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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2011 Nissan cube

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Nissan cube

Overview

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2011 Nissan cube Review

By KBB.com Editors

If the high cost of gas has one silver lining, it's the proliferation of fun, cool and feature-rich small cars. No longer do frugal-minded drivers have to settle for a bare-bones subcompact - not when there are radically shaped five-passenger vehicles like the 2011 Nissan Cube from which to choose. With a price starting around $15,000, the Cube doesn't ask owners to settle for less, offering a long list of standard safety features that have helped earn it an IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Top Safety Pick award. Its unique exterior design, highlighted by the asymmetrical rear end and iPod-like lines, help the 2011 Nissan Cube stand apart from other box-type compacts (think Scion xB), as does its long list of unusual options and accessories.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you need the practicality of a roomy small car that gets good gas mileage, but your creative side strives to own something you don't see in every driveway, the 2011 Nissan Cube is just the ticket. Unique accessories, like the shag dash pad, are both fun and functional.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you're thinking you'd like all the versatility and cuteness of the Cube, but with all-wheel-drive or a more powerful engine, you might be better off looking at something like the Suzuki SX4 or Nissan Juke.

What's Significant About This Car?

For 2011, the Cube SL Preferred Package and Krom Edition gain an SD card-based navigation unit with five-inch color touchscreen, XM NavTraffic capability and USB connectivity.

Driving the cube

Driving Impressions While we doubt many driving enthusiasts will find the 2011 Nissan Cube much to write home about, as daily transportation it works just fine. On the highway, the Cube exhibits...

noticeable wind and road noise, but no worse than in most cars for this price range. The Cube's inoffensive road manners include acceptable acceleration, reasonably tight steering and a suspension that delivers a smooth ride even when encountering uneven or choppy pavement. The Cube excels in the tight and narrow confines that are the urban jungle. With its small turning radius, compact dimensions and available rear parking sensors, the Cube is one of the easiest small cars to park and maneuver.

Favorite Features

Styling
Making a strong impression with your looks is good, but doing so without spending a fortune is great. Love it or hate it, the Nissan Cube provides an undoubtedly eye-catching design at a price almost any car buyer can afford.

Rippling Headliner
With only a cursory glance, one might overlook the unique form of the Cube's headliner. Even though a flat headliner would have been perfectly acceptable, Nissan's designers decided to simulate the ripples created by dropping a pebble in water. The result is an interesting conversation piece and an indicator of Nissan's commendable attention to detail.

2011 Nissan cube Details

Interior

The 2011 Nissan Cube has an interior unlike any we've seen. The dash and door panels are peppered with rounded shapes, and interesting textures can be found throughout the cabin. Above the passenger's heads is a large dome light surrounded by grooved ripples radiating out across the headliner; the same effect, which mimics a pebble dropped in water, is repeated on the speaker covers. The Cube's upright sides make for a spacious interior capable of accommodating up to five people. Helping to balance the space requirements of both passengers and cargo is a sliding rear seat, which can be moved several inches fore or aft. Head and shoulder room is ample in all seating positions; the same can be said for legroom, especially in the rear seats.

Exterior

Due to the angles of its body and the softened curved corners, the 2011 Nissan Cube might have more aptly been named the Nissan Die. Not quite cube-like, the Cube's rounded fenders, headlamps and taillights are more oval in design, while its door and window cut outs feature similar contoured corners.
Without question the most interesting aspect of the Cube is its asymmetrical rear section that features wrap-around glass on one side and a body-color pillar on the other. Adding to the Cube's distinctiveness is a wide variety of exterior accessories, not to mention the super-stylish factory-modified Krom edition.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Standard features found on the base 2011 Nissan Cube include a two-speaker audio system with auxiliary input, air conditioning, power locks with remote entry, a six-speed manual transmission and 15-inch steel wheels. The S trim adds a six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, an iPod interface, steering-wheel audio controls, body color mirrors and cruise control. SL models get automatic climate control, automatic headlights and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Krom Edition offers a Rockford Fosgate audio system with subwoofer, XM Satellite Radio, SD navigation with NavTraffic, 20-color interior lighting package, Intelligent Key keyless entry and start, five-inch color monitor with RearView Monitor and a body kit with rear spoiler. Standard safety features include stability and traction controls, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and six airbags.

Optional Equipment

There are a few standalone options offered for the 2011 Nissan Cube, such as the 20-color interior accent lighting and the Interior Designer Package. Most other options require buyers to move up to the next-higher trim level to add equipment. The exception is the Preferred Package, offered for the SL trim, that adds a six-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system, RearView monitor, SD navigation with NavTraffic, XM Satellite Radio, keyless entry and engine start and fog lights. Small businesses might appreciate the special-order Cargo option, offered for the base Cube, which deletes the rear seats, armrests, cup holders and seatbelts, transforming the Cube into an efficient delivery vehicle.

Under the Hood

There is one engine offered for the 2011 Nissan Cube, a 1.8-liter four cylinder rated at 122 horsepower. Power is acceptable for a small, inexpensive and fuel-efficient car, but those who value rapid acceleration may be disappointed by the Cube's performance. On base and S trims, a six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is optional on the S Trim and standard on SL and Krom trims. The CVT does a good job in maximizing the engine's output and actually offers better fuel economy than the manual transmission, but some buyers may be put off by the way the engine seems to race under hard acceleration.

1.8-liter in-line 4
122 horsepower @ 5200 rpm
127 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/31 (CVT), 25/30 (manual)

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Nissan cube vehicles for sale near you.

