Jaw-dropping looks, surprising handling and headroom galore for Nissan cube
Published Thursday June 11th, 2009
The Nissan cube attracted such a huge amount of attention at the Auto Show circuit this year that it's hard to think of another affordable car that matches it. The Honda Element and Kia Soul come close, as does the Toyota Scion xB. The latter isn't on sale in Canada yet though, and cube remains the contender that arguably delivers the most gawk for the buck.
A concept-car shape like the cube's doesn't normally make it into production with such exaggerated proportions, though it's been popular in Japan for years.
Nissan's decided to bring the cube here. Away from the lights and crowds of the Auto Shows and on the streets of downtown Toronto Ontario, cube's strange, asymmetrical shape looks even more out of whack with its surroundings. It invites stares and comments without hesitation from everyone near it-- some good, some bad.
A police officer at a traffic light asked what it was. Some passersby wanted to know the price. Others curled up their lips and pointed out the 'weird' looking little rig to their nearby friends.
This is a car that Nissan's gearing towards a younger generation of shoppers who value uniqueness, utility and customizability. Cube's oddly shaped body conceals enough space for 5 passengers and some gear, plenty of storage spaces, and a unique, dynamic and youthful atmosphere.
Textures are mainly familiar-- except for the unique ripple-effect ceiling liner and speaker covers. As one of Nissan's designers put it, these are part of efforts to create a harmonious interior that occupants can 'chillax' in. No surprises with cabin plastics and assembly quality. These are right on par with the price range.
But there are surprises.
First, the interior space. Cube's short body, tall roof and ample windows generate a very commanding view of the road ahead with a striking amount of headroom. Even if your vertical proportions border abnormality, you'll probably be impressed. Cube feels more spacious inside than most will expect, and it almost borders on SUV territory.
Next, the handling. Given the exterior proportions, simply having the cube stay shiny-side-up when thrown into a curve may seem impressive. It goes beyond, though-- cornering flatly and taking direction through an energetic and sporty steering rack. The cube behaves considerably better than it looks like it should, even if drivers get a little enthusiastic.
Powering it all up is Nissan's 1.8 litre four cylinder engine. The most modern four-cylinder powerplant in the automaker's lineup, it delivers acceleration is on par with comparable models, and smooth operation even when pushed.
Shifting is handled by a standard six-speed manual. An Xtronic Continually Variable Transmission (CVT) is available too. With no gears to shift, it delivers seamless, step-less power to the front wheels.
Available equipment includes a Rockford Fosgate stereo system with a subwoofer, Bluetooth phone interface, and automatic climate control. Side airbags, side curtain airbags and stability control are all standard as well.
Dealers offer a full selection of accessories for further customization, including a shag dashboard accent, bungee tethers for additional storage and a special custom pouch to hold your iPod or cell phone. There's even an LED mood-lighting kit with 20 selectable colors.
Cube is on sale now, from just under $17,000. Head to your local Nissan dealer for a closer look.
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