Nissan 360: the Cube
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Nissan Cube.
Let's just get this out of the way right now: this blogger is going to buy one of these cars when they come to America. And I'm a die-hard 385-plus-horsepower sports car owner for years now. And I live in LA. But the Cube is just that great. So Nissan, don't pull a bait-and-switch, please...
The Cube is basic, and makes no attempt to dress it up. In fact, not only is the car not gussied up, but the entire interior of the car I drove was beige. And it was still hot. It's basic done completely right, with tons of cubbies and comfort in an enormous (relatively speaking) cabin and a unified design theme inside and outside that ties it all together.
The 1.5-liter, 107-HP engine has got the giddy-up-and-go, and the car is so much fun to drive that you'll cackle like an old hen every time you throw it around a corner. I admit I won't be buying one in sky blue, and it won't have the third row -- that row is more than a bit optimistic -- but I will have no problem showing everyone I know that "cool" is now spelled "cube."
You can check out the Nissan 360 event site for more details on all the vehicles in Nissan's lineup. In the mean time, be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res photos below.
Gallery: Nissan 360: the Cube
Our travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the manufacturer.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
James 7:36PM (4/29/2008)
I'd replace my 1st gen xB with this as my daily driver if it came here
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Gikku 12:17AM (4/30/2008)
shame about it being a 6 year old model, intro 2002.
what have Nissan been smoking for 6 years?
Mehul 8:31AM (4/30/2008)
The exterior looks better than the xB but I'm disappointed at the interior.
Otsego_Undead 12:09PM (4/30/2008)
I want to know, why someone would want the cube over the 1st gen xB? Its an honest question, im very curious.
UhHello10 7:40PM (4/29/2008)
Have you read any other reviews on this P.O.S.? Mr. Blogger go ahead and buy one, the rest of us will spend our money on cars worthy of our hard earned dough. The fit, the yaris, the scion(s). The next cube may be "hot", but this one is cooler than that blue colored tester you drove.
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nissanfreak87 7:44PM (4/29/2008)
yep, it's a pos, which is why it's selling like hotcakes in every market it's in
Alex Nunez 7:47PM (4/29/2008)
Uhhh, UhHello10? You see, he actually drove it himself.
Driving > reading about someone else who drove.
tuna 1:13PM (4/30/2008)
Pst, you're embarassing yourself.
alphabeta777 7:45PM (4/29/2008)
So does this car have a very thin left C-pillar or no C-pillar at all?
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montoym 8:02PM (4/29/2008)
I think you actually mean the D-Pillar since the C-Pillar is what the rear doors latch onto.
It is there just blacked-out. You can see it faintly in the side profile. It's also visible with the rear hatch open. It's probably the same size as the one on the right, but that one is surrounded by sheetmetal rather than glass. Interesting design cue.
I'd still prefer symmetry though. The only asymmetrical car I like is the Lambo Murcielago LP640 with its asymmetric side intakes. But that's oddly more subtle than this.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:12PM (4/29/2008)
montym:
No, pillars are lettered front to back, the first pillars are called the A pillar, the next set are the B pillars, etc. Missing pillars don't get letters, so there's no way to have D pillars without C pillars.
In a wagon or such, you can even have E pillars and up!
My dad co-managed an automotive pressed-metal plant, so I had this stuff burned into me at a young age.
zamafir 7:45PM (4/29/2008)
@ Jonathon, I'm with you, this or the new lUPo, i'll buy either, they're just so darn fun... at least the last cube i drove.
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wayne 10:51PM (4/29/2008)
Thankfully somebody is replacing the xB (the real one) with a worthy successor. The 24mpg xB2 is a pig.
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zamafir 12:14AM (4/30/2008)
@wayne: you do realize the Cube was released five years earlier than the Scion xB (globally) and that many attribute the xB's boxy design and minimal interior as direct aping of the Cube? Hell, this model's been around half a decade longer then the Scion brand.
Zillon 1:16AM (4/30/2008)
@zamafir: Yes, the first generation Cube predates the bB by 2 years (released in 1998 versus 2000), however, the current generation, minimalist-styled Cube was introduced 2 years after the bB debuted.
wayne 5:10AM (4/30/2008)
That may be true, but here in the states we did not get the cube first... so the way I see it is if the cube comes here after the xB, then it will replacing the niche that Toyota has abandoned since they've gone for the "bigger is better" crowd, therefore being a worthy successor. Me, I'll be sticking to smaller, efficient cars like this one (due to economic reasons of course).
Jack 7:48PM (4/29/2008)
Love the phrase 'not gussied up". AND HOW! Current styling paradigms, a natural result of trying to be different from both the contemporary field of competitors and the past.
My eye is still drawn to the simple, uncluttered and functional, something pretty much non-existent in today's market.
This refrigerator on wheels is very nice, and Scion xB, eat your newly ornate & bloated heart out!
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Raoul 8:41PM (4/29/2008)
I wish it was available to Canadian customers... I contacted Nissan, and it's a no no.
I think it has a electric RWD motordrive (on top of the FWD combustion engine driveline). It acts as an AWD on demand. This would be just perfect for me. I guess I'll have to keep my subaru and its mpg...
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maxpeet 9:39PM (4/29/2008)
I heard about that too, Raoul...i think they called it e4WD? Anyway I totally agree with you, Jonathon; the Cube is cool on many levels. If it actually does hit the US un-molested, i'll get one with e4WD. Hear that, Nissan USA? un-molested!
zamafir 12:10AM (4/30/2008)
@Raoul, you are correct, pretty sweet little setup, no batteries, at least in the previous gen I drove.