Thread: Driven: Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

We have to give it up to Nissan for bucking the trend and offering a convertible SUV. The concept behind the Murano CrossCabriolet isn’t new. The Jeep Wrangler comes with soft-top and so did the Land Rover Defender of the mid-90s. But those cars are undeniable different in a can’t-quite-put-a-finger-on type of way. Nissan calls it the world’s first crossover convertible and we will agree that it is like no other crossover or SUV on the road.

Unfortunately, to create the CrossCabriolet, Nissan had to re-engineer Murano to the point that it is nothing like the four-door SUV except in name and face. The transformation meant creating new front doors and eliminating the rear doors and B-pillars. The front doors are 7.9 inches longer and may help ingress/egress but they swing wide and are heavy, reminding us of the doors on the old GM-produced F-bodies of the 90s. The lack of rear doors is disappointing as well. Part of the practicality of an SUV comes from allowing the rear passengers to enter and exit on their own or the ease of putting a child down in his or her car seat, but the CrossCabriolet takes away those conveniences. The backseat offers decent headroom and houses comfortable chairs although it is a little slim on legroom. We also found storage space in the rear trunk to be rather small, a problem exacerbated by a divider that needs to be in place in order to put the top down.

Follow the jump to read more about the 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet.



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Wow I just saw this car locally a few days ago and didn't think it was a production model. Looks really great.

why? just why? How useless can a car really gets? A cabriolet SUV. I always thought that people bought SUVs for their practicality.

i just puked

It is definitely different. Unique yes? Ugly no.

Originally Posted by NickS4power

i just puked

I had to swallow mine.

Not even close to being in my tea cup.

Saw one today and was shocked it was real. I absolutely loathe it.

Originally Posted by Dotre

why? just why? How useless can a car really gets? A cabriolet SUV. I always thought that people bought SUVs for their practicality.

Saw this in a magazine just yesterday thinking WTF? These niche cars are getting out of hand.

Sort of missing the point of convertibles here. They are suppose to be joyous to drive and ride in.