2010 Nissan cube - UrbanMoms

We loved this car. LOVED. IT. Quirky, funky, eye-catching and fun, the Nissan cube also delivers a heck of a punch in performance, comfort and storage. And with an affordable sticker price and crazy-good fuel efficiency, this might just be one of my favourite cars yet.

Model Tested: 2010 cube 1.8S

Key Competitors: 2010 Honda Fit, 2010 Scion xB (Toyota), 2010 Kia Soul

Price: starting at $17,398

Urban Mom’s Rating:

Urban Mom Tester’s Topline: Love. What else can I say? I was eager to drive the cube even before it arrived, and this funky, urban youth-oriented vehicle did not disappoint. It’s a great car for tall people (it’s actually taller than it is wide) with oodles of room to stretch out inside (both the front and rear seats will slide and recline), and has a lot more storage capacity than you might expect from what is, essentially, a small car.

This spunky and economical car would be a great choice for young urbanites or even families looking for a second vehicle. It’s not a luxury or status vehicle (although with its uber-modern design, you will capture a lot of attention), but it is a super-fun and smart vehicle for couples and families alike.

Urban Kid’s Tester Topline: The kids adored the cube, almost more than I did! They loved the hip design features and the great visibility from the wrap-around windows. The tiered and adjustable rear seats meant the end of “backseat syndrome” and we all enjoyed what Nissan calls the cube’s “loungy comfort”. While driving on the highway, my oldest remarked, “Mom, everyone’s checking me out,” because we drew so many admiring glances from other drivers.

Exterior Features and Style: We garnered a lot of looks and comments during our time driving the cube, with most of the attention being positive and curious. But as with all trendsetters, you either love it or you hate it, and we did encounter some folks who didn’t care for the cube’s well, cube-ness. This car is starkly unique – there are really only two other similar cube-like vehicles (the Scion and the Kia Soul) and neither has the same sleek, urban feel. The cube’s wraparound window gives it an element of asymmetry (not to mention added visibility) that just edges it right ahead of the pack.

Interior Comfort and Style: “Loungy comfort”, as Nissan describes it, sums up the interior of the cube. Because it is such a boxy vehicle, there is ample headroom (and for a tall family, that is a sweet feature!), as well as lots of additional interior space. This is an urban economy vehicle, though, so don’t expect posh leather upholstery and wood trim – just sleek modern materials and an eye to minimalistic comfort.

Storage: For a small car, I was amazed at the storage capacity. With the rear seats folded down, the cube boasts 70 cubic feet of storage. But even with the seats up and kids in the back seat, we easily fit 3 hockey bags in the rear storage area. Which adds up to a car that’s economical to drive and easy to park while also being able to shuttle the kids and their sports gear around. What else could a busy mom ask for?

Drive: With a 1.8-litre engine with 122 HP and 127 lb-ft of torque, the cube is a spunky and fun car to drive. The Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) adds peace of mind and I was very pleased with the fuel efficiency, which Nissan posts at up to 6.3 L/100 km on highway with available Xtronic CVT®

Bells and Whistles: Well, you won’t find a beverage fridge or DVD player in the cube, but it does have an available Interface System for iPod® and Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System which we put to great use with my iPhone while on longer highway drives. In keeping with the urban hipster spirit of the cube, the interior is customizable, with some wild colour trim options and even mood lighting!

Comments

bonniesmith says

December 12, 2010 at 8:18 am

Guys I think the review is overly positive but not too overboard, IMO the car is average. However, I must admit I only test drove it about 2-3 times before my youngest thought about buying it. He didn’t like some of the features, neither do I to be honest, it was a bit bumpy and sluggish on the gas. But it does look cool haha 🙂
Bonnie Smith
COO/Director FXP
http://www.forexpulse.com