The Nissan Murano's grown popular because it has so few of the usual tired SUV cliches. It's a five-seater without much off-road ability or towing capacity, and it's stylish, too--almost to a fault.

The Murano is a good-looking tall wagon, and ties together its sheetmetal and its cabin in a convincing way. This generation's much more flamboyant than the first Murano, and the toothy, chromey grille is a distraction from the rest of the buff, smoothly integrated design. It's as slickly styled inside, with a unified look that coordinates well with the slightly bulbous shape.

The 2012 Nissan Murano stands out among other midsize crossovers thanks to its unique styling, engaging driving experience and overall sophistication.

High-quality cabin; spacious backseat; responsive powertrain; precise steering and confident handling; smooth ride; user-friendly controls

Fuel economy: 18 city/24 hwy mpg