2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet: What's New

Vehicle Overview

The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is a first: a convertible crossover that has four seats, including a roomy backseat. Though it’s based on the midsize Murano, the CrossCabriolet’s starting price of roughly $47,000 exceeds that of any Murano hardtop. The crossover ranges from a base of less than $30,000 to just below $40,000 in the top trim level with all-wheel drive and no options. The CrossCabriolet has no direct competitors, though some might argue it’s in the same family as the Jeep Wrangler — another four-wheel-drive truck with a removable soft-top.

Exterior
The CrossCabriolet has the same overall length and width as the Murano, and although it’s almost an inch lower at the roofline, it can’t help but look like the largest convertible you’ve ever seen. The door count is reduced to two, and the B-pillars are gone. The powered soft top has a skylight above the backseat, letting light in even when the top’s up. The top comes in tan or black.

Twenty-inch wheels with all-season tires are standard equipment, as are xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights.

Interior
The CrossCabriolet is based on the Murano’s highest trim level, the LE, so it has leather seats with front seat heaters and eight-way power adjustment for the driver. Rocker switches atop the front-seat backrests move them forward to ease backseat entry.

Although the CrossCabriolet is based on a crossover, its trunk is relatively small. It measures 12.3 cubic feet, which is comparable to a subcompact or compact sedan. When the top is down, the trunk volume drops to 7.6 cubic feet.

Standard features include keyless access and ignition, heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, navigation system, backup camera, Bluetooth connectivity, HomeLink universal remote control and a Bose stereo with a 9.3-gigabyte hard drive, iPod interface and XM Satellite Radio (subscription sold separately).

Under the Hood
The Murano has a 265-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine. It powers the standard all-wheel drive through a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Safety
The CrossCabriolet comes with six airbags, starting with the frontal pair. Side-impact airbags are incorporated into the front seats for torso protection, and curtains also deploy from the doors to provide head protection. These side airbags don’t shield the rear seats.

Four-wheel antilock disc brakes and an electronic stability system are standard. For rollover protection, active roll bars remain out of sight behind the backseat and deploy only if the vehicle tips.