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2011 Nissan cube Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.3

Out of 10

Based on 82 Ratings for the 2009 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

9.4/10

Quality

9.4/10
Reliability

9.5/10

Performance

9.2/10
Comfort

9.5/10

Styling

9.7/10

excellent car for the money

By glenbo (TX) on Monday, May 20, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 4,800

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "every single thing about it."

Cons: "rear drum brakes not as good as discs"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Our cube is the most comfortable vehicle we've driven in many years, and we both have worked at several dealerships in the past. It's cute, quiet, has enough power, great visibility, incredible sound system, a/c that will freeze you. Both of us are good sized and we have plenty of room, there's enough room in the passenger seats for adults, and the rear storage holds all the groceries and beer we can buy. We have consistently gotten right at 35 mpg. This may be the car we keep for a long time instead of selling and buying something else every year."

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best

By david (WV) on Friday, March 22, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 63,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: Not Rated
Reliability: Not Rated
Quality: Not Rated
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "great price, fun to drive, good gas mileage,"

Cons: "love the cup holder on the drivers side"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"no complaints whatsoever on this little suv. headroom is spectacular along with nice seating and oh such great gas mileage. have had it on long trips and short trips. no complaints. nice little ride. everybody tells me its so ugly it is cute. 63000 miles on it and haven't turned a screw. just lube and oil and new tires awhile ago."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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Phenomenal Car!

By Qbist (UT) on Thursday, March 07, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 27,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Roomy, fun, practical, economical"

Cons: "Wind noise and effect on car."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have owned a 2010 cube Krom edition for the past 3 years, and absolutely love it! The car is everything that anyone could ever want - economical, functional, roomy, filled with tech, quirky, fun, different, and practical. I would highly recommend this car to anyone and don't plan on getting rid of mine anytime soon."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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To many issues

By rckr4christ24 (MS) on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

I owned and sold this car - My approximate mileage is 94,000

10 5.0

overall rating 5 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/10
Value: 7/10
Reliability: 1/10
Quality: 5/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 2

"We bought this car used with 94,000 miles on it. We have had it a month and are already trading it back in! In one months time we are replacing the transmission, fixing the worn out axel... and several other issues! As far as the actual comfort of the car goes, its great! but the reliability of this vehicle is incredibly poor!"

2 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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Happy with Cube, a real work horse

By Fiatfreak (AZ) on Sunday, February 03, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 77,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Fun to drive, reliable, good mileage."

Cons: "Side wind and noise on highway."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I bought my 2010 Cube used at my local dealer with 42,000 miles 7months ago. I had a Chrysler PT Cruiser for over 6 years. PT broke and didn't want to sink another dollar in it. I've been looking at the Cube since I seen the first vehicles were coming here In 2009. First month here, I test drove one and fell in love with it. Well the PT was still alive and maybe someday. July 2012 was my time too look. Wanted a SL but settled for the S. The S was well equipped as I wanted the Bluetooth and radio controls on the steering wheel. I use my vehicles for work, I throw papers and soon after began a new job as a courier driving many miles a day. Gas mileage is good for this vehicle. I'm used to 16-18mpg now I'm averaging 28-31mpg. I've put 30,000 miles on my cube in 6 months! With the only thing to buy was oil changes and tires. I had a 60k service done at the dealer and everything still good. With many reasons why i wanted this Cube some was no timing belt, 100% japan made (had a 1984 Nissan p/u),style and many more. Wind is a little problem with the high profile, i lowered my Cube and is less twitchy in winds now. I've now done other things to personalize my cube with cold air intake, chipped, gun metal factory alloys, and tow hitch. LOVE IT!! Highly recommend anyone looking for a vehicle look at this Cube."

4 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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The best car on the road after some improvements.

By Darius (NJ) on Thursday, January 31, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 23,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Price, fun, secure, big inside, comfortable, peppy"

Cons: "Side wind movement and windnoise at highway speeds"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I financed my 2009 Nissan Cube KROM almost 4 years ago (23000 miles). At the beginning I did not like the car, I check the S model an don't like it a week later I find the KROM model fully loaded an with all that personality in a little package. After I test drive the car I could not stop thinking about it. It had to be mine, so I changed my 2005 Sentra for the 2009 Cube Krom. I like to play underdog and with this car is all that way; it looks small but is big, it looks weird (ugly for some) but you feel cool on it, it appears under power but helped by the CVT, a K&N ColdAir Intake and stillen exhaust(installed myself) I can go from 0 to 60 in 7.5 to 8 sec surprising all the other drivers around (all of them with bigger and "faster" cars than mine). Also did I tell you, have free tires for life thanks to my car dealer. There is more, I can carry many kind of things, almost like a big SUV or a minivan; things like ottomans, chairs, tables, 47 inches TVs, steel shelf systems, 3 dozens of balloons, 4 full supermarket carts, etc. So many stories... Besides that I add a new baby to our family, so now we have a 4 year old child and a 8 months baby, the cat, my wife and my self. And we are comfortable. Perfect for the city and not bad for the Highway. I also add PIAA Fog Lights, Kenwood Navigation System, Rear view Camera and a set of Headrest DVD Monitors(this car is almost like a $50000.00 SUV). There is only one thing left to add, heated side view mirrors and this car will be the only car in my life. I want to pass this car to my son or drive it as long as I can, still have many years because I'm only 34 years old. Ther is a problem now, my wife is treating my that she is going to get her driving permit and she want to drive it. We may going to need to buy another Cube because this one is my and it has my name on it. I love this car, is a reflection, and extension of my self. If you give it a chance as I did you will not regret it."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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