The Murano is typical of modern Nissans by being a pretty reliable thing by all accounts. The V6 engine, in particular, has a good reputation for trouble-free performance and is widely regarded as a tough unit capable of plenty of kilometres before needing major work.

However, in reality, the Murano has an on-demand all-wheel-drive system, meaning that for the majority of the time, it operates as a front-wheel-drive vehicle. The rear axle only engages when the vehicle detects wheel-slip or the engine is producing enough torque for the rear wheels to join in. That may or may not suit your needs, and it will all depend on what you expect from all-wheel-drive.

The major concerns for some buyers would revolve around the fairly complex driveline used in the Murano. That on-demand all-wheel-drive system used a coupling that engaged the rear axle when the conditions required it. That rear coupling can give problems, beginning with a clunking noise under load. The other concern is more of a general wariness of constantly variable transmissions (CVT) which have been known to have shorter lifespans than conventional gearboxes. That said, the Nissan's isn't a know hot spot for trouble, but it definitely needs to be inspected before money changes hands.

Perhaps the most important thing – as it is with any second-hand car – is the service record. If you can't find solid evidence of the correct preventative maintenance being carried out, the car could easily be a can of worms, regardless of make or model.

I can’t say for sure what has gone wrong with the car, a mechanic would need to assess it firsthand to be able to tell you that. But the transmission is a CVT, which can be troublesome, but it might be as simple as changing the oil, or it might be that it needs to be replaced.

I wouldn’t be buying a Murano that’s done a lot of kilometres without having the transmission assessed by an expert mechanic.

Electric vehicles will be more mainstream in 2-3 years time, but they won’t be anything like mainstream in that time. Getting the purchase price down is the key to electric vehicles becoming more popular. In your timeframe I would be still be thinking about a small petrol-engined vehicle, with a view to going electric the next time you change cars.