2012 Nissan Cube

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2012 Nissan Cube
Compare 3 Trims View Local Inventory
Key Specs
Our Take
Overview
Photos
Reviews
Safety & Recalls
Warranty & CPO
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Compare 3 Trims View Local Inventory

Key Specs

of the 2012 Nissan Cube. Base trim shown.

Our Take

From the Cars.com Vehicle Test Team

The Good

  • Ride quality
  • Quiet cabin
  • Gas mileage with CVT
  • City-friendly turning circle

The Bad

  • Sluggish acceleration
  • Ungainly handling
  • Unsupportive seats
  • Small cargo area
  • Clearance required by swing-gate rear door

Notable Features of the 2012 Nissan Cube

  • Manual or CVT automatic
  • Seats five
  • Bulldog-inspired styling
  • Adjustable rear seats

2012 Nissan Cube Overview

By Cars.com Editors
Vehicle Overview

The Cube, which has been a hit in Japan for some time now, landed in the U.S. a few years ago. Competitors include the Scion xB and Kia Soul, as well as the Honda Fit and Jeep Patriot. All Cubes come with an electronic stability system and six airbags. Trim levels include the base, S and SL.

New for 2012

A new package for the S trim level adds more features including a navigation system, backup camera, Rockford Fosgate stereo, Nissan Intelligent Key, 15-inch alloy wheels and a unique seat color. Nissan Intelligent Key is now standard on SL models.

Exterior

The Cube's tail features a rearward-jutting bumper. A wraparound window replaces the passenger-side exterior rear pillar, though there's a hidden pillar on the inside so it doesn't make for blind-spot-free sightlines. Exterior features include:

  • Swing-out rear door, rather than liftgate
  • Standard 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers
  • Optional 15- and 16-inch alloy wheels
  • Standard black-colored folding mirrors; body-colored mirrors on S and SL
  • Optional rear spoiler

Interior

Like the xB, the five-seat Cube sports some unorthodox styling. The dash has wavelike contours and the tachometer is white, but the speedometer fades to blue. "Water drop" accents include ripple effects in the headliner, cupholders and stereo speakers. Nissan says it styled the backseat after a sofa; the seats recline and move forward and backward. The seats also fold down, though they don't yield a flat load floo...

Vehicle Overview

The Cube, which has been a hit in Japan for some time now, landed in the U.S. a few years ago. Competitors include the Scion xB and Kia Soul, as well as the Honda Fit and Jeep Patriot. All Cubes come with an electronic stability system and six airbags. Trim levels include the base, S and SL.

New for 2012

A new package for the S trim level adds more features including a navigation system, backup camera, Rockford Fosgate stereo, Nissan Intelligent Key, 15-inch alloy wheels and a unique seat color. Nissan Intelligent Key is now standard on SL models.

Exterior

The Cube's tail features a rearward-jutting bumper. A wraparound window replaces the passenger-side exterior rear pillar, though there's a hidden pillar on the inside so it doesn't make for blind-spot-free sightlines. Exterior features include:

  • Swing-out rear door, rather than liftgate
  • Standard 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers
  • Optional 15- and 16-inch alloy wheels
  • Standard black-colored folding mirrors; body-colored mirrors on S and SL
  • Optional rear spoiler

Interior

Like the xB, the five-seat Cube sports some unorthodox styling. The dash has wavelike contours and the tachometer is white, but the speedometer fades to blue. "Water drop" accents include ripple effects in the headliner, cupholders and stereo speakers. Nissan says it styled the backseat after a sofa; the seats recline and move forward and backward. The seats also fold down, though they don't yield a flat load floor. There's a deep storage well behind the seats. Interior features include:

  • Light gray or graphite interior colors
  • Standard power windows and locks with remote keyless entry
  • Optional keyless access with push-button start
  • Standard manual air conditioning
  • Optional automatic climate control
  • USB/iPod-compatible stereo with steering-wheel audio controls on S and SL
  • Optional Rockford Fosgate stereo with satellite radio
  • Optional Bluetooth connectivity

Under the Hood

There is one engine available for the Cube. Mechanical features include:

  • 122-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder
  • Standard six-speed manual transmission
  • Optional continuously variable automatic transmission

Safety

Standard safety features include:

  • Antilock brakes
  • Electronic stability system
  • Active front head restraints
  • Seat-mounted side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for both rows


View 10 Photos

Latest 2012 Cube Stories

See all 2012 Nissan Cube articles >

Consumer Reviews

4.9
8 reviews
Exterior Styling
(4.9)
Performance
(4.4)
Interior Design
(5.0)
Comfort
(5.0)
Reliability
(4.9)
Value For The Money
(4.9)

