Nissan Cube road test
A 1.6-litre petrol engine with 109bhp is the sole choice for Cube buyers to begin with. It does a decent, if uninspiring, job of propelling the Cube along, covering 0-62mph in 11.3 seconds to put it on a par with the less powerful versions of the Fiat 500 and Mini that rare its closest rivals. The five-speed manual gearbox has an easy and light shift and is the best bet for most drivers as the CVT (continuously variable transmission) blunts performance and economy. Unless all of your driving is confined to stop-start city traffic, the CVT is not worth the £1200 needed to add it to the Cube. Otherwise, the Cube builds speed easily and cruises along at the motorway maximum with little wind noise, which is a revelation given its boxy shape. Road and engine noise are also kept at a more than acceptable level for calm progress on any journey.
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The Cube is an acquired motoring taste and one Nissan reckons will find 1000 buyers for in a year. This means the Cube will be a relatively rare sight on UK roads and this should help bolster used values. There’s also the advantage that the Cube isn’t a Mini, so its rarity value is all the more welcome. Prices for the Cube are reasonable, though slightly more than for an equivalent Fiat 500, though the Nissan offers notably more space. There are two version of the Nissan: the entry point Cube and the Kaizen model. The starter model comes with air conditioning, cruise control, alloy wheels, keyless entry and ignition, and a large glass sunroof, so it’s got everything you really need. The Kaizen ups the ante with climate control, satellite navigation, a rear parking camera and USB port for your music. Given its price, the Kaizen is great value for money when compared to a Mini equipped to the same level. The Cube also works out well for running costs as it returns 42.8mpg with the manual gearbox (40.3mpg with the CVT ’box), while carbon dioxide emissions of 151g/km (159g/km for the CVT) are acceptable if not particularly impressive. Servicing should not be expensive at Nissan dealers, while a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty is standard.
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RoadTestReports.co.uk provides road tests reports written by members of the Guild of Motoring Writers. These reports are complemented by car reviews submitted by the members of the public who drive the vehicles day in day out.
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