2013 Nissan Cube Review
Price: $15,998





+72
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Smooth ride
- ample passenger space
- easy to park
- generous standard features list
- unique customization opportunities.
Cons
- Below-average fuel economy
- less cargo capacity behind the rear seats than rivals
- so-so handling
- disappointing interior materials
- excessive wind noise at high speeds.
What’s new
The 2013 Nissan Cube is virtually unchanged, except for the lineup being streamlined to leave just two trim levels.
Edmunds says
The 2013 Nissan Cube is a reasonably versatile and spacious little wagon, but polarizing styling and notable drawbacks limit its appeal.
For sale near Greer, SC
21 listings
- $5,800good price$2,366 below market
- 90,406 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, personal use only
- 5 Seats, 27 City / 31 Hwy MPG
- Martinsville Motors (177 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Martinsville, VA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
28 Combined MPG (27 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JN8AZ2KR6DT302354
Stock: A2944
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 12-27-2024 - 126,561 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 5 Seats, 27 City / 31 Hwy MPG
- Calvary Motors (207 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Alarm
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
Close
Located in Raleigh, NC
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
28 Combined MPG (27 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JN8AZ2KR0DT304164
Stock: 304164
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 06-05-2024
Vehicle overview
With its boxy shape and asymmetrical window layout, the 2013 Nissan Cube looks as if it came straight from Tokyo's Ginza district. Indeed, the Cube is one of the most distinctive-looking vehicles on the road today. And whether you like that look will probably be the biggest influence on whether you decide to buy one.
Styling aside, the 2013 Nissan Cube has some appealing qualities. With its agreeable ride quality and roomy seating, the Cube is a solid commuter car. Add in its reasonable price and healthy number of standard and optional features and you have an eye-catching set of wheels that could work as well for an 18-year-old college student as it does for her retired grandmother.
But there are some significant downsides, including unremarkable handling, a noisy cabin at freeway speeds and below-average fuel economy. There's also a good bit less room behind the rear seats than you'll find in some other four-door hatchbacks. As such, other small hatchbacks or wagons are likely going to work out better for you on a daily basis. Popular choices include the more versatile 2013 Honda Fit, the roomier Scion xB and the funky-yet-practical 2013 Kia Soul.
Even after auditioning these alternatives, though, you may find that the Cube, by sheer virtue of its style, has won you over. And that's just fine by us.
Performance & mpg
The front-wheel-drive Nissan Cube is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that puts out 122 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on S models, while a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is available as an option on the S and comes standard on the SL.
In performance testing, a Cube with the CVT went from zero to 60 mph in 9.7 seconds -- an average time for a subcompact car. EPA-estimated fuel economy, however, is pretty mediocre for a subcompact at 27 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined with the CVT and 25/30/27 with the manual.
Safety
The 2013 Nissan Cube's list of standard safety features includes antilock brakes (disc front, drum rear), stability and traction control, front-seat side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.
In crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Cube earned the top rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side-impact and roof strength tests.
Driving
On the road, the 2013 Nissan Cube isn't exactly a powerhouse, but – aided by its CVT – its 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is lively enough to satisfy most buyers. The suspension is tuned for a comfortable ride, though this results in unexciting handling. The Cube's most noticeable negative quality is its wind noise at highway speeds, which can grow tiresome on a long trip.
Interior
If you believe different is good, you'll like the Cube's passenger cabin. From the ripple pattern embossed into the headliner and speaker grilles to the available 20-color mood lighting, the interior is nearly as unique as the exterior. What's more, all this attention to form doesn't get in the way of function, with gauges and controls that are easy to see and intuitive to use.
Up front, the seats are fine for daily use but their comfort fades on long trips. The tall roof line gives the rear seats enough head- and legroom for even tall passengers to be comfortable. At just 11.4 cubic feet, cargo space is a bit tight with those 60/40-split rear seatbacks up. Fold them down, however, and you get a cargo hold with a fairly flat load floor and a total of 58 cubic feet of room.
2013 Nissan Cube models
The 2013 Nissan Cube is a five-passenger compact wagon that's offered in just two trim levels: S and SL.
