What's New for 2014
The 2014 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet gets two new exterior colors, redesigned wheels and a lower sticker price.
Introduction
On TV you'll often see infomercials
for oddball products you never knew existed or knew you even wanted.
The 2014 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet would likely qualify as just such
a thing. In fact, it's easy to come up with the ad dialogue: "Look at
this, Dan. It's an SUV and a convertible!" Unquestionably, the
Murano CrossCabriolet is an unexpected pairing of attributes, but for a
niche audience of consumers, it could hold some appeal.
Since it's related to the automaker's popular midsize Murano
crossover SUV, the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet has that SUV's increased
ride height plus all-wheel drive as standard. With these attributes in
place, this is one convertible that can be driven year-round, even in
northern latitudes where other ragtops spend the winter hibernating.
Nissan made a few modifications to support its transition to al
fresco motoring on the CrossCabriolet. In addition to the obvious ones
such as the loss of two doors, the addition of a power-folding soft top
and a two-person, rather than a three-person, rear seat, the Murano
CrossCabriolet has a number of hidden chassis reinforcements to
compensate for the rigidity lost when Nissan lopped off the metal roof.
Like the regular Murano, the CrossCabriolet has an upscale cabin
done up in rich-looking materials, including supple leather upholstery
and handsome wood trim. It also comes standard with a nice collection of
standard features, including xenon headlights, leather upholstery,
keyless ignition and dual-zone automatic climate control. 
Counterbalancing these strengths are a few weaknesses. Opening the
CrossCabriolet's two long doors can be an issue in tight parking
spaces. And compared with most other convertibles, not to mention the
regular Murano SUV, the CrossCabriolet feels rather ungainly: It's a
comfortable cruiser, but it's not the least bit sporty. Also, the
CrossCab's sticker price is still relatively steep, even though Nissan
has lowered the MSRP by a few grand this year.
In this price range, there are other convertibles to consider (the
Audi A5 and Chrysler 200 come to mind) and plenty of other SUVs.
There's also the Jeep Wrangler,
which is also a convertible SUV but vastly different in its mission
and appeal. In the end, there's really nothing quite like the 2014
Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, though you'll need a pretty specific set
of tastes to appreciate this convertible-crossover-SUV mash-up.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2014 Nissan Murano
CrossCabriolet is a midsize crossover convertible with seating for four
passengers. It's offered in a single very well-equipped trim level
with a list of standard features including 20-inch alloy wheels; xenon
headlights; foglights; heated outside mirrors; a power-operated
folding soft top; dual-zone automatic climate control; leather
upholstery; a power driver seat with memory settings; heated front
seats; keyless ignition/entry; cruise control; an auto-dimming rearview
mirror; Bluetooth phone connectivity; a rearview camera; and a
seven-speaker Bose audio system with CD player, satellite radio and
USB/iPod interface.
The options list is short; it includes upgraded leather upholstery
and a Navigation package that offers a voice-operated navigation system
with real-time traffic and Bluetooth streaming audio.
Powertrains and Performance
The Murano CrossCabriolet is powered
by a 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 265 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of
torque, both of which are up a tick from the version in the regular
Murano. The engine comes paired to a continuously variable automatic
transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive.
In Edmunds performance testing, the CrossCabriolet went from zero to
60 mph in 8.2 seconds -- just 0.3 second slower than the regular
Murano. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 17 mpg city/22 highway and 19 mpg
combined. Unlike the regular Murano, which takes regular gas, the
CrossCabriolet prefers premium fuel.
Safety
The 2014 Nissan Murano
CrossCabriolet comes standard with antilock disc brakes, traction and
stability control, front seat side-impact airbags, door-mounted side
curtain airbags and active front head restraints. Rollbars behind the
rear seats that automatically deploy in the event of a rollover
accident are also standard.
In Edmunds brake testing, the CrossCabriolet came to a stop from 60
mph in 124 feet, an average distance for an SUV-sized vehicle.
Interior Design and Special Features
The Murano CrossCabriolet's
passenger cabin is surprisingly roomy by convertible standards. Front
seats are comfortable and supportive, with a good amount of headroom
and legroom. Even the two rear seats are fine for adults. Getting back
there is pretty easy (as long as the windows are lowered), though the
doors are absolutely enormous, which makes tight parking lots a bit
tricky. 
The doors also open and close with a tinny, hollow thwack -- a
consequence of the CrossCabriolet's lack of a fixed roof.Build quality and materials are on par with many entry-level luxury
cars, and the Murano CrossCab's long list of standard features only
adds to the high-end feel. We also like the navigation system's
easy-to-use touchscreen interface. The power-operated soft top takes a
while to open or close, but it does a good job of keeping wind and road
noise at bay.
The CrossCabriolet trades away a good bit of its practicality for
the joys of al fresco motoring. With the top up, the trunk offers a
passable 12.3 cubic feet of cargo space. That's not bad for a
convertible, but it's considerably less capacity than a typical midsize
crossover SUV offers.Driving Impressions
The 3.5-liter V6 engine in the 2014
Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet provides both energetic performance and a
refined feel. The transmission does a good job of keeping the powerful
V6 in its sweet spot while sparing the CrossCabriolet's occupants from
the droning noises often associated with CVT-equipped vehicles.
Top-down driving in the Murano CrossCabriolet is relatively
hairdo-friendly, as there's surprisingly little wind buffeting for
front passengers. Nissan's drop-top crossover SUV rides comfortably,
too. Handling is less impressive, as the CrossCab's combination of
increased weight and reduced structural rigidity makes it less athletic
around turns than the regular Murano, as well as most other
convertibles. 
You'll also notice occasional vibration through the
steering wheel and the windshield header/frame, as there was only so
much the automaker's engineers could do to stiffen the Murano's body
after removing its fixed roof. If you're simply looking for a roomy
convertible for leisurely boulevard cruising, though, the 2014 Nissan
Murano CrossCabriolet should fill the bill just fine.