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KBB.com Expert Review
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 New for 2011
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.
Consumer Reviews
Based on 122 ratings for the 2009 - 2014 models.
ed209
March 21, 2016
Quirky Cube Ride
Not a bad vehicle for daily driver or a family hauler on short trips down the road. Gets amazing 35 mpg highway miles despite its cube...
Tom M
January 20, 2016
I love my Cube!
I bought the Cube for a few very specific reasons. First of all, I am 6ft5 and my height is in my torso. That being said, finding a car...
fishiiis
November 05, 2015
Urban Unique
This is a great urban car, easy to get in and out of spaces, and great on gas mileage. The design is funky and refreshing, and there is...
Holly
October 08, 2015
Cup holders everywhere! Best car! LOVE IT!
PERFECT BASIC FAMILY CAR. IT GETS ME FROM POINT A TO POINT B!
SeanSean
May 05, 2015
so fun to drive! more get-up-n-go than you'd think
I've had my Cube since the first month of their USA release (May 2009) and six years later I am still completely happy with it. I have...
Mamasally
April 30, 2015
I love my cube !!!
I have a 2009 Nissan cube. It just made 90,000 miles which is being serviced now at Nissan. We had no major issues with it. Great gas...
sue
March 17, 2015
cube
This car has a fantastic sound system, is fun to drive, comfortable seats, i love it!
micky
March 10, 2015
Shoud have not trade in !
We put 4000 miles on wifes new 2015 nissan rogue sv that was very good in this years very bad winter weather in pittsburgh.But I wish we...
babeinthecloud
January 20, 2015
Much bigger on the inside than it looks
I have owned this 2009 Nissan Cube for 4 years and I do really love it. It is funky looking but better than that is the interior is...
Mary
January 06, 2015
Great all around vehicle
Have the six speed manual which gives me plenty of power when climbing hills as well as control on slick roads. Love the ergonomics....
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Seating Capacity
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KBB Editor's Overview
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 New for 2011
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 It
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.
Vehicle 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 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.
Notable 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)
Pricing Notes
Pricing for the 2011 Nissan Cube starts at just over $15,000 for the base trim level, while the well-equipped SL trim starts at about $18,500 and the top-of-the-line Krom checks in at around $22,000. The Cube's base price is $1,000 higher than the Kia Soul's but nearly $1,700 cheaper than the Scion xB's. To compare the actual transaction prices that consumers are paying for the Nissan Cube, be sure to check the Fair Purchase Price on kbb.com. In terms of resale, the Nissan Cube is expected to hold its value well over time, with residuals slightly better than the Scion xB, and much better than the Kia Soul and Chevrolet HHR.
