2011 Nissan cube Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Nissan Cube overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 Cube, and includes Nissan Cube safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

In keeping with its stand-alone styling, the 2011 Nissan Cube is now available with one of the more uniquely named colors we’ve come across: Golden Ginger. What’s less unusual – but very welcome – is a new navigation system with detailed traffic information and a USB port.

Nissan’s funkadelic four-door is available in a variety of flavors, the blandest (a.k.a. most affordable) of which is the Cube 1.8. The drab 15-inch steel wheels hint at the spot it fills within the lineup, but hop inside and you might be surprised to find air conditioning, power door locks and windows, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, a single-disc CD player, and a keyless entry system. Nissan offers a pair of optional front fog lights to liven things up a bit, but that’s it for available factory add-ons.

Those of us who have grown accustomed to various modern-day automotive features will be inclined to skip over the 1.8 and head directly for the Cube 1.8 S. This version plays host to features like steering wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control, Bluetooth hands-free calling, and a sound system that’s designed to operate seamlessly with your iPod. Other less technological niceties include illuminated visor mirrors, a rear bench seat that slides and reclines, and a driver’s center armrest.

A move up to the 2011 Cube 1.8 SL provides access to more creature comforts, such as automatic climate control and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) instead of the standard six-speed stick-shift found in the other Cube variants. Fog lights and automatic headlights are also part of the SL’s bundle of amenities. Options include rear parking sensors; a Rockford Fosgate sound system; a USB input jack; XM satellite radio; push-button ignition; a rearview camera; and a new navigation system with real-time traffic information.

If you’re digging the Cube but want something with a little more attitude, Nissan aims to satisfy with the 1.8 S Krom Edition. This model is loaded up with the Rockford Fosgate audio system, the navigation unit, keyless ignition, the rearview camera, automatic climate control, the USB port, and more. Unique features include a body kit, 16-inch alloy wheels, two-tone seat fabric, and interior lighting with 20 selectable color options.

Though their features may vary, every 2011 Nissan Cube is equipped with the same engine: a 1.8-liter four-cylinder offering 122 horsepower coupled with 127 pound-feet of torque. Output is directed to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or available continuously variable transmission (CVT). According to the EPA, drivers can expect to average 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway with the stick shift, or 27 mpg/31 mpg, respectively, with the CVT.

For the second year in a row, the Nissan Cube has been named one of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Picks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had also recognized the car as a solid performer, but due to new testing and scoring procedures for 2011, updated NHTSA results are not available at the time of this writing (except for rollover resistance, which receives 4 out of 5 Stars). Among the safety features found on the 2011 Cube are front-seat side-impact and side-curtain airbags, antilock brakes and stability control.

With regard to predicted reliability, the little Nissan wagon has maintained its average rating from J.D. Power and Associates. The outlook from Consumer Reports hasn’t been quite so positive, with the lowest possible score being recorded in 2010. That perspective has improved for 2011, though there’s still an expectation that buyers will suffer worse-than-average dependability from their new Cubes.

In the spring of 2011, one of our East Coast editors planned a trip from northern New England to the Big Apple to attend the New York International Auto Show. Though he was hoping for a luxurious highway cruiser to keep him coddled over the course of two travel days, he was instead handed the keys to a Nissan Cube 1.8 SL. The thought of enduring hundreds of miles behind the wheel of this diminutive box led him to seriously consider going Greyhound. As it turned out, his concerns were completely unfounded.

Our 2011 Cube 1.8 SL test car was fitted with the optional navigation system, XM satellite radio, a USB port, upgraded 16-inch alloy wheels, and interior touches like the round patch of shag carpet placed atop the center dash. The sticker price, including destination charges, came in just under $22,000. That chunk of change gets you into a five-passenger ride decorated with an abundance of hard interior plastics, over which rests a stiff headliner designed to mimic ripples in a body of still water. The cloth upholstery also feels like it comes from the low end of the quality pool, but we must say that al of the Cube’s interior materials feel durable and up to the task of daily duty.

The cabin is also user-friendly thanks to straightforward primary controls that are placed within easy reach. One exception is the optional navigation system, which proved immensely handy as we clawed our way through New York City rush-hour traffic on the hunt for our hotel, but the screen is small and the map was slow to update as we moved from street to street.

As noted, the plastic-ridden interior, fitted with what appeared to be spacious yet relatively flat seats front and rear, had us expecting a rather uncomfortable ride to and from New York. But, truth be told, our editor didn’t have any complaints. That roomy front chair proves sufficiently supportive and is aided by useful door- and center-mounted armrests. A tilt steering wheel helps to create a personalized fit, and head room is abundant. Rear passengers are also provided with ample overall space, and the reclining feature serves to deliver an added level of comfort.

Performance is another area that might cause potential buyers to question the Cube’s suitability for their varied needs. And, to be sure, this front-wheel-drive econobox is several horses shy of being a speed champion, yet apply generous pressure to the gas pedal and the little Nissan proves to be satisfactorily peppy. We spent much of our drive mixed in with the fast-moving traffic that occupied the passing lane, and, while our tolerance for the noisy nature of the high-revving CVT-equipped powertrain quickly wore thin, there was never an actual need for more power.

Similarly, the 2011 Cube’s ride and handling characteristics are well suited for the daily grind, as the chassis does a decent job of blocking a rough road’s ill effects from reaching the cabin. Brake feel is progressive, and the steering system delivers little in terms of feedback or sporty responsiveness.

Two years after its debut, the Nissan Cube continues to offer small car practicality with a good bit of versatility and distinctive styling. For those reasons, we continue to count ourselves among the admirers of the Cube, but a second consecutive year of disappointing reliability ratings from Consumer Reports dulls much of the car’s luster, and fuel economy that peaks at 31 mpg is simply uncompetitive with new models that deliver greater performance and 40 mpg.

By Thom Blackett