2010 Nissan Cube - Styling Review

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Shopping for a 2010 Nissan Cube? MSRP: $13,990 - $20,440

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Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com tend to compare the 2010 Nissan Cube to the Scion xB or Kia Soul, but the reality is that nothing really compares to the funky, rounded-box styling of the new Nissan Cube. For Nissan, 2009 marked the first time that the Nissan Cube will be available in the United States, although the first two generations have been sold in Japan for quite some time.

Let's get this out of the way—the Nissan Cube is not for everyone. Many people will fail to find the appeal in its wholly unorthodox styling, but Nissan is hoping that those in their 20s and 30s will take to the look. Unlike the previous-generation, Japanese-exclusive Nissan Cubes, the 2010 Nissan Cube "attempts to soften the square edges, boosting both the design appeal and interior space," reports Jalopnik. ConsumerGuide says the 2010 Nissan Cube is "a subcompact 4-door hatchback" that "comes in three trim levels: base 1.8, mid-level 1.8 S, and top-line 1.8 SL." Automobile Magazine reviewers approve of the new styling, noting that the Nissan Cube "pegs the needle on the geek-chic meter." Autoblog attempts to describe some of the styling elements, pointing out the "sheetmetal around the side glass is beveled, so the windows themselves look recessed," while the asymmetry that is the Cube's hallmark is most evident out back, where there is "a pillar on the left side only. On the right, the glass just wraps around." Road & Track simply calls the look "Roger Rabbit styling," and Motor Trend reviewers feel the look is "polarizing." Overall, however, reviewers find it fresh and appealing, and Autoblog contends that the unique styling "sets the Cube apart from the rest of the (suddenly, increasingly crowded) box-wagon segment."

Unlike some vehicles that feature attention-getting exterior styling but boring interiors, the 2010 Nissan Cube carries its design theme into the cabin. Motor Trend says that it features "pronounced curvature in the front dashboard as well as more subtly arcing surfaces for rear passengers." Edmunds observes that the Nissan Cube's "basic cabin design has soft curves and shapes that are a bit different from the typical hard-edged style employed by most rivals." Most visible on the interior of the Nissan Cube is a "ripple effect" that Autoblog notes "dominates the headliner and is repeated in the bottoms of the cupholders and on the speaker grilles." In pictures, this element can seem a bit overbearing, but reviewers all reacted positively after seeing the physical manifestation of the "Jacuzzi lounge" theme.