The inimitable Nissan Cube has struck again, earning further recognition that not only is it one of the most dramatically designed vehicles on the market today, but it’s also one of the most affordable.
This includes being named to the annual “Coolest Cars under $18,000” rankings from the auto mavens at Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. Vehicles making the list had to be fun to drive, fun to own and rate highly on the the Kelley Blue Book “cool meter,” and that’s an ideal description of the Cube.
According to KBB.com editors, the nifty Nissan’s “squares-meet-circles design theme gets a lot of attention, but the Cube’s attractiveness is more than skin deep, with features like a sliding and reclining second-row seat, an overabundance of head room and a headliner design that mimics the concentric circles created by a pebble dropped into a pond.” The bottom line “is an exceptionally practical and modestly priced car” that will ensure its owners stand out from the crowd.
And for 2012, Nissan will help Cube owners chill out even further with enhancements like five new exterior colors and a new feature package. Available for the 1.8 S CVT model, the package adds a model-specific seat color, navigation, a rearview camera, a premium Rockford Fosgate audio system, the Nissan Intelligent Key with remote lock/unlocking capabilities and 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels, but without adding much to the bottom line. In fact, the Cube still starts with a base MSRP of just $14,470—well below KBB.com’s Coolest Cars cutoff point.
When you also consider that three different Cube models won an Insure.com Low Cost Car Insurance Award this year, it’s clear that thinking inside the box has its benefits, too.
