Nissan Cube Says It's Hip to be Square

It surely is a different kind of vehicle, and that might not sit well with everyone, but for those who do like the 2010 Nissan Cube, standing apart from the crowd is probably a large part of the appeal.
The Cube is dominated by its large asymmetrical windows. It's one of many unusual features that customers in the U.S. have been introduced to; the Cube has been on sale in Nissan's home market of Japan for more than 10 years.


Count among its competitors the Scion xB, Honda Element and Kia Soul.  


This category has found some success because it offers the versatility of an SUV but with much better gas mileage, much easier maneuverability and a much lower sticker price.


The Cube comes with a 60/40 fold-flat, three-position sliding rear seat.


Plus the Cube is a very tall vehicle, which provides great headroom and adds to the feeling of roominess. 

The quirkiest feature is the dash-topping shag rug, which really has no function except to draw odd stares and questions. But it sure helps make the Cube memorable.  

Bungee cords attached to the doors can hold small items in place and there are knobs protruding from the center stack and doors on which you can hang things.

The 1.8L 4-cylinder, 122-horsepower engine does not offer an abundance of power, but it's perfectly adequate for a good, versatile, practical car, which means you aren't going to be doing much racing. There's a six-speed manual transmission or Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). 

With that CVT, the Cube achieves fuel economy of 28 mpg city, 30 highway, which is pretty good.

The Cube ranges in price from a shade under $14,000 to around $19,000 for the Krom model, the highest trim level.

So with this model, Nissan, with apologies to Huey Lewis and The News, is clearly saying it's hip to be square.