Nissan’s first convertible crossover would, unsurprisingly, be its final.
Within the case of the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, it’s straightforward to play armchair quarterback. In spite of everything, who was asking for drop-top crossover?
What was the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet?
CrossCabriolet Use Case
However we will see a use case, maybe as rental autos in trip areas (assume Tampa), or for seniors residing out their golden years in a gated group in Arizona or Florida. And, who’s to say that common commuters would thoughts dropping the highest after work on a pleasant day?
Anyway, Nissan noticed the potential, and delivered to market a folding-top model of its trendy Murano midsize crossover. The remaining, as they are saying, is historical past. Let’s evaluation that historical past…
Convertible Crossover
Nissan marketed the Murano CrossCabriolet as “the world’s first all-wheel-drive crossover convertible.” Whereas their early merchandise had been actually vans and never crossovers, we expect the oldsters at Jeep would possibly discover the declare doubtful.
Murano Roots
Provided between 2011 and 2014, the CrossCab was a 2-door rework of the twond-generation Murano. Typical Muranos got here solely with 4-doors.
Costs and Manufacturing
Costs started at $44,000, which was excessive relative to the hardtop Murano. And whether or not or not we may see a use case for the drop-top Murano, the shopping for public couldn’t. In the course of the car’s four-year manufacturing run, simply 6000 had been produced, a lot of which had been offered with the help of huge money incentives. Gross sales peaked at about 3700 models in 2012, and fell off after that.
Assessment
In our personal testing, Shopper Information discovered the CrossCabriolet to undergo from pretty pronounced physique flex and quake over tough street surfaces, although the 260-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 offered loads of clean energy.
Automated Prime
Roof operation was absolutely automated, and the cabin properly designed and upscale feeling.
Rarity
At present the CrossCabriolet is a rarity with a small however cultish following. Supreme parade automobiles, clear examples may be discovered for as little as $10,000, although gross sales as excessive as $15,000 have been reported.
CG Says:
Of all of the trade’s best-remembered failures, we discover the CrossCabriolet to be extra of a failed experiment than a real crash-and-burn occasion. The advertising and marketing mistake that was Edsel, now that was epic. However the CrossCabriolet? Nissan’s convertible crossover is greatest remembered as a gentle market miscalculation, like Clear Pepsi, or McDonald’s pizza.
Per Nissan, “The Murano CrossCabriolet supplies a novel, all-season perspective on driving because the world’s first all-wheel drive crossover convertible.” Sadly, patrons didn’t appear to wish all that perspective.
Hearken to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet Footage
(Click on under for enlarged photographs)
