Posts tagged do-all

Naturally, a lot of people are going to check out the Nissan Cube and assume that Nissan’s trying to one-up Scion’s boxy xB.  They might even think that Nissan’s done a pretty good job of that, considering the Cube’s eye-popping combination of square proportions with soft edges and its raft of interior features that are bound to appeal to younger buyers.

Hold the iPhone for just a second, though. The Cube isn’t a successful imitation, by a long stretch.  In fact, in some ways it could be considered to be the other way around, because while 2010 will be the Cube’s first year on sale in the U.S., it’s actually been available in Japan since 2002, predating Scion by two years.  The Cube that’s hitting North American shores now is actually the third generation of the model.

The name is appropriate; the Cube has had its corners pushed out to the very limits.  This isn’t an example of lazy styling, however; quite the opposite.  The Cube’s box-like silhouette is broken up by rounded windows and the wheel arches, and not much more.  Nearly every exterior feature on the Cube is rounded in fact, from the headlights and grille elements to the low-mounted taillights.  It looks bigger than it is; the wide grille and almost nonexistent rear overhang make the Cube look sizeable but squat.  The rear windows are asymmetrical, with trim giving the illusion that the rear glass wraps around to the right side of the car while retaining a traditional D-pillar on the left.  The standard fifteen-inch wheels are dwarfed by the Cube’s high side profile.  In the spirit of Scion’s factory-custom cars, Nissan’s also offering a limited-edition “Krōm” model, with unique exterior styling and sixteen-inch wheels.

The interior is equally untraditional.  The Cube is designed to maximize interior space, and the seating is designed to take maximum advantage of that.  The Cube seems to be as big as a minivan on the inside, and its huge windows make it an ideal sightseeing vehicle, should one be moved to take it on vacation.    The stadium-style rear bench seat adjusts fore and aft and feels like a couch, and legroom for passengers in back is generous.  Fold the rear seats and the Cube’s rear living area becomes a 58 cubic-foot cargo hold that’s accessed by a rear door that’s side-hinged instead of the traditional top-hinged liftgate.  When space is limited, the door has a “restricted-access” detent of about eight inches, enabling Cube owners to load groceries even when an inconsiderate driver has parked too close.  The dashboard is rounded, vertical and designed like furniture, with handy shelves, multiple cup holders and detachable bag hooks.

And don’t forget to look up; the Cube’s headliner is rippled with concentric rings, like the surface of a pond.  There’s plenty of style and personalization to be had as well, with over forty fun accessories available, including a twenty-color interior lighting kit, bungee-cord type cargo tiedowns that attach to the doors and “shag carpeting” for the dash.
The Cube can be outfitted to rival any of its boxy competitors, as well.  Bluetooth connectivity, keyless ignition, a Rockford Fosgate sound system with subwoofers and XM satellite radio are all available.
Unfortunately, the Cube’s mechanicals don’t live up to the promise of the radical styling.   A 1.8 liter four-cylinder provides power.  The DOHC engine is shared with the Nissan Versa, and output is a humble 122 horses.   This engine is geared more for fuel economy than spirited performance, but the Cube has enough power to get out of its own way (and that of the semi truck on the freeway on-ramp) and returns decent fuel economy, and that’s a big plus.  A choice of six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVT) is offered. The six-speed manual gives the Cube acceleration similar to the Scions and Kia Souls of the world–in short, this is not a car that’s going to stir the hearts of enthusiasts, but it’ll get you around town nicely enough.  At speed, its feeling of connection to the road is not unlike being in a blimp, right down to the drone from the engine.
Driving the Cube is like driving a small room, rather than a large car, and the A-pillars pushed way out to the corners heighten this impression.  It feels much larger than the vehicles it competes with, to the point that it’s a bit hard to maneuver in parking lots because you can’t tell where it ends, exactly.  Once you get used to it, the opposite is true.  The Cube is smaller than it feels, and gives the impression that there are parts of the car you can’t see when in fact, there aren’t.  A tight turning circle is handy for urban maneuvering.   There are no surprises in the suspension, which uses MacPherson struts up front and a torsion-beam rear.  Nissan’s “Ripple Control” shock absorbers don’t refer to the headliner; they help to reduce harshness over washboard surfaces.
A generous list of standard active safety equipment includes Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and traction control, as well as anti-lock brakes.  In spite of these, the Cube is a competent driver, but not much more.   Front, side and side-curtain airbags are standard equipment.
Cube prices start at $13,990 for the base Cube with a six-speed transmission.  Prices for the Xtronic CVT equipped Cube start at $15,690. Nissan’s new box is more striking than any current Scion, and even though its polarizing design hides a somewhat ordinary heart, the style’s the thing.  The Cube is unabashedly different, and that’s exactly what Nissan was aiming for.

Specifications:  All specs are for the 2009 Nissan Cube
Length:  156.7 in.
Width:  66.7 in.
Height:      65.0 in.
Wheelbase:  99.6 in.
Curb weight:   2884 lb.
Cargo space:   11.4 cu.ft. (seats up); 58.1 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Base price:  $13,990
Engine:   1.8 liter DOHC inline four-cyinder
Drivetrain:  continuously variable automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 122 @ 5200
Torque:  127 @ 4800
Fuel capacity:  13.2 gal.
Est. mileage:   28/30