I recently got a chance to test drive the Nissan Cube. This five door city vehicle has quite a few things going for it with funky lopsided looks and plenty of space for four adults to sit comfortably. The Cube has been a best seller in Japan for years on the city car scene and a favorite of the those who want a car that stands out while still being practical. Nissan had a lot of time to perfect the Cube before bringing it to the U.S. market and this explains why it feels more refined than the Scion xB.
Nissan has done a great job on the practical side of things on the Cube. Visibility on the Cube is great with its wrap around rear window just over the driver's shoulder and a higher seating position than I was expecting giving you a clear view of the road. The cargo area is sufficient for most needs and you can fold down the rear seats for even more room. The 1.8 S comes equipped with a Bluetooth hands-free phone system and iPod interface with wheel mounted controls so it feels much more intuitive. There is such a great sense of space inside the Cube and the interior feels much more spacious than you would expect from such a small car.
The Cube I tested came equipped with the Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) and when mated to the 1.8 liter engine had sufficient power for a small car. The acceleration was adequate for a car its size and the ride was comfortable. The seats and suspension were quite good at evening out the bumps on all the road work I made a point of traveling through. The Cube's turning radius is very tight and well suited to city driving. So while you may not win any races between the lights you will arrive at your destination in comfort and with a bit of style.
The Cube is a great little runabout for the city dweller on the go. It's safe with a five star crash test rating and all the airbags you could ever need. Nissan have also made the Cube very economical with a fuel consumption rating of 27 in the city and 31 on the highway with many owners claiming a 33 mpg average. So if you are in the market for a small, safe, economical city car with plenty of space and character you may want to consider the Cube.
Sources: Internet, Nissan
As a people mover, it is probably okay. As a hip icon such as the VW Beetle, the Mini, the Morris Minor, the T-Model Ford, etc. it falls short. It does however, seem to be the natural evolution of Iacocca's mini-van.
ReplyDeleteOhh you seems to be a lucky one for getting a chance to go for a test drive in this lovely model of Nissan.
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