2010 Nissan cube 1.8 S

Vital Stats

Engine: 1.8 liter I4 (122HP/127TQ)
Drivetrain Layout: Front engine/Front wheel drive
Transmission: CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
Seating Capacity: 5 Passengers
EPA Fuel Economy: 27 city/31 highway
Base MSRP $16,030 + $720 (destination charge)
Recommended Options: Interior Designer Package $230

The Basics
Way back in 1998, Nissan introduced the Cube in Japan to cover the gap between their smallest car (March/Micra) and the compact car (Sunny/Sentra). It was labeled as a mini-MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), and it sort of looked like a tiny minivan. Little did they know that the Cube would be a trendsetter for a whole new segment.

At first, the Cube wasn’t a big seller or did it stand out from the crowd all that much. It wasn’t until the 2002 model (the start of the second generation), that the Cube became sort of an icon in Japan. The second generation Cube is immediately recognizable as a Cube of today, and came in many variants and options. To compete with the Cube, Toyota created the bB (which was imported to US as Scion xB).

Today, the third generation cube (note the lowercase ‘c’) is imported to US to compete with the Scion xB and the Kia Soul.

Highs: Fun and practical exterior and interior design, smooth driving dynamics, high class interior materials
Lows: Not as fun to drive as the competitors

Similar Vehicles: Scion xB, Kia Soul, Nissan Versa

Exterior (Tae – 7.5, Andy – 9, Brendan – 4)
Tae – Think of a block of ice that’s been sitting in the sun for a few minutes, and that’s basically how the cube looks like – a two-box design with rounded off corners. Nissan says the cube’s front end was meant to resemble a Bulldog with sunglasses… and I definitely see that. But the signature styling element of the cube is its wrap-around asymmetrical rear window.

Andy – Do you want something that doesn’t look like anything on the market? The cube is it. Indeed, the wrap-around rear glass is a unique feature which adds to the cubes avant garde styling. Other interesting features include the low-mounted taillights and ‘bulldog-esque’ front end. Plus, there isn’t a true 90-degree line to be found. Like many of these ‘box cars,’ styling is a love-it-or-hate-it affair. I love it; it’s my favorite looking vehicle in the segment, in fact.

Brendan -  Old people will do double takes in disgust, teenage boys will give you enthusiastic thumbs up, and your trendy fixie will look great on the roof. I’ve seemed to have missed the memo on the box cars, and I do not see their design appeal, and the lines are as  soft as week old Jell-O. Humans love symmetry normally, and although the front comes across bland, the rear comes across forced and awkward. If unique is what you are shooting for, you’ll have it here in spades though.

Interior (Tae – 7.5, Andy – 8.5, Brendan – 8)
Tae – Nissan designers wanted to create a spa-like serene feeling, and they’ve succeeded for the most part. The ceiling (headliner) has a rippled effect, much like pebble thrown into a pond, as does the door speaker grilles. The dashboard has a double curve, making it feel airy and bright. Most of the interior materials are great stuff, just like the Nissan Versa (cube’s platform-mate). The front seats are comfortable, but the backseat was a little cramped.

Andy – Although Nissan may have been going for a spa setting, I tend to think of the cube’s interior more as a rolling nightclub than a spa. Its funky styling, available 20-color interior mood lighting, and comfortable seats are cool. And although the seats are indeed really comfortable (and patterned with a funky, modern print), they aren’t very supportive and don’t hold you in the corners very well. However, on long trips, they’re downright cushy—kind of like a plush lounge chair! Unfortunately, the rear seat does not fold flat, hindering it from hauling large amounts of cargo. However, it is comfortable for four adults and some baggage.

Brendan – While I may be at odds with the exterior, the interior is great. In typical Nissan fashion, everything falls to hand easily, doesn’t feel any cheaper than it has to, and it’s easy to see out of. There are a few “interesting” features like the circle of shag pile carpet you can tape to the dash, but it’s a very comfortable place to spend time. This segment doesn’t push sportiness very much, so I appreciate the lack of aggressively bolstered front seats, as the mostly flat cushions work well.

Drivetrain (Tae – 7, Andy – 7, Brendan – 7)
Tae – If you have driven a Nissan Versa, then you already know what the cube feels like. Smooth engine, smooth transmission (CVT has no physical gears), but no excitement. Keyword – smoooooooooooooooth.

Andy – Tae is right: The engine and drivetrain are smooth, but not terribly exciting or engaging. The CVT works well in this vehicle, and provides adequate power.

Brendan – Is there an echo in this review? Smooth, boring, and just enough power to not be annoying. Average is the best term.

