2009 Nissan Cube
by Jim Prueter -04/2009

Good things come in a small box

Nissan’s quirky looking Cube might just be the weirdest looking car to grace American roads since Pontiac Aztek or the AMC Pacer.

But this aerodynamic anomaly has been nothing short of a smash hit in Japan, where it was originally introduced in 1998. Aimed at the Gen Y, Echo Boomer, Millennial or what ever you call the almost-ready-to-buy-my-first-car set born between 1980 and 1990, we’re guessing Nissan “gets it” in the same way Toyota got it with the boxy Scion xB, Apple with the iPod and iPhone, Nintendo with the Wii and everyone wearing sandals to the senior prom.

During our three-day test drive in the Cube, we didn’t have even one person describe it as “beautiful.” Certainly not in the same sense as when we tested the Audi R8 or Aston Martin Vantage, when people literally chased us down, cell phones out the window snapping pictures and shouting choruses of “beautiful car, man.”

But the Cube wasn’t meant to be beautiful, rather it was meant to resonate with the Echo Boomers who value function over aesthetics. And, to that end the Cube scores high marks with cool features like detachable “Magic Rubber Bands” along the front doors that can hold things like iPods, maps, nametags, photos, and other loose items. There’s a plate-sized piece of shag carpet atop the dash where I left my sunglasses, a back seat designed like a sofa that slides fore and aft with reclining seat backs that fold forward (but not flat) for ample cargo space (56 cubic feet), with a deep well behind the seat.

Interior room is deceptively large with a windshield that seems too far away, a curving dash that has the best execution of hard plastic we’ve seen in any vehicle at any price. I’m 6-foot-6 and could have worn a top hat and still not interfered with the headliner.

We liked the unexpected touches like the lighted “Cube” on the doorsills and the rock-in-the-pond ripple effect of the headliner. The same look is repeated on the speakers, bottom of the cup holders and exterior trim behind the rear doors. Other “cool” touches include mood lighting — with 20 customizable colors lighting the foot wells and cup holders — keyless entry with push-button start, suede-like seat fabric, and a wrap-around rear window replacing the passenger-side rear pillar on the refrigerator-style opening rear door. We do think the door could be a hindrance, as it requires more clearance behind the vehicle to open.

On the road, the engine performance reminds you that this is an economy car, yet accelerator response is adequate and getting up to expressway speeds isn’t a white-knuckle experience. Still, a few more ponies under the hood would be welcome. Brakes are strong, steering on the light side, ride quality comfortable and visibility decent. A very tight turn radius makes parking a snap.

On a very windy commute the boxy design fought a losing battle with the airflow; the Cube rocked like a tanker on the North Sea. Wind shears buffeted the Cube, slapping it around with each gust. Thankfully, the roads were dry and not icy or snow-covered. Thoughtfully, Nissan includes stability control as standard equipment in the base price.

Other standard safety features include the Nissan Advanced Air Bag system, seat-mounted driver and front-passenger side-impact air bags, and roof-mounted curtain side-impact air bags for front and rear-seat occupant head protection. Cube also includes standard front-seat active head restraints, traction control, anti-lock braking system, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.

The Cube is built on Nissan’s B-platform chassis, the same used for Versa and Sentra. It will come in three trim levels: 1.8, 1.8 S, and 1.8 SL. All three are powered by the same 122-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a new-generation Nissan Xtronic continuously variable automatic transmission. Fuel economy is expected to be over 30 mpg, highway.

While Cube will grab the attention of youthful drivers, Nissan officials expect older consumers will take to them as well, as they did with Scion xB and Honda Element.

With Cube, Nissan joins xB and the recently introduced Kia Soul in the growing segment of affordable and innovatively styled boxy vehicles. Cube has excellent bang-for-the-buck value and a coolness factor that should appeal to the target demographic. We like what Nissan has done here, offering a distinctive design spirit, clever styling and surprising functionality — all at a bargain price.