‘BE brave, dare to drive something different and bag a bargain while it’s going.’
That’s the verdict of Sunday Times motoring journalist Jason Dawe, writing about the Nissan Cube.
Dawe writes: ‘Launched in Britain in 2010, the car had a shape that set it apart from anything else on our roads. At just under £15,000 it was priced in the same bracket as small MPVs such as the Citroen C3 Picasso and Vauxhall Meriva, but it was much more of a style statement than either.
‘In Japan, the Cube had proved popular among commuters battling through crowded Tokyo. Here it stood out like sushi in a fish and chip shop.’
Dawe adds that despite receiving positive reviews, the Cube was soon dropped from Nissan’s British range, partly because exchange rates made importing it from Japan too expensive … ‘but if you’re after something different, you can still track one down’.
Just over 1,000 Cubes were sold by Nissan in Britain, writes Dawe, adding that a quick search on the web reveals models being sold privately with prices starting from less than £7,000 for a 1.6-litre Kaizen with 10,000 on the clock.
Accurate steering
Dawe has plenty of good things to say about the Cube. He says the car has an impressive ability to manoeuvre in crowded city centres, a tight turning circle, agile handling, accurate steering and good brakes.
Turning his attention to the interior of the vehicle, Dawe writes: ‘The dashboard is curved like a cocktail bar, and above you is a panoramic sun blind that appears to be made from rice paper.
‘It is as spacious and uncluttered as a machiya, the traditional wooden Japanese house.’
He describes the car’s performance as satisfactory, writing: ‘0-62mph takes 11.3 seconds and the car’s combined fuel economy is more than 42mpg.’