Performance (Tae – 6.5, Andy – 6.5, Brendan – 6)
Tae – Although the power is adequate, because it is paired with a CVT, it feels slow. That could be good or bad, depending on your view. Also, the handling isn’t as crisp as the Kia Soul or even the Scion xB. But let’s get real – you are not going to buy one of these for performance or handling. So, for what it is, it does its job very admirably.

Andy – The cube isn’t a slouch, but it isn’t a track star, either. It doesn’t have any issues keeping up with traffic, but it doesn’t feel like a drivers’ car. Driving dynamics are not bad, just not outstanding. Fuel economy also is good, but not amazing (it’s EPA rated at 27 city, 31 highway); I did hit the EPA 27 in mostly city driving.

Brendan – There is a little friskiness to be had, but you never get the feel that it enjoys being driven hard. It does everything mostly correctly, it just doesn’t beg for more. Limits are a little lower than I would have expected, but given that this car is a tarted up basic commuter, there are no complaints other than the overly soft brake pedal.

Ride Quality (Tae – 8, Andy – 9, Brendan – 7.5)
Tae – This department is where the cube shines. Just outstanding, almost luxury car like – also much like the Nissan Versa. The cube is well composed over bumps and almost never jostles, the noise level is very good, and the drivetrain feels muted. If I had to pick out a daily commuter, purely based on comfort, the cube would be the top choice.

Andy –  This is definitely the cruiser of the segment, and it does this very well. The ride is quite soft, which is comfortable on the highways and around town. The tradeoff is the cornering. The cube leans a lot in the curves, and those comfy seats I talked about don’t hold you in place well. If I had to describe the ride in one word, it’d be ‘comfortable.’

Brendan – While the marketing guru’s for Nissan have a lame name for them, the “Ripple Control Shocks” do work as advertised. It takes quite a bit to get the cube upset, and if you do, it tends to calm down quickly. Most small cars would be much better if they paid more attention to how Nissan worked their magic on the suspension. Only issue I found was a certain section of a rough concrete freeway that got the whole car vibrating like a cheap motel bed.

Technology (Tae – 7, Andy – 7, Brendan – 6)
Tae – As is with all the competitors in this segment, most of the ‘optional’ equipment are standard. The iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, traction control system, steering wheel controls, and all safety gadgets are all standard. Sadly, the 1.8 S model has the standard audio and after a brief listening of it, I can only deem it as average quality.

Andy – Tae is 100% right. If you want all the tech options, you’ll need to step up to the SL or Krom (pronounced ‘chrome’) models. However, the S model will get you the safety features as well as decent standard features. FYI, the upgraded SL’s Rockford-Fosgate stereo is outstanding.

Brendan – Technology? In this segment? It’ll play your music, connect with your phone,  and let you unlock from a distance. Pretty standard fare all in all. I agree with Andy though, the Rockford-Fosgate stereo is great.

Value (Tae – 7.5, Andy – 8, Brendan – 7)
Tae – Coming in at under $17k, it’s roughly about the same price as the Scion xB and similary equipped Kia Soul +. The cube and the Soul offer a few things that Scion cannot, factory incentives and dealer discounts, for example. Since the value proposition is pretty high in this segment, they are pretty much a wash.

Andy – This vehicle is pretty much on par with its competition. My guess is the cube’s resale will be a lot better than the Kia Soul’s, and probably equal if not better than the xB’s. Plus, its engine and chassis are proven pieces (from the Nissan Versa), so reliability should be good, too.

Brendan – My rating is a little lower than my partners in Box rating crime due to the fact that this is a tarted up Versa for Sentra money. While it’s priced right against the direct competition, if style isn’t the most important factor, you can find the same for less money.

Overall (Tae – 7, Andy – 8, Brendan – 7)
Tae – The Nissan cube is an interesting quandary, I suppose you can call it the ‘Goldilocks’ effect. Is it the fastest? No. Is it the best handling? No. Is it the most affordable? No. Is it the largest? No. Everything about the Nissan cube is in the comfortable ‘Goldilocks’ middle. It is the quietest, the most comfortable, and the smoothest ride among the Box trio.

Andy – The cube is a comfortable cruiser with a good amount of standard amenities, and should hold its value. It isn’t an athlete, but it’s not supposed to be. The super-funky look isn’t for everyone, but it also isn’t supposed to be.  If you plan on buying a small car and have a long commute, it will be hard to beat the cube for overall comfort. I think this is one of the most unique cars on the market, and won’t drain your wallet at the pump, either.

Brendan – An all around, well executed, if quirky car. If you take the time to enjoy your own quirks and enjoy the fact that you are a little against the grain while still being wonderful in many regards, this might just be the perfect car for you.

-KF