When the folks from Nissan first visited us with a Cube, they regrettably told us that many of the Cube's coolest features - shag dash patch, front door bungees, lighted sill plates - likely wouldn't be available with the six-speed manual transmission, which is offered only on 1.8 and 1.8S models. Fortunately, according to nissanusa.com, these features ARE available as options on the 1.8S spec. Hopefully, our pending Four Seasons Cube will come with these features and more, because like some of my colleagues have mentioned, the cabin of this particular Cube fell slightly flat in the funk department, particularly when you consider this car's superquirky exterior. [Yes, Rusty, we've ordered the shag patch and the lighted sill plates---Ed.] Still, I can't disagree with Phil about the paint: this dark brown sometimes almost makes the J-cool Cube blend in with normal traffic. Even in this color, though, I love the assymetrical styling, although my wife and my dad think it's ugly.
For its shape and center of gravity, the Cube drives pretty well, but it's certainly no sports car. The boxy Nissan is extremely susceptible to crosswinds, and it's surprisingly bouncy and jouncy on the highway, as if the rear dampers are too stiff. The driving position is very nice, and even though the six-speed manual is stirred via a tall shifter, it helps make the Cube an enjoyable city car.
I agree that the interior features some clearly inexpensive materials, but like those in the Jeep Wrangler, they seem well-assembled and somehow perfectly inoffensive in this application. One exception is the chromey Nissan badge on the steering wheel, which rattled frequently during my weekend with the Cube. But I really dig the opaque white fan-speed control knob, which looks especially cool at night. Jean and Joe aren't kidding about those sun visors, either: they're almost half the height of the windshield!
Rusty Blackwell, Copy Editor
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