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Nissan Cube
Review: If you woke up this morning and thought, "I want to drive a
crazy car," Nissan has built the perfect vehicle for you. It's called
the Cube. Aside from the obvious, the fact that you'll be driving a
square car with round windows, this thing is designed to be different
from anything else on the road today.
How many cars do you
know that have shag carpet on the dash? Or a headliner that's contoured
like the ripples on a pond? Or bungee cords on the doors for attaching
stuffed animals? Or footwell lights that change colors disco-style?
It's clear that people
who buy this car want to be different. While it's priced like any
ordinary compact car, starting a $13,990, there's nothing ordinary about
it.
The differences start
with its Kleenex-box body. The concept of a square car for young people
isn't particularly original, the Honda Element and Scion xB went down
this road years ago, but the Cube takes the shape to a different level.
While the overall shape
is definitely boxy, virtually every surface tapers to a rounded edge.
The windows are almost oval in appearance, while each of the straight
edges is gentle and curvy in execution. And, perhaps most noteworthy of
all, the back end is totally asymmetrical, painted on one side, glass on
the other.
Inside, you get the
feeling that the Cube is being different for the sake of being
different. All the strange things about it, the headliner, the lighting,
the shag carpet, don't necessarily make it a better car, but they do
make it a lot more interesting.
Underneath all the
weirdness is actually a good vehicle. It comes with a 1.8-liter engine
that makes 122 horsepower which, at least on my manual-transmission test
car, felt lively and peppy. I enjoyed driving this car more than I did
the Scion and Honda boxes.
That cubic shape, which
isn't ideal for driving through gusty winds, actually makes sense when
it comes to practicality. The Cube feels roomier and more livable than
most compact cars, with plenty of head and shoulder room thanks to the
upright dimensions.
Cargo space isn't
generous, but the back seat is. And, when you need to carry bigger
things, the seat easily flips forward to turn the Cube into a miniature
moving van.
Fuel economy is good
but not excellent, as you'd expect in a car with the same aerodynamic
profile as a shipping crate. It's rated for 30 mpg in town and 28 on the
highway when fitted with a continuously variable automatic transmission
and, interestingly, a little worse than that with a six-speed manual.
If you're looking for a
car to turn heads without spending much cash, then this is a good one.
Let's just hope those heads are turning for the right reason.
What was tested?
The 2010 Nissan Cube Base with a base price of $13,990. Options on the
test car: none. The total MSRP price as tested: $13,990.
Why avoid it?
Some people don't like the styling.
Why buy it? Its
wild styling and unique features appeal to people who want to be
different. And it's a practical, affordable, fun-to-drive commuter car
at the same time. By Derek Price © AutoWire.Net - San Francisco
The Bottom Line:
For a car called the Cube, you could be surprised to find all the
rounded shapes when you look closely. It's designed to turn heads at an
affordable price. The interesting styling extends inside the Cube, where
its boxy shape makes it feel bigger than it actually is, and the
interior design makes for plenty of head and shoulder room. The bottom
line is that the Nissan Cube offers a lot of car for the money.
Bottom Line
Review provided by: Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
“Tony the Car Guy”
is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay
Area. If you have a question or comment for Tony send it to
TonyLeo@pacbell.net or visit AutoWire.Net at
www.autowire.net
And remember: “ You Are
what you Drive ”
Nissan Home Page
Column Name: Boxy
Nissan tries hard to be different
Topic: The 2010 Nissan
Cube
Word Count: 726
Photo Caption: The 2010
Nissan Cube
Photo Credits: Nissan
Cube Internet Media
Series #: 2010 - 06
Download
the Microsoft Word version here:
2010 Nissan Cube
Download the Original Image File here:
2010 Nissan Cube
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