Quick review, since it's month-end and I'm slammed with admin tasks...

Stopped in at Peoria Nissan and met up with Kevin Schwartz, sales consultant... While checking out the Cube in the showroom, we decided to take one for a spin.

My first impression: If this is the Versa powerplant, its a hell of a lot better in the Cube than the Versa - Acceleration isn't bad, and the CVT is actually a lot less annoying than it was in the '08 Sentra I drove for a few months.

This car SCREAMS "cool" - It's just weird enough to be interesting, but intuitive in almost every way. The front seats "jack" up and down like those in a Volkswagen (which is cool, given the excess of headroom) - You can drive it with a UPS truck seating position, or lower it down cruiser-style.

The HVAC controls are simple and CLEAN. They just make sense. The audio controls look aftermarket-ish, but are still functionally simple. The bungee cord holsters on the doors are awesome for holding a cell phone (or a sidearm ), and there's a HUMONGOUS glove box. Lots of bins and cubbies, and a crap-ton of cupholders...

The rear seat slides fore and aft (super cool feature) and it reclines - I could take a nap back there!

Visibility is, as suspected, amazing... and the Cube is super-maneuverable... if you can't parallel park this thing, you should just turn in your license and take the bus.

OK, let's talk sunvisors... These things are the size of a damn road atlas. HUGE. Good touch, Nissan.

Even the base model is pretty well-appointed, and this thing would be a great commuter... Hmmmm.

I need something to drive to work every day during the summer months when it's too hot to drive one of my classics or convertibles... Stay tuned.

That is a pretty ballsy write-up for not having any pics...

How's the handling? The car ragazines like to say it's clumbsy and feels like a bus because it doesn't corner... I have a hunch those doorknobs didn't even drive the car before they did the review..

Yeah my brother and I had a chance to test drive a KROM edition one the other day. Was definitely unique, got a lot of looks from other people on the road. Was peppy enough for traffic, I think a manual one would be more what I'd be looking for. I'd definitely daily drive one though.

Sorry, left my camera at home.

Here's a phone pic I took:

Eikon wrote:How's the handling? The car ragazines like to say it's clumbsy and feels like a bus because it doesn't corner...

Well, it's no slot car, but it handles a LOT better than I expected.

It's a weird feeling, slinging something around that looks like a damn refrigerator.

If it was dropped about 2", it'd be really, really impressive for its height.

I'd want to see the skidpad numbers for it compared to an xB and an Element... Bet it's comparable if not better.

Ugh... not feeling the wheels.. otherwise I think it's a cool car. Lots of character!They don't come in manual do they?

skydragoness wrote:Ugh... not feeling the wheels.. otherwise I think it's a cool car. Lots of character!They don't come in manual do they?

Yes they do but only on the 1.8s trim.

Are those factory rims or an aftermarket dealer accesory?

About the handling; I've read several times that it drives like it is top heavy. Maybe I'd been driving my 4x4 Dakota for too long. I just have not noticed that the Cube seems top heavy at all.

I can't see why they'd say that, other than they're ignorant.

Hard for a car to be "top heavy" when all that space is filled with AIR.

It's very much NOT "top-heavy" feeling.

AZhitman wrote:I can't see why they'd say that, other than they're ignorant.

Hard for a car to be "top heavy" when all that space is filled with AIR.

It's very much NOT "top-heavy" feeling.

The center of gravity isn't any higher than a normal car. It's not a truck or a minivan.

Great review!

I really wanted to like this thing, and I'm glad to hear that it doesn't drive like a dog. Is there a manual transmission option?

I need to go drive one, although I'd have a hard time buying one now that Fiat has confirmed the new 500 is coming to the US.

The 6-speed manual is available, but only on base and S models. CVT's the only option for SL and Krom.

the only thing i dont like about it is the rear window. not symettrical (sp?)

I like the Cube. Great review, Greg.

I'm glad Nissan has entered in the Xb and Element market but I really find the Cube to be aesthetically nauseating I'm sure it drives well and has a killer interior, That's really cool about the rear seats, and seems like they have a good amount of "trunk" space, I just can't get over the exterior styling of it

i would imagine that once it is lowered, the so called "top heavy" feeling would just non existent.... im sure its not top heavy at all, like the versa it probably looks like a 4x4 on stock ride height....

