We told you a couple of weeks ago about the new Kia Soul and its long list of factory options designed to give buyers the opportunity to "customize" their new rides before they even drive them off the dealer's lot. We've also written recently about the new-found popularity of compact cars that feel big enough inside to make buyers feel like they're not giving up all that much when they decide to downsize.
Follow the convergence of these two trends to its logical conclusion and you end up with the all-new Nissan Cube. Smaller than the Nissan Versa (one of our favorite "little big cars") by a full 12 inches, the Cube offers a stylish, comfortable interior with room for a couple of six-foot, four-inch friends in the reclining rear seat. Pretty dang impressive really.
Of course what really sets the Cube apart is its head-turning exterior. While we readily admit that its rounded-off box-on-wheels design is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing, one thing is for certain: It's definitely not boring, and that alone is a huge plus in our book.
The Cube also gets extra points for practicality. Topping our list of noteworthy qualities here are its comfortable ride, remarkably quiet interior, wide-opening rear door, 40-plus customization options, and long list of standard safety features.
The marketing folks at Nissan like to refer to the Cube as a "mobile device," which strikes us as trying a little bit too hard to make it seem hip (something that usually ends up making you look more like a dork). Better to ignore all this spin and put it on your must-test-drive list simply because it offers so many good things in a small, affordable package.
Also Consider:
Mini Cooper Clubman, Nissan Versa, Saturn Astra 5-Door, Scion xB, Suzuki SX4 Crossover
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