2014 Fiat 500L: Stylish, Room For Five, Starts Below $20,000
Considering the Kia Soul, MINI Countryman, or Nissan Juke? You might want to hold out another few... Read More
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PERFORMANCE | 6 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
The electric power-assisted steering is delightfully light—your best friend in traffic or while parking—but otherwise feels artificial and reveals little about road textures.
Car and Driver
easy to maneuver and fun to drive
MSN Autos
Handling isn't particularly agile and body lean sets in early while cornering
Consumer Reports
the Cube feels like a dancer who's a beat or two behind the music
Edmunds
smooth steering, six-speed manual, passable handling, terrific low-speed maneuverability
USA Today
Surprisingly, while the Cube has quite the personality in terms of styling, design, and function, it doesn't possess much of a driving personality. The Cube is maneuverable but not particularly nimble, handling well in ordinary driving but demonstrating lots of roll and lean in hard cornering. The steering wheel brings no feel of the road, and it stays almost fingertip light whether parking or cruising at expressway speeds. It's a bit susceptible to crosswinds, so we found ourselves overcorrecting sometimes when thrown off course. The soft suspension is a smart setup for most city driving, as it soaks up jarring expansion strips and even modest potholes without drama.
That said, the Cube accelerates adequately, with enough reserve power for passing on two-laners, and brakes have a nice, firm feel, even though under it they're just drums in back.
Conclusion
The 2011 Nissan Cube isn't at all sporty, but it performs adequately.