The entry-level S model's list of standard features includes 15-inch steel wheels, rear privacy glass, keyless entry, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, a height-adjustable driver seat, driver and front passenger armrests, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt-only steering wheel, full power accessories, Bluetooth and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack.
Stepping up to the SL gets you 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, keyless ignition/entry and automatic climate control. More importantly, the SL can be upgraded with the Preferred Option package, which includes foglights, a touchscreen navigation system, a rearview camera and a premium Rockford Fosgate sound system with satellite radio and a USB/iPod interface.
A variety of personalization accessories -- including an aerodynamic body kit, distinctive wheels and a shag-carpet dash-topper -- are also available on all models.

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Compare 2013 Nissan Cube trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in South Carolina
$128/mo for Cube 1.8 S
Cube 1.8 S
vs
$150/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Above Average
#19 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$407/yr
vs. $416/yr
for Average Subcompact Car
for Average Subcompact Car
Frequency
0.99x/yr
vs. 1.22x/yr
for Average Subcompact Car
for Average Subcompact Car
Severity
15.4%
vs. 10.1%
for Average Subcompact Car
for Average Subcompact Car
powered by RepairPal
Nissan Cube Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
3.75 out of 5 stars3andg, 02/02/2011
2011 Nissan Cube 1.8 S 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl CVT)
We purchased this car as a third car for commute purposes.
The styling is polarizing - my wife loves it, I hate it.
Regardless of the style, the car is a paragon of packaging efficiency - lot of room in a small package.
The car moves well and keeps up with traffic on both the city and highway. The car is very smooth, but there is a tradeoff in handling due to the smooth ride and tall … structure.
The S has very useful comfort features standard - including bluetooth and iPod connection.
Up to about 70 mph, the car is pretty quiet; however, there is a noticeable increase in noice after 70.
This is a great car if one needs a practical commuter car.
Amazing!!!!!
5 out of 5 starsstevenejb, 02/04/2011
2011 Nissan Cube 1.8 SL 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl CVT)
I purchased my Nissan Cube in June 2010 from Lee's Summit Nissan.
I have enjoyed the vehicle ever since bringing it home, but recently you have won me over as a lifetime customer!
I live in Kansas City and we've had two major winter storms recently with the latest being a blizzard that dumped over 12" of snow in my area.
Everyone I work with was getting stuck and calling for friends with … 4x4 vehicles to take them home.
I got in my Cube and drove right home, up hills, through snow drifts, over ice, and on roads packed with several inches of snow. The Cube was amazing! The traction was outstanding and the vehicle felt secure on the roadway. This vehicle is awesome all around!
Loving this car
5 out of 5 starspianotunertech, 02/12/2011
2011 Nissan Cube 1.8 S Krom Edition 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl CVT)
I had a 2008 Nissan crewcab Titan which was sideswiped by a high school student, I drove a rental Honda Civic for three weeks while the truck was in the bodyshop.
Though I love trucks, and always have to have one around (I'm buying my son a smaller truck, he's 17)
I absolutely loved the freedom of the better gas mileage of the Honda--$20 a week vs. $80 just minimal around town.
But it … felt cramped and uncomfortable to me, the ride wasn't great, etc.
So I checked out and bought an '11 Cube steel grey Krom loaded with bluetooth, Nav, Xm, the works.
It is a very comfortable car--it is a BLAST to drive, it has a very nice ride, and the CVT wrings quite a bit of performance out of the engine.
Got Cute Cube
5 out of 5 starsauntie3, 03/07/2011
2011 Nissan Cube 1.8 S Krom Edition 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl CVT)
I have had my Cube for about a month now. I love it. My husband is a big guy & at 1st didn't want to test drive it but after I talked him in to it, he loves it too. It's way bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside. It handles very well and has a tight turning radius. You can park this car anywhere and get into very tight areas. It is extremely quiet. The transmission is … awesome in this car, you can not hear it shift. It handles bumps in the road great. I have drove it on ice and snow and although the tires are small it handles great. It has alot of storage area in it. The back seats lay flat to make more cargo area and it's great.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2013 Nissan Cube, so we've included reviews for other years of the Cube since its last redesign.
2013 Cube Highlights
1.8 S
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $16,760 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 27 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $128/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 11.4 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Cube include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover17.4%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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