Nissan’s Dumpy Box Is The Ideal Car For Families On A Seriously Small Budget

Cars have been getting ever more expensive over the past decade or so, with CarEdge reporting that while the average cost of a new car in the US currently stands at $48,641 in 2025, the figure resided at just over $30,000 in 2012. As a result, families with less disposable income are finding it harder and harder to buy new. It’s sobering to realize there’s but a single car left in the US for less than $20k – the Nissan Versa. A consequence is that the used market suddenly looks more attractive, and there are some seriously good deals to be had, depending on the time of year you look.

For families looking to stack pennies, a cheap and reliable vehicle that provides enough practicality to carry their family and nail everyday tasks is the golden ticket. Thanks to Nissan, the perfect wagon could be waiting for you to make a move.

The Cube Was Nissan’s Way Of Injecting Personality Into MPVs

There’s no getting around it; most MPVs are pretty boring, unlike the crazy Opel Zafira OPC, which is the exception to the rule. They aren’t designed to push the boundaries of modern engineering by breaking speed records or posting beastly lap times, and they’re not crafted to attack the likes of Rolls-Royce and Maybach in the luxury department. Minivans do carry out a very important job, though, being a dependable and practical family bus that gets the job done when asked.

Discussion

What’s better between a minivan and an SUV with a third row?

If you don’t need to go off-roading or won’t be doing much towing, the minivan wins. It has a more accessible rear cabin thanks to sliding doors, along with better general space utilization and more seating configurations. Minivans are also very comfortable to drive. However, SUVs look better and there are many more options available. Would you consider a minivan over a three-row SUV?

As a result, making their exterior and interior designs interesting tends to be pushed further down the priority list in favor of things like space and reliability. Nissan felt it could combine all these elements in one zany package, and developed the Cube. As its name suggests, the most obvious characteristic of the vehicle is its square, cube-like body shape, which stands out against its largely curvaceous modern rivals.

The Cube Was Offered For Over Two Decades

Three generations of the Cube were unleashed over a span of 21 years, with the Z10 making its bow in 1998 before being replaced by the Z11 in 2002. The Z11 featured the boxiest design of the trio, with the third-gen Z12 Cube coming with its edges more rounded off, though its square proportions were still clearly visible. Due to poor sales, the Cube was removed from the US market in 2014, though it continued to be sold in Japan until 2019. Japanese owners can even send their Cubes back to Nissan for restoration, after the marque introduced the service in 2024.

The Largely Forgotten Cube Costs Peanuts In 2025

When looking for a used Cube, opting for the final year 2014 example is the best bet. Due to being the last of the breed, Nissan’s engineers managed to kick out any niggling issues that had snuck through the net during the design process. Kelley Blue Book reports that base model S variants should cost you around $5,200 on the used market, while better-equipped SL versions should come in at around $6,500.

Searching For SL Trim Cubes Will Pay Dividends

Whichever trim you opt for, around $5,000 for a spacious Japanese MPV that is just over ten years old is good going. Considering the small price difference between the two trim levels, you’d be better off focusing on securing the SL due to the extra kit it offers. While both versions come with the same 1.8-liter inline-four engine, which sends 122 hp to the front wheels, the SL comes with a CVT automatic as standard.

Related

The Subcompact SUV Powered By A Nissan GT-R’s Mighty Engine

The combo no one asked for was better than we ever could have expected.

The S is only available with a six-speed manual, which remained as a no-cost option on the SL. Aside from this, the SL also got climate control rather than basic air-conditioning, larger 16-inch wheels, and automatic headlights. It also received a wider menu of options, which are well worth looking out for when trawling the used marketplace. These include satellite navigation, which should help you keep out of lakes, a rearview monitor, and USB connectivity for your media devices. Do your homework, and you could find a well-stocked Cube for an absolute steal.

Related

You Have This Mazda To Thank For A Feature Found In Almost Every New Car Today

GPS navigation systems are common in all modern vehicles. The first to use this system was the Mazda Eunos Cosmo.

The Cube Offers Excellent Practicality

While the included kit is all well and good, one of the chief reasons to buy a Cube is its practicality. Its square shape ensures it has an impressive amount of headroom, with its 42.6 inches of front headroom playing 40.2 inches of space in the back. This compares well to close rivals like the Toyota Urban Cruiser, which only manages 38.9 inches of headroom in the front and 37.5 inches in the rear. The similarly boxy Scion xB has two inches less headroom in the front, but beats the Cube by an inch in the back.

The Cube also had the Toyota beat in terms of legroom, with around two inches extra in the front and rear compartments. The xB has the Cube beat in terms of rear legroom, though it has slightly less in the front. While the extra room makes the Cube’s cabin more spacious and comfortable to travel in, it also helps when trying to access the rear to strap children into their car seats, for example. The Cube even has superior cargo space, with its 11.4 cubic feet of space when the rear seats are up, heading the Urban Cruiser’s 11.0 cubic feet of usable area. The xB comes out on top in this regard, with 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space.

Related

The Most Reliable Used Minivan For Families On A Tight Budget

If you have a family and are looking for a reliable minivan from the mid-2000s, this is the best choice on the market.

The van-like Cube impresses even more when the seats are lowered, as it then boasts a cargo capacity of 58.1 cubic feet, double that of the Urban Cruiser. Both vehicles also have seating for five. For those looking to maximize practicality, the Cube is a truly excellent option.

The Boxy JDM Hero Will Also Ensure You’ll Reach Your Destination Without Being Covered In Oil

Having established that the Cube is not only immensely affordable and well-equipped, as well as impressively practical, it’s now time to tackle dependability. Being Japanese, it shouldn’t come as too much of a shock to learn that the Cube has earned a reputation as being a reliable family wagon.

The model has earned a 4.8/5-star reliability score through KBB across a total of 148 customer reviews, with 82% of these being five-star ones. This performance is backed up by RepairPal, a site that uses owner feedback to estimate how much a car will cost to maintain per year. The outlet reports that a Cube should only cost around $461 per year to keep in tip-top condition, which should keep your wallet happy.

Related

Why One Of The Most Popular Automotive Segments Is Facing Extinction

The once-mighty minivan and its family vehicle market share dominance has disappeared without a trace. Why?

The Cube Has Been Subject To A Single Recall

The US government-run National Highway Transport Safety Administration backs up this report, as it has only received a total of seven complaints regarding the model so far. The issues vary widely, which is always a good sign, suggesting that there are no recurring problems to be wary of that form a worrying pattern. The Cube has been subject to a single manufacturer recall, which covers its engine start/stop button. The switch can get stuck in its housing while driving along, which could cause it to be pressed and shut the engine off. Certain examples built between 2013 and 2014 were affected, and the fix consisted of modifying the housing to prevent the issue from occurring.

All in all, the Cube is one of the best choices around for small families looking to save money buying their next vehicle. The Japanese box is practical, well-equipped for the low used price and very reliable, and comes with personality due to its unusual exterior design. Paint it blue and white, and it could even function as the perfect US Postal Service weapon.

Sources: Nissan, Toyota, Scion.