch alloy wheels, bi-functional xenon headlights, Bose audio system with 11 speakers, XM Satellite Radio, Interface System for iPod, 7-inch color display, Intelligent Key, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, driver position memory (seat, mirrors, and steering wheel), leather-appointed seats, heated front and rear seats, power-tilt and telescoping steering wheel, interior wood trim, power liftgate, RearView Monitor and many others.

Power for all Muranos come from a 5-liter, 265 horsepower V-6 backed by a CVT transmission and adaptive shift control. Fuel economy is rated at 18/23.

Be sure to check out the 2008 Nissan Rogue at the auto show, too.

The Rogue is a five-passenger crossover that comes in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. It's based on the "Alliance C-platform," which is shared by a number of products from Renault, the corporate parent of Nissan.

Power comes from a 170-horsepower, four-cylinder engine backed by a second-generation "Xtronic" CVT automatic transmission. Fuel economy is rated at 22 city/27 highway.

The CVT features paddle shifters, available on some Rogue models. This feature allows drivers to run through the gears manually without a clutch.

Styling on the Rogue is pleasantly aggressive, with a strong, downward character line that runs from front to back. It also carries a roofline with a semi-elliptical design at the rear, a feature that seems to be popular with many crossovers. The overall effect is what looks like a smaller Infiniti FX series car -- not a bad thing, because the FX35 and FX45 are two of the sexiest cars on the market.

Nissan's flair for a contemporary, sleek interior is evident with its cockpit-like feel. I especially like a two-toned seating arrangement on some models. Everything is easy to reach and to read, and there are plenty of interesting features.

For instance, there's a pop-up cargo organizer in the back with detachable partitions and a washable bin. The center console includes a removable box, and a large glove box with a removable partition that can hold an owners manual and folding umbrella, and a drop-down lid that can hold paper maps and MP3 player.

The center console also includes a card holder, pen holder, rear cup holder and cell phone holder, among other amenities.

Safety features include traction and stability control, roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags, front-active head restraints, a tire-pressure monitoring system, zone body construction that includes front and rear crumple zones, and energy absorbing steering columns.

The only point that I found bothersome was the large blind spot to the rear of the car due to the styling and design of the roof and side windows.