Minimal changes have been made to the Nissan Cube for the 2012 model year. Safety features, such as the airbag system and an electronic stability system, have been improved on all trims, while an expanded navigation package is now available for the 1.8 S trim.

Nissan offers three trim levels for the 2012 Cube: 1.8 Base, 1.8 S and1.8 SL. All trims seat 5 passengers, run on regular gas and are front-wheel drive. Each comes factory equipped with a 122-hp 1.8-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine that makes 127 lb-ft of torque. The Base and S trims come equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, while the top-of-the-line SL is paired with an Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is an available option for the S trim. Manual-transmission equipped Cubes are rated to get 25 mpg city/30 highway, while CVT-equipped trims are estimated at 27/31.

Standard equipment features that can be found in all trims include air conditioning (with