Nissan's new Murano is breaking the mould in more ways than one. Recently the Automobile Association drove the car that thinks it's an SUV around the Coromandel Peninsula and averaged 10.8 litres per 100 kilometres (or 26.1 miles per gallon).

Large SUVs have a reputation for being gas guzzlers and even getting close to 20 mpg is considered an achievement.

The Murano was driven at normal open road cruising speeds, keeping up with the traffic flow, with the power and petrol sapping air conditioning being used throughout the journey.

To replicate real world driving conditions, the Murano carried an adult passenger and 35 kgs of ballast in the boot to represent a modest load of luggage.

Before the drive started from Manukau City the Murano's tyres were pressured to the lower of Nissan's two recommended pressures.

No competitive economy rally techniques were employed, such as switching off the air conditioning, running ultra high tyre temperatures or coasting down hills in neutral gear.

The Murano was fuelled up and then refuelled at the end of the journey at the same petrol pump.

The 423kms route started from Manukau and headed across the Hauraki Plains to Waihi before turning north for a lap of the Coromandel Peninsula through Whangamata, Whitianga, Coromandel and back to Thames, before returning via Maramarua to Manukau.

On its best section of the route to Waihi, the Murano's in car computer showed it achieving 10 litres/100 kilometres (or 28.2 miles per gallon).

The final calculated consumption figures revealed the on board computer was accurate to the nearest tenth of a litre.

By Tairua the consumption had climbed to 10.5l/100 kms as the twisty hill climbs on the eastern side of the peninsula took their toll.
The Kuaotunu and Whangapoua hills sent the consumption up to 10.8, the eventual average for the whole journey. Accelerating out of the tight bends while climbing the hills and then slowing for the next corner did not engender economical driving, but it was real world conditions.

The results surprised even Nissan staff, as while the Murano might have a slight aerodynamic advantage over some of its more box like SUV rivals, the fuel economy was still impressive.

The CVT automatic transmission allowed the Murano to operate at the most economical engine revs, the advanced technology of the transmission showing there are a variety of ways to save fuel.

The drive was a great demonstration that a six cylinder car weighing 1822 kgs with two adults and 35 kgs of luggage and a powerful flexible 172 kW motor can achieve good fuel economy even when driven sensibly and not using economy driving techniques.