A convertible crossover?! That’s right, Nissan has created a brand-new class of car. The 2012 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is a 2-door 4-passenger crossover SUV on the underside married to a soft-top convertible.

Aimed at a female luxury buyer that likes to drive around town topless yet not feel vulnerable, this Frankenstein seems to have an equal amount of positive and negative traits. (Okay, maybe that descriptor isn’t fair—it’s not that monstrous-looking, more like Bride of Frankenstein.)

This bride comes with all the trimmings on one level, based on the hard-top Murano LE, which includes 20-inch wheels, heated seats and a wood-and-leather interior. Two doors have been shed, and an aqua tint dubbed Caribbean has been added for a more “feminine” touch. The navigation package has been shifted to an option, lowering the price point as this vehicle tries to find its footing in the marketplace.

The CC has all the safety features of the regular Murano, plus dual pop-up roll bars and supplemental curtain airbags to make up for the soft top.

Under the hood, a 265-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine with 248 lb-ft of torque is wed to a continuously variable transmission and AWD. This gives it juice, but even the kindest reports say there's not a lot of sport. And its suspension leaves something to be desired; like the Princess and the Pea, the tiniest bump on the road can cause a whole lot of discomfort in the cab. The interior itself is bland, if not drab. Sure you have the wood paneling you expect to find in a luxury trim, but that’s about it.

The good? The high-riding seats will make anyone driving feel like a prince(ss)—getting in and out of the front is a snap, and the tan convertible top with its glass sunroof is rugged and sexy. The bad? Getting in and out of the back, especially with the top up, is not very lady-like. And storage space? As the Real Housewives of New Jersey might say: Fuggedaboudit. With the top up, you get 12.3 cubic feet; capacity drops to less than 8 with the top down.

In only its second year, the CrossCabriolet does have a ways to go before it can be fully embraced. Still, Nissan may be on to something. Driving around at certain speeds (a parade, perhaps?) is pleasurable, and there’s plenty of head and shoulder room for waving at the inevitable gawkers.