2010 Nissan Cube: Hip to be square

It's not everyday a car manufacturer thinks outside the box...by building a box.

October 30th 2009, by Michael Banovsky

Initial thoughts
In short: the Nissan Cube is great. It looks like a Tamagotchi, drives like a miniature Cadillac, and accelerates like a panda bear. Your friends will laugh, but the $17,000 cube is one of the best vehicles on the market and I think its the epitome of cool.
Think of the Cube like you would an iPod not exactly an attractive form factor but deeply rewarding and functional to use. With its enthusiastic, "inspired by a bulldog wearing sunglasses" face and asymmetrical rear, at first glance the Cube looks more like a punchline than a car. That feeling quickly changes as you start to delve deeper into this square thats squared.


Performance
Performance? Not much. Its stats are underwhelming: 122 horsepower 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual or CVT gearbox, and fuel economy around 7.3 L/100km city, 6.5L/100km highway mpg. A Chevrolet Cobalt will do better. This car is not about performance.


Ergonomics / comfort / Quality
Somehow, it doesnt matter. The cube is about more than numbers and stoplight drag racing. It manages what few small cars can: it drives like a much larger car. From comfy, posh, foam-padded seats to a supple suspension, the Cube nips through traffic like a Smart car and floats over bumps like your grandfathers Buick. Theres splendour in the details too. Look at how the window frames are artfully curved, like a picture frame surrounding its passengers. And how the side of the car isnt flat but bows out, like a muffin top over too-tight jeans. The rear door, too, swings out so one side which helps quick curbside loading after a vicious breakup. Its been designed to look like this; and while a Ferrari is designed to go fast, the Cube is designed to be a useful small car that will get attention. Thoughtful features include AUX MP3 player connectors that are standard on all models, while available technology includes the "Nissan Intelligent Key" with push button start, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, Rockford Fosgate subwoofer with six speakers, XM satellite radio, and an iPod interface. The Cube is built in Japan, too so quality shouldnt be a concern.


Functionality / usability
Inside, the rear seat slides forward and backward, reclines, and swallows my 6'2" frame without gnashing my knees on the seat in front. Nissan designers say that the inside was inspired by a 5-seat hot tub, and while you have to pay extra for the mood lighting that cycles through the color spectrum, I see what they mean. The dash is curved like the steps of a hot tub, and even the headliner is moulded to look like a drop of water. No vulgar sporty pretensions here. Oh, and with the rear seats folded, the cube becomes a small U-Haul on four wheels. Safety-wise, all Cubes get safety features like traction control, vehicle stability control, brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, and ABS. If the box gets crumpled, six airbags should keep you safe.


Conclusion
You may not like how the Cube looks, so Nissan will gladly sell you a Versa instead, but this is one design that offers much more than its styling and its a welcome addition to the hoards of humdrum compacts on our roads.>

StriperSS wrote:

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I think what we're seeing these days, is that cars are styled by people who really don't like cars. Vehicle design crosses over now with appliance design, pen design, and almost anything else todays latte sipping, pot smoking designers can think of. The Cube and other similar vehicles look a lot like the toaster I have sitting on my counter at home. It makes great toast, but I wouldn't want to drive it.

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