Yes, it’s big, it’s broad and it’s well defined, but I won’t call the old Murano beautiful. My beef is with that grille, which is tacky, considering how slick the rest of the car is. That grille looks like a cross between a cheese grater and a chessy Christmas ornament, or maybe a clash between a gladiator and a radiator. Either way, it’s not a pretty face.
Strangely enough, the maker of the old Murano also designed the Infiniti FX, one of the coolest-looking SUVs to ever hit the tarmac. The impossibly purposeful front end and muscular sheet metal of the FX make the old Murano look like a moody rhino.
For the facelift, I hoped that Nissan’s design department would get some expert advice from Infiniti designers before they try to unleash the beauty in this beast. 
