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2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet (photos)

One of the oddest inventions from Nissan, the CrossCabriolet starts off as a Murano SUV, but then gets its roof removed. The result is a convertible with a high seating position, a unique, but not pretty, concoction.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
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1 of 21 James Martin/CNET

The Murano CrossCabriolet is a strange vehicle: an SUV convertible. Based on a high-trim Murano, the CrossCabriolet version gets a V-6, all-wheel drive, and a continuously variable transmission.

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2 of 21 James Martin/CNET

The front of the car looks just like any other Murano, but its profile gets weird. A normal Murano has a hatchback, but this one has a trunk, designed to hold the soft top.

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The engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 using variable valve timing to produce 265 horsepower. That output is not impressive these days, as other manufacturers exploit direct injection and forced induction.

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4 of 21 James Martin/CNET

Where the Murano CrossCabriolet claims a unique character is its open top and high riding position. It is an interesting way to look out at the world. The rear seat is spacious for a four-seat convertible.

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The power folding top hides itself away in the trunk when not in use. When up, it does not wholly insulate the cabin from wind noise.

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The suspension is tuned for a soft ride, suitable for open-top cruising.

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7 of 21 James Martin/CNET

The Murano's standard all-wheel drive is biased toward the front wheels, as the Murano is a front-wheel-drive platform. But the system has a differential lock button, useful for particularly slippery road surfaces.

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8 of 21 James Martin/CNET

With the top folded down, the trunk space is somewhat compromised.

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The rear seats are configured as two buckets, rather than a bench. The Murano CrossCabriolet is designed specifically for a maximum of four passengers.

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The only options available for the Murano CrossCabriolet are dealer-installed accessories. All the factory equipment, including navigation, is included.

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11 of 21 James Martin/CNET

The steering feel is very neutral in this car, relatively easy to turn without being overboosted.

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12 of 21 James Martin/CNET

Because of the continuously variable transmission, the shifter is set up very simply. In addition to Drive and Reverse, there is also a Low range for hill descents.

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The cabin tech interface works very easily, the large center dial making it easy to choose menu items. The LCD is also a touch screen, adding to the methods of selecting cabin tech features.

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The hard-drive-based navigation system includes some 3D-rendered buildings to use as landmarks in urban areas.

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Zagat reviews are included in the points-of-interest database, making it easy to find good restaurants.

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Traffic data is used by the navigation system to dynamically adjust routes.

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Weather data is included in the cabin tech suite, and the system will automatically display weather alerts.

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The Bluetooth phone system not only reads a paired handset's contact list, but also includes a vehicle phone book.

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The car includes a number of audio sources, from iPod to USB to the internal hard drive. The music library interface is easy to use.

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XM Satellite Radio shows graphic icons for channels, and has a feature that lets you bookmark the current artist or song so it can alert you if that artist or song is playing on another station.

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Nissan has one of the best rearview cameras around, as it includes distance and trajectory lines.

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