Her and His Reviews
October 2010
2010 Nissan Cube 1.8 SL
There are always two sides to everything, right? Well, the truth is there are many more than that!
To keep our car reviews innovative and well-rounded, we are providing you with not just one, but two points of view on the same exact vehicle –
Her and His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate,women-drivers.com
His: Chuck Kerber, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| Anne | Chuck |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| MSRP:$20,170 | MSRP:$20,170 |
| Performance | |
| 1.8 Liter DOHC 4-cylinder, 122 Horsepower, Font Wheel Drive and Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
The 2010 Nissan Cube is unique - and, with a most interesting design. This 'new' category of vehicles receives polarized feedback from customers; frankly, the more I drove it the more the look started to grow on me. Be clear, with 122 horsepower the Cube gets out of the gate slowly and this microvan does not fast track you to your destination; however, it does get you there. The Cube's drive on the highway is comfortable and steady. With its quirky, boxy design, while getting 31 mpg, the cabin noise is very loud. Font wheel drive keeps this car under control in inclement driving conditions. |
1.8 Liter DOHC 4-cylinder
122 Horsepower and 127 Ft. Lbs. of Torque CVT Transmission, Front Wheel Drive The 2010 Nissan Cube is a painfully slow vehicle. Plant your foot on the gas, and you're moving at a snail's pace... getting onto the highway could pose a challenge. Make sure there are no other vehicles coming before you attempt to merge. Handling in this boxy car is surprisingly nimble. The power-assisted steering and independent front struts with stabilizer bar make for sprightly road management. The small and light-weight Cube hugs the curves. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 27 MPG City, 31 Highway | 27 MPG City, 31 Highway |
| The Car | |
| The Cube has appeal to college students and younger drivers. Its affordability (base price is $17, 130) and look slant it more female base. Now, younger women and moms who steer away from the mini vans, have a more hip alternative to the classic Rav4 or Honda CRV.
Handling is moderate and loose, while the turning radius is fantastic. The car seats five (5); there are plenty of cup holders and seat adjustability/reclining for all. The integrated armrests on the front doors are made of a lightweight-type micro suede fabric-the wearability of this fabric is unknown and could be problematic with time. Why have just one driver side arm-rest or one integrated pocket in the back seat? Those little amenities are inexpensive, and leave a consumer asking 'why is the other one missing'? |
The Cube is not a pretty car to look at -- at least, not in my opinion. The obtuse lines, boxy design, and interior are over-exaggerated, and often lead to scowls, and "what is that?" from observers when I was out and about. The Cube is just that- a square conundrum of a car, with very little design cohesiveness. |
| Safety | |
| For an entry level price point, the Cube has ample safety features including: Advanced Air Bag System, Seat-Mounted Driver and Front Passenger Side-Impact Supplemental Air Bags and Roof-Mounted Curtain Side-Impact Air Bags.
Also included is the 4-wheel Anti Lock Brakes, traction control, vehicle immobilizer system, security system and tire pressure monitoring system. |
Nissan Advanced Air Bag System
Seat-Mounted Driver and Front Passenger Side-Impact Supplemental Air Bags Roof-Mounted Curtain Side-Impact Air Bags Front and Rear Seat Outboard Occupant Head Restraints (AHR) 3-Point Seat Belts for all five (5) Seating Positions 4-Wheel ABS Traction Control Vehicle Dynamic Control Tire Pressure Monitoring System Vehicle Security System Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System |
| Technology | |
| With the demographics of the Cube, connectivity in this vehicle is a must. Included in our car are: Bluetooth hands-free phone system, wheel mounted audio controls, I-pod connector, Keyless starter, AM/FM Stereo System with 6 Speakers and Robert Fosgate Sub-Woofer, MP3 CD Rom playback capacity and XM Satellite Radio. 12 Volt DC power outlet.
Interior Illumination Package allows drivers to switch night driving from techno lime, orange, yellow, purple, etc. |
Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System
Speed-Sensitive Volume Control Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls AM/FM Stereo System with 6 Speakers and Robert Fosgate Sub-Woofer I-pod Interface connectivity Nissan Intelligent Key XM Satellite Radio Interior Illumination Package |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| As mentioned, the design of the Cube receives polarized responses. There is more visibility or window space in this car than in your nearest skyscraper. With all visibility, there is no option, nor a need, for a sunroof.
Roomy interior is spacious with good leg room as the front/back seats are adjustable. The Cube has some highly visible 'circular' design elements. The controls for audio/heat touch points are on a circular mounted format. The dash has a bizarro shag carpet, velcro-attached topper. It has no reason to be there and after asking six 20-somethings what they thought about this item, they just didn't get it. Nor, the bungee-cord door handles - I surmised these doubled as sling shot apparatuses. |
The styling of the Nissan Cube is... interesting. The boxiness is reminiscent of, well, nothing I have ever seen before. It's hard to love the design of a car with so many "in your face" shapes and non-linear curves. For example, in the center of the dashboard lays a round piece of shag carpeting- completely non-functional, I was never aware of what it was for. There are large straps on the doors that enable the driver to grab on to... just in case the/she would prefer to use them instead of the regular handle.
Even though the Cube appears small from the outside, it's very spacious inside, with ample seating for five (5) adults. Leg room is sufficient, and there are plenty of cup holders for your Gatorade or Starbucks. |
| Warranty | |
| 36-month/36,000-mile limited vehicle coverage and a 5-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain coverage. Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) has a 10-year /120,000 mile CVT limited warranty extension. | Every Nissan is backed by a 36-month/36,000-mile limited vehicle coverage and a 5-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain coverage. 2003-2010 Vehicles equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) also have a 10-year /120,000 mile CVT limited warranty extension. (For complete information, see your Nissan dealer and read the actual limited warranty.) For extra protection, you can also add Security+Plus®, the only extended service agreement approved by Nissan. |
| Non-tangibles / Other | |
| If you can get by the "what is that" looks of the Nissan Cube, it's not a bad car. Besides being a safe vehicle to drive, (scoring 4 stars in government frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side-impact tests, and 4 stars for roll-over tests) the Cube is surprisingly economical. If you're not looking for over-the-top acceleration, you'll surely be pleased with the great gas mileage. For $20,000.00 you can get a loaded Cube with all the techno gadgets and premium sound system; that's a good deal. Nissan is marketing this particular car towards the just-out-of-high-school crowd, or 20-somethings. This vehicle competes with the Scion (Toyota) XB. | |
