For years, space-efficient cars have been zipping around in Japan, but manufacturers never tried to put them on a boat and send them to North America. In Canada, small cars are generally well-accepted, as compacts dominate the sales charts. In the USA, though, the Japanese minicars would have failed miserably.
But America's perception of small cars as being cheap, unsafe penalty boxes is slowly changing. Subcompacts are starting to sell in noticeable numbers, and it's the perfect time for Nissan to bring over its new cube.
A shape that's really different
The first thing you'll notice by looking at the rear end of the cube is that it has an asymmetrical design. On the left side of the car's posterior, there is a conventional pillar, but on the right side, there's a wraparound glass window. The taillights are spread just above the bumper.
Once you get over that, you'll find that the cube looks like a cross between a Scion xB and a Honda Element. Clearly, this new Nissan trades seriousness for playfulness. A choice of eight colors will be available.
Inside, certain elements of the design are inspired by a raindrop. The ripple effect when the drop hits water is mimicked on the speaker panels, inside the cupholders and even on the ceiling, around the dome light. The tachometer glows white and the speedometer glows blue, again, just to be particularly different.
The cube can sit 5 passengers, and when the rear seat is folded down, cargo space is maxed out at 58.1 cubic feet (1,645 litres).
Versa powertrain
The front-wheel drive cube is built on Nissan's B platform, which also underpins the Versa and the Renault Clio. It's got an independent suspension up front and a torsion bar axle at the back. The cube also electric power steering, front disc and rear drum brakes as well as P195/60R15 tires.
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| The cube looks like a cross between a Scion xB and a Honda Element. |
But America's perception of small cars as being cheap, unsafe penalty boxes is slowly changing. Subcompacts are starting to sell in noticeable numbers, and it's the perfect time for Nissan to bring over its new cube.
A shape that's really different
The first thing you'll notice by looking at the rear end of the cube is that it has an asymmetrical design. On the left side of the car's posterior, there is a conventional pillar, but on the right side, there's a wraparound glass window. The taillights are spread just above the bumper.
Once you get over that, you'll find that the cube looks like a cross between a Scion xB and a Honda Element. Clearly, this new Nissan trades seriousness for playfulness. A choice of eight colors will be available.
Inside, certain elements of the design are inspired by a raindrop. The ripple effect when the drop hits water is mimicked on the speaker panels, inside the cupholders and even on the ceiling, around the dome light. The tachometer glows white and the speedometer glows blue, again, just to be particularly different.
The cube can sit 5 passengers, and when the rear seat is folded down, cargo space is maxed out at 58.1 cubic feet (1,645 litres).
Versa powertrain
The front-wheel drive cube is built on Nissan's B platform, which also underpins the Versa and the Renault Clio. It's got an independent suspension up front and a torsion bar axle at the back. The cube also electric power steering, front disc and rear drum brakes as well as P195/60R15 tires.
 |
| Inside, certain elements of the design are inspired by a raindrop. |