What is it?
2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
What's special about it?
There are vehicles that aim directly for the center of the population and others that purposely shoot for the fringe. Then there are vehicles like the 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet.
It has no obvious customers. It is not meeting a need in search of an answer. No, this soft-top crossover is most certainly taking a shot at the unknown. Maybe there are well-off buyers out there looking for a four-seat convertible that also has all-wheel drive and a reasonably sized trunk. And maybe those people don't want to give up the high-riding seating position they've become so accustomed to over the last decade or so. Or maybe they don't exist at all; that's Nissan's problem now.
There's really not much to explain that the name doesn't already tell you. This is a convertible version of the Nissan Murano. There is a retractable soft top that buries itself behind the second row if you feel the need to get a little more air than your average sunroof can provide. It's strictly a four-seater, so a small sliver of its SUV utility has been removed in the name of comfort.
The CrossCabriolet will sit at the top of the Murano lineup, as every model will come loaded with features like HID headlights, 20-inch wheels, leather seats and wood trim. All models will be all-wheel drive as well. The same 265-horsepower V6 that powers all other Muranos is standard along with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Sales begin in the spring of 2011.
Inside Line says: It'll either be a colossal failure or a surprise success. Either way, it's a gamble on something different. Can't blame Nissan for trying. — Ed Hellwig, Editor
Add A Comment »
sileroy says:
07:49 PM, 09/17/2011
I bought this car and traded it in. I was temporarily caught up in the concept. After trying to live with the car I cried uncle at 3 weeks and 1,520 miles.
The car was like driving a barn sideways through a windstorm.
The back seat access was unbearable. For starters the doors are so large and most parking spaces prevented the being opened wide enough for passengers. Second the front seat releases do not work well.
The car shutters and creaks through mild turns and corners. Perhaps, a motorized barn would be better. And, hey, another new niche for Nissan.
bigalgreen says:
03:13 AM, 09/01/2011
I agree that it does have a unique look to it. However, being somewhat tall, and wanting to ride high, like an SUV, and wanting a convertible... it is the ideal vehicle. It was such a good fit, I bought mine yesterday. Enjoy it. Tx to Nissan.
runreb211 says:
10:51 AM, 11/29/2010
I actually like the idea of a car like this. However, the Wrangler is pretty much the only vehicle that has been able to pull this idea off consistently. I think there may be a market for this, but that would be a market consisting of about 33 people.
gloss says:
06:42 AM, 11/22/2010
I personally think the Juke has some endearing qualities and the Acura ZDX is a pretty striking vehicle, but ye gods is this thing a paper-bagger. What were these guys thinking?
bruceleroy81 says:
09:05 PM, 11/21/2010
Okay yeah okay....yeah...okay! I maybe a Nissan fan , but WTF is that? If anycase, I 'll say...eh...It's okay..................LMFAO l-D....But even as a Nissan fan, I will not defend this one...LOL. Sorry!!! For the same money, I think I'll take a G37 Coupe over this thing (AKA Nissan Skyline GT370).
shelbyturboz says:
05:10 PM, 11/21/2010
WOW and i thought the juke was ugly but this thing takes the cake. There is a saying "jack of all trades master of none". all the new car companys seem to be doing this.
6sptl says:
04:12 PM, 11/21/2010
WTF??????
IS nissan trying to out do the Acura ZDX in the contest for useless car of the century?
g33t33b33 says:
12:37 PM, 11/20/2010
The answer to the question no one asked.
kjgood says:
11:24 AM, 11/19/2010
OK, let me get this straight. Nissan takes a vehicle that is arguably already a "combination concept", i.e., a crossover, then adds yet another concept. Is this crossover 'vert now a "cross-crossover"? No point in stopping now - why not see if a pickup truck bed can be integrated into another variant of this design. We could then add yet another pointless, useless capability with the Nissan Murano CrossConvertablePickup. The possibilities are endless!
Yet another answer to a question no one was asking. And for good measure, while they were at it, they beat it with Nissan's current ugly-stick design approach.
zrated says:
08:17 AM, 11/19/2010
Nissan should be able to sell at least a dozen...WHO is the target market?