CTC Review: 2009 Nissan cube

[Altima1]

Hughugley better be careful ... his term for the Japanese people is consider a racially  derogatory term - my step son has Japanese heritage so I know he feels this is the same as the 'N' word. 

Wing, slap his hand ...

On the cube though, quirky designs get old real fast.  Gone in two years ...

Element is surviving.

[Ontariodriver]

Check out that dash tho. 

[Just Bob]

People wake up!!! This is not a real car! Remember the Pacer?? Why would anybody buy such a ridiculous thing? Who else but the japanese would ever bring to market such a joke. Would they dare sell this in Germany?

What a ridiculous comment.

Remember this old BMW..?



 

Oh and...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/japanese

[rrocket]

If the can sell fugly X6 and 5 Series GranTurismos, Porsche Panameras etc in Germany..anything can sell there.

[ovr50]

If the can sell fugly X6 and 5 Series GranTurismos, Porsche Panameras etc in Germany..anything can sell there.

I think those are targetted for the US and NA market, more than Germany.

[Giant Dwarf]

...and anyway, just because someone else produces fugly, weirdo-mobiles, doesn't justify another company doing it, Rrocket.    I don't care if it's French, German or Brazilian, if I find it funny-lookin', I"ll say so. 

I don't hate the Cube -- in fact I applaud Nissan for bringing it here -- I'm sure there is a market for it.  But while a soft, fleece suit replete with the little 'sleeper feet' might be a practical and comfortable outfit, it doesn't mean I'd be caught dead wearing it out in public!

Ovr50, given your wife's appreciation for the Cube's styling, I wonder, does she also find you 'dashing' in a bow-tie? 

[ovr50]

I wear no ties anymore, bow or otherwise. Where I work is very casual.  But I did spend over 35 years as a suit & tie slave. Glad that part is done with. 

There will be no cube in this family, if I have any say in the matter (sic).      Not liking what I am reading of James' comments for day 2.

[random006]

I agree with James on the gear shift comment.  When I sat in the Cube at the 2009 Montreal Auto Show, I found the shift uncomfortably low.  I was willing to give the car the benefit of the doubt as I could not adjust the seat.  I seem to recall it was powered and of course the battery was disconnected.   However, if James has noticed it on a fully functional model then my criticism stands.

[JamesTS]

I have to applaud Nissan for talking the styling risk - and not just with the cube but all their cars.  You know they are Nissan's or Infiniti's and cannot be confused with anyone else's products.

But having some of the ergonomic issues James is finding in his review will be the death of this car no matter how good or unique it is.

[Just Bob]

I've seen you in your three wolf fleecey suit GD!

[Shnak]

Check out that dash tho. 

I can't be the only one that sees the ressemblance... 

[Mitlov]

Ah yes, the cube.  The car with a comb-over.  Ever notice how the asymmetrical rear window/ pillars make it appear like it's got a comb-over?

I always associated it with one-strap tank tops, myself, which (like the Cube) are a fad, but aren't nearly as revolting as combovers:

[Feds]

Some funny responses here, from people who are generally on the more knowledgeable side of the enthusiast ledger...

The Cube is in its 3rd generation, having been in production for 11 years.  Hardly a flash in the pan type of vehicle.  The box-on-wheels has been working in the rest of the world forever.  We're just starting to cotton to the idea.  Nissan's interpretation is a little more stylized than average, but so what?  The biggest complaint on this site is that cars are boring and bland.  This may be boring to drive, but it's hardly bland.

Also, can we agree that just because we don't like, or can't use, a vehicle that it's not automatically "crap" or "junk"?  I understand that if you are a long range trucker, horse farm owner, or you live on a mountain peak, a small FWD car is probably not for you.  H0wever, for 90+% of the population, a car is just fine.  Versus the rest of the world, our roads are good, our highway speeds are low, and we don't crash that much.  We don't all need to be in schoolbus sized vehicles to commute to work.

Sorry for the rant, but I've seen too many decent forums descend into endless tinkling contests between fanboys, interspersed with xenophobia, "FIRST!!1!!" posts, and ads from people in Hong Kong. I'd hate to see it happen here.

[Jaeger]

I was just in the dealership yesterday and saw a cute boxy little Cube on the showroom floow.  It sat facing a mean, evil-looking GT-R that looked like it wanted to eat the Cube for breakfast.  The Cube looked scared.  Kinda like Darth Vader staring down an Ewok.

But I digress.

I can't say the looks of the Cube appeal to me, but I can say that I can see why others find it appealing.  My wife thinks its super-cute, though she wouldn't trade her Fit for one.  Ridiculously huge inside - like a college dorm room on wheels.  I suspect it lacks the nimbleness of the Fit, but I'll wait to hear more on that score later in the review.

Jaeger

[footlong58]

It sat facing a mean, evil-looking GT-R that looked like it wanted to eat the Cube for breakfast.  The Cube looked scared.  Kinda like Darth Vader staring down an Ewok.

It's been a while, but if I recall correctly, didn't the Ewoks end up "winning" and very much alive, and Darth Vader was killed???

[conwelpic]

Wing - just a little while ago you tested the KIA Soul, now they classify the Cube and Soul as competing vehicles due to there "boxy" style.  Now you've driven both and lived with them for a few days, I would be interested in your comments on how they compare.

The people over at Wheels were not too impressed with the Cube http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/782439
saying Box on wheels is so bad on the highway that it deserves to be blasted to oblivion

[safristi]

  did someone say "Flush it in the PAN"................maybe it re_CYCLES into a FRIDGE...after 6 months............aahhh TRANSFORMATIVE AUTOMOPHILIA......

[Tristan]

I've never sat in the car, but I find it interesting to hear about the layout of the shifter. As far as I'm aware, the cube comes intead with a column shifter and a split front bench seat in Japan - this would explain the inadequate floor shifter. It seems a little careless of Nissan to have thrown their standard-design floor shifter into a car with a different seating position.  Plus I think the car would have been a lot quirkier (in a positive way) if Nissan had stuck with their original design and brought the bench seat to North America.  I adore the bench seat in my Buick

Aside, I think it's about time a manufacturer spiced the auto market up a bit instead of playing it boringly safe.  Just fix the ergonomic issues and this could be a great city/suburb car.

[stodge]

Much prefer the Soul's styling.

[safristi]

..yeah Kia & Scion will BOX THIS section OUT...........may the worst  BREAD_BOX van win.......