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Nissan Cube Road Test and Review 2009
| Date: | February 3, 2011, 7:28 am |
| Name, Location: | Greg Childs, Phoenix AZ |
| Vehicle: | Nissan Cube |
| Year: | 2009 |
| Modification: | Springs, shocks, wheels, tires, intake, exhaust, paint |
| General comments: | Our 2010 Nissan Cube was purchased with the sole intention of being a "point A to point B" commuter and to promote http://www.cubedriver.com. Its price point, utility and fuel economy attracted us to the Cube, and it certainly hasn't disappointed. The more time we spent with our Cube, the more it endeared itself to us. Aside from the obvious benefit (or drawback, if you're socially shy) of attracting a lot of attention, other things started to stand out: The Cube is a remarkably well-handling car. While it may look clumsy due to its apparent height, the bulk of its weight is down low, and the Cube handles smartly. The steering is quick and light, and the Cube's turning radius is deceptively small. It's quite comfortable inside. The interior is handsome and funky, with unique touches you'd have to see to appreciate. The seats are padded with a very pleasing material, almost like memory foam. Adjustability of the seat height has a broad range, and even in the highest position, I still have plenty of headroom (I'm 1.9m tall). Shorter drivers will enjoy the in-command seating position. With the expansive glass cabin, visibility is amazing - it's like having a panoramic view of the road around you. The mirrors are enormous, and the driver's cupholder is brilliantly placed. The large rear doors open almost 90 degrees, making entry easy. Once inside, the reclining rear seats are just right, even for adult passengers. Acceleration is brisk, not aggressive. The CVT takes some getting used to, but it's efficient, and the Cube has no problem merging into swift traffic. Over the 32,000 km we've owned it, it's averaging 29 mpg US. The manual-transmission model is a bit more expedient, at the expense of rowing one's own gears. Overall, there's not much to dislike. Due to the flat roof and large windows, there's a lot of sun intrusion, especially when the sun is low in the sky - plan on tinting the glass. Obviously, with such an upright, boxy profile, the Cube is susceptible to stiff crosswinds at highway speeds, and wind noise from the large mirrors is notable. However, since so much of its time is spent in stop-and-go urban traffic, these are minor issues that haven't diminished our adoration for this unique and functional car. |
| Previous car: | 1995 Infiniti G20t |
| Contact: | show contact |