Auto News 5

After a long wait, America is finally getting the Nissan Cube. The first version launched in Japan in 1998 and stayed around until 2002. It lacked the unique design of the second-generation Cube that was sold from 2002 through 2008. We had a Japan-spec version of that car in the office last year and loved the funky styling, small size, and tight turning circle. The latest Cube keeps most of the cute styling of the last version but loses some of the odd features such as the column-shift automatic transmission and an electrically powered rear axle that gave the Cube four-wheel drive at low speeds.