AZhitman wrote:
The rear seat slides fore and aft (super cool feature) and it reclines - I could take a nap back there!

seriously, this is the BEST feature IN THE WORLD, mate!I just sat in one this morning when I when for the checkup at the dealer and when I discovered that those rear seats could be inclined (an not only like the whole rear section but EACH SIDE INDEPENDANTLY!!!) I instantly said to myself: "O,M,G! why didn't anyone think of that before!!!" this is the coolest econobox JUST because of that feature alone. the rest is just icing on the cake. I'd buy it in brown lool

My Mom had a 1989 Isuzu Trooper, it was a top of the line one. Besides just being a very fun vehicle. It too had reclining rear seats, that were much like the Cubes, except that one could recline either or both of the seat backs ALL the way down flat to the floor between the wheel wells.

It basically folded down into a bed. That was the coolest vehicle.

ewraven wrote:My Mom had a 1989 Isuzu Trooper, it was a top of the line one. Besides just being a very fun vehicle. It too had reclining rear seats, that were much like the Cubes, except that one could recline either or both of the seat backs ALL the way down flat to the floor between the wheel wells.

It basically folded down into a bed. That was the coolest vehicle.

wow! you've got a cube! and a Krom one at that!! wtH?! how long to get it from nissan??

It took like four hours to get it from Nissan!

I just went to the dealer and bougth the one on the showroom floor. The other two they had were just S models. They had it in there with two Skyline GT-R's, I was hoping some of the horsepower would've leaked from the Skylines into my Cube but it didn't.

ewraven wrote: They had it in there with two Skyline GT-R's, I was hoping some of the horsepower would've leaked from the Skylines into my Cube but it didn't.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL~``111!!!111

And you still got it for just over invoice - Nicely done!

When are you going to create the Cube avatars for the Cubie owners to sport?

Dangit, now I want to get the Cube Krome trim... I'll think about getting one in 2013 when this Versa is paid off.

Ok everyone, I have to be perfectly honest with you. I hated the Cube on sight. Visually, it was just a train wreck molded into a box with wheels on it....IMO. However, after Greg test drove one and actually had some good things to say about it, I had to go try one out for myself. I went to the dealership this morning and test drove one while they fixed a recall on the Frontier. I drove the KROM model in pearl white. Walking around the vehicle while the salesman (Dennis) was giving me the low-down on all the features didn't really do a lot for me. It was still a box on wheels; however, the paint compensated a little bit. <I love pearl white paint on almost anything.>When I sat down inside the car, my mind started to change....quickly. There is so much head room and leg room in this thing, you would swear you were driving a full size farm truck. The seats are very roomy and comfortable. The fact that the back seats fully, and independently, recline is an amazing option that all other car companies are wishing they had. This is a mute point, but there is no such thing as a blind spot in a Cube. NONE. The KROM model has the Rockford Fosgate stereo system in it, as well as an IPOD dock and it is Bluetooth compatible for up to five different phones. I didn't listen to it until the test drive was over, I would much rather listen to the car while driving, but it sounded pretty good. They had the bass turned all the way up, but most people do that anyway. IPOD, stereo, and cruise control buttons/controls are all on the steering wheel. The fit and function was very smooth and none of the controls interfered with steering ability. The center console for the temperature controls was fantastic. Cool factor went way up because not only was it visually appealing it was user friendly too. There were lights underneath the dash along the floorboard just for flash. You could adjust them to shine just one color or constantly change up. Lastly, as far as the interior asthetics are concerned, the glove box impressed me.....a lot. You could fit a small child in there...comfortably.OK, I told you all that so I could tell you this...the vehicle drives better than I expected. It does not feel like you are driving a truck or an SUV, it is not top-heavy in the least. The 1.8 engine was a big change from the 4.0 (Frontier) I am used to driving. I'm sure it has plenty of power because the car isn't heavy at all. I'm just used to the on demand power of the Frontier. The CVT transmission was a big adjustment too; not a bad thing, just different. <They did not have a manual model on the lot and the salesman said they are few and far between. However, if I ever find one, I'll post up and let you know how different they are. > I also slung it around some curves at fairly significant speeds, just to see what it would do and the Cube STUCK LIKE GLUE. Very, very impressed.

Couple of FYI details - 6 airbags (standard); maintenance is almost nil. All you have to do is change the oil, rotate the tires, and put gas in it. Nothing else is required until after 105,000 miles.

The bottom line is this. It's a four cylinder Nissan. If you take care of it, it will most likely run for 30 or 40 years. It drives very well, handles beautifully, is practically maintenance free, and will appeal to all age demographics and income levels. I can't wait to see some of the mods I know are coming.