Quick, what do bulldogs, sunglasses, and Jacuzzis have in common? If you're thinking 1980s beer commercials, you'd be wrong (Spuds MacKenzie was a bull terrier). In fact, these three seemingly disparate elements are all design inspirations for the latest B-segment box van, the all-new 2009 Nissan Cube.
Nissan says the stance and front end of its softly curved box car invokes a "bulldog in sunglasses." They may have a point: The Cube's pinched grille and headlights combine with a jutting front bumper and small wheels pushed to the corners to create a look as awkwardly cute as, well, a slobbering lapdog in shades. Inside, the Cube's soft contours and layout are supposed to reflect a "Jacuzzi lounge," an effect bolstered by a water-droplet motif drizzled throughout the interior details.
What's with all this funkiness? Call it targeted demographic design. Like other auto manufacturers (cough Kia, Scion cough), Nissan is chasing hip, young buyers and figures the best way to do this is by co-opting their hip, young style. Nissan even refers to the Cube not as a compact or B-segment car, but a "mobile device" -- no doubt hoping to draw associations with iPhones and Blackberries.
Do this boxy style and youth-driven formula seem vaguely familiar? They should, Scion has been doing it for years, though Nissan is quick to point out that its Cube is no Scion xB copycat.
Nissan has a point, too. The Cube was first launched in Japan back in 1998 -- a full two years before Toyota put the bB to market (which later came to the U.S. in 2004 as the Scion xB). So, while it may be true that Scion offered the first B-segment box van for the U.S., Nissan has had three full generations of the Cube to work in some nice details.
Most obvious and polarizing is the funky asymmetric design, most clearly experienced from the rear. The large rear window appears to wrap around the right side of the car -- a neat visual trick made possible by hiding the C- and D-pillars under glass. On the inside, the window appears as a normal oval of rear glass.
About that rear door: Previous-generation Cubes had it opening on the left, which is curbside for the Japanese market. For us left-hand-drive Americans, Nissan flip-flopped the door (and by extension the asymmetric styling) at considerable expense. Don't think that's a big deal? Then ask Lexus and Honda why they didn't do it for the current GX 470 or previous-generation CR-V. They'll probably have some interesting excu$e$.
Small wheels pushed to the corners means the door openings are wide and ingress is easy. Inside, the Cube feels surprisingly ginormous. A low hip point and upright seating position combined with a relative high windowsill create a cavernous feel. With 42.6 in. of front headroom and 40.2 in. of rear headroom, the Cube offers average-size Americans room beneath the water droplet headliner for all manner of punk hairdos and hipster cowboy hats.
That water theme is repeated throughout the vehicle - in the speaker grilles and bottoms of the cupholders. The "Jacuzzi lounge" interior layout means pronounced curvature in the front dashboard as well as more subtly arcing surfaces for rear passengers. Trick details like bag hooks and clear crystallike HVAC knob show thought and effort were put into the Cube's interior design. Soft, cloth-covered cushions for the driver and front passenger seats are reminiscent of college futon mattresses -- comfortable for short stays, but questionable for long periods of time. The Cube's rear seatbacks recline -- a rarity in this class that comes at a price. Tipping the seats rearward compromises the already limited cargo room. When the rear seats are folded forward, they don't result in a flat load area because of the deep well behind the seats. That extra bit of space is good for 58.1 cu ft of cargo, easily accessible via the massive aperture the swing-out rear door creates.
On the road, the Cube surprises with its cheerful capability. Steering is light, yet precise, and the Cube takes corners flatter than its ponderous profile suggests. On the freeway, it reaches highway speeds easily, though interior noise rises with speed.
The 1.8L, DOHC inline-four spits out 122 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque, which is on the low end of the Cube's competitive set. Our midrange Cube 1.8S, equipped with the optional Xtronic Continually Variable Transmission (CVT) managed a 0-to-60 sprint of 9.3 sec and a quarter-mile time of 17.2 sec at 81.3 mph. Not impressive in any way except for how it's delivered. With its CVT furiously humming away, the Cube happily churns out what little power and torque it has, which imparts a peppy overall feel.
Same goes for the handling and braking numbers. Despite 16-in. wheels and 195/60R15 tires, our Cube 1.8S managed 0.80 g on the skidpad and 28.8 sec at 0.57 average g though the MT figure eight. From 60 mph, the Cube took 125 ft to reach a full stop -- not bad considering the rear drum brakes.
Though it's no barn-burner at the track, the Nissan Cube provides just enough smiles around town, especially at the pump. The EPA estimated fuel economy is 26 city/30 highway mpg. This makes it as easy on the wallet as its MSRP is. The base model Cube 1.8 with a six-speed manual starts at $14,685 and tops out at $19,370 for the Cube Krom equipped with the Xtronic CVT. Our Cube 1.8S rang the register at $16,385.
[source:MotorTrend]
