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Here's a copy of an email I sent to the Herald Motoring journalist:
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Earlier in the year I decided to trade in my 4 year old X-trail for something more modern and luxurious. Nissan had a special on the Murano, and the dealer had one left at the discounted price of $55k.

Great, a luxurious new SUV with a smooth 3.5 L CVT engine. Very happy to have finally bought an expensive brand new vehicle.

But after having driven it for a few months, I have one really big bug bear. Why is it that most of the new vehicles on the NZ market need a hard, sporty suspension - what car journalists call tuned to NZ conditions? Why shouldn't a large luxurious SUV be smooth and comfortable on the road?

I have decided to try and sell privately my Murano, and have been looking at other new vehicles:

* Hyundai i45 - very smooth and comfortable ride (but the wife doesn't want a car, she wants a SUV)
* Hyundai Santa Fe - the new ones are very well appointed - but have NZ tuned suspension (i.e. hard)
* Nissan Qashqai - here's one that is comfortable to drive and handles well at the same time (but too small for our needs)
* Mazda CX5 GSX - great to drive, but bland
* Mazda CX5 Limited - well appointed, but the 19" wheels make it rather harsh compared to the 17" wheels on the GSX
* Hyundai ix35 - for a compact SUV it has a very hard suspension, no good for families.

Here is my question for motoring correspondents. Why is it for someone who drives 99% of the time around Auckland, do I need a vehicle with a hard suspension that you can throw around the corners at 100km on the open road? So many reviews praise vehicles that handle well for NZ conditions - i.e. hard uncomfortable ride.

Once I have sold my Murano, I have narrowed my new choice down to 2:

* Mazda CX5 Limited - but will ask dealer to swap wheels with GSX 17" alloys
* Hyundai Santa Fe - have asked dealer for a special order from Korea, with the standard Asian suspension.

P.S. I am not old, and I am not a JAFA. I just like to drive a normal comfortable car, as normal people do in USA and Asia.
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I did talk to Nissan - a guy from Head Office did come out and drive my Murano on the same road that I drive on (between Silverdale and Albany). He did acknowledge that the Murano became rather unsettled on uneven surfaces at 100kph, but could not offer any solutions.

It would be interesting to hear what the AA feels about modern cars.

Thank you
Phillip

What you are really talking about here is personal preference. You are absolutely correct in saying that cars with bigger wheels and sport suspension result in a firmer ride. On New Zealand course chip and ofter uneven surfaces, noise and a harsh ride can result and it certainly does not suit everyone.
Having said that, many New Zealand motorists don't like soggy feeling suspensions either, despite the quiet and soft ride. Some large SUVs with soft suspension and high profile tyres react badly on our undulating roads and can feel like you're riding around in a bouncy castle.
The reason why some manufacturers go to great lengths to tune their suspensions to our roads is to find a compromise between the overly harsh ride often found in European vehicles when driven on NZ roads - because European road surfaces tend to be different to ours, and the soft (some might say, bouncy) ride often associated with Asian and American vehicles.
Personally, I don't know that a softer suspension setting on a vehicle that is already relatively soft is the right thing to do, but as I said, it's personal preference. But I'd agree that doing a wheel swap from 19's down to 17's might give you the result you are looking for. I know someone who did this recently when purchasing a European SUV, and they're very happy with the result.
I'd also agree that the Mazda CX-5 feels better on New Zealand roads on smaller wheels, although some would argue that it's not as visually appealing. I'm sure the dealer would be happy to swap for you.
As far as the Santa Fe is concerned, perhaps opt for the 17" wheels on the base models, rather than the 18's and 19's on other models in the range.

Thanks for reply.

I am having adjustable shocks installed on my Murano next week.
Recently I had to drive up to Whangarei. On the open road, SH1 I found the ride firm but compliant, which was ok. However, once I got back onto the motorway between Silverdale and Albany - which is lumpy in places, the Murano became unsettled and was uncomfortable to drive.
Will be interesting to see how it drives next week.

P.S. I do find it amusing when a new vehicle is launched in NZ, and motoring journos get invited to drive it around the gravel roads of Central Otago. Not really helpful for someone like me who is looking for a round town family SUV.

It will be interesting to see if the shocks make a difference - I suspect they will, but as the saying goes, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating!
Regarding SUVs becoming unsettled on bumpy surfaces, this is usually because the suspension is too soft, not too hard, but again, the shocks may make the difference.
Please let us know how you get on.

Thanks, will let you know how I get on.

The guy at Autolign straight away identified the problem I am having. The initial reaction from the shocks on a bumpy surface is alright, its how it reacts afterward. Its like the shocks get very tense and react harshly to any minor bump immediately afterwards.

The new shocks should give better control over bumps without majorly softening the suspension.