What Drivers Are Saying

(5.0)

Spacious and comfortable, my favorite car!

by pgham from Bellingham, WA on February 7, 2018

Comfortable for road trips or just getting around town. Great views from the huge windows. Great sound system, exterior and interior color and styling in the Indigo Limited Edition, plus a smooth ride... Read full review

(5.0)

Love my car- Low on gas mileage- Silent

by Elaine Jamison - Cube owner from Park Forest, Illinois on January 31, 2018

I love the Style, Interior looks like a melting ice cube- Ceiling. Trunk space is not what you expect. Very comfortable. Again, Silent-hardly even know the car is running. You sometimes have to check ... Read full review

Safety & Recalls

Recalls

The 2012 Nissan Cube currently has 0 recalls

IIHS Crash and Rollover Test Ratings

Based on 2012 Nissan Cube 1.8

IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor.

Head Restraints and Seats

Dynamic Rating
good
Overall Rear
good
Seat Head/Restraint Geometry
good

Moderate overlap front

Chest
good
Head/Neck
good
Left Leg/Foot
good
Overall Front
good
Restraints
good
Right Leg/Foot
good
Structure/safety cage
good

Other

Roof Strength
good

Side

Driver Head Protection
good
Driver Head and Neck
good
Driver Pelvis/Leg
good
Driver Torso
good
Overall Side
good
Rear Passenger Head Protection
good
Rear Passenger Head and Neck
good
Rear Passenger Pelvis/Leg
acceptable
Rear Passenger Torso
good
Structure/safety cage
acceptable
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit research and communications organization funded by auto insurers.

Manufacturer Warranty

  • Bumper-to-Bumper

    36 months / 36,000 miles

  • Powertrain

    60 months / 60,000 miles

CPO Program & Warranty

Certified Pre-Owned by Nissan

Program Benefits

24 Hour Emergency Roadside Assistance, Towing Assistance, Trip Interruption Benefits, 3-month free subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio on properly equipped vehicles, Complimentary CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™ and 3-Year CARFAX® Buy Back Guarantee

  • Limited Warranty

    7 years / 100,000 miles

    7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty from original in-service date; $50 deductible

  • Eligibility

    Under 6 years / 80,000 miles

    Vehicles receive a 167 point inspection and reconditioning.

Have Questions about warranties or CPO programs?

See Warranty FAQs

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Cars.com Car Seat Check

Certified child passenger safety technicians conduct hands-on tests of a car’s Latch system and check the vehicle’s ability to accommodate different types of car seats. The Cube received the following grades on a scale of A-F.*
* This score may not apply to all trims, especially for vehicles with multiple body styles that affect the space and design of the seating.

Warranty FAQs

What is a Bumper-to-Bumper warranty?

Often called a basic warranty or new-vehicle warranty, a bumper-to-bumper policy covers components like air conditioning, audio systems, vehicle sensors, fuel systems and major electrical components. Most policies exclude regular maintenance like fluid top offs and oil changes, but a few brands have separate free-maintenance provisions, and those that do offer them is slowly rising. Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically expire faster than powertrain warranties.

What is a Powertrain warranty?

Don't be misled a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty doesn't promise a decade of free repairs for your car. It typically covers just the engine and transmission, along with any other moving parts that lead to the wheels, like the driveshaft and constant velocity joints. Some automakers also bundle seat belts and airbags into their powertrain warranties. With a few exceptions, powertrain warranties don't cover regular maintenance like engine tuneups and tire rotations.

What is included in Roadside Assistance?

Some automakers include roadside assistance with their bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranties, while others have separate policies. These programs cover anything from flat-tire changes and locksmith services to jump-starts and towing. Few reimburse incidental costs like motel rooms (if you have to wait for repairs).

What other services could be included in a warranty?

Some automakers include free scheduled maintenance for items such as oil changes, air filters and tire rotations. Some include consumables including brake pads and windshield wipers; others do not. They are typically for the first couple of years of ownership of a new car.

What does CPO mean?

A certified pre-owned or CPO car has been inspected to meet minimum quality standards and typically includes some type of warranty. While dealers and third parties certify cars, the gold standard is an automaker-certified vehicle that provides a factory-backed warranty, often extending the original coverage. Vehicles must be in excellent condition and have low miles and wear to be certified, which is why off-lease vehicles feed many CPO programs.

See also the latest CPO incentives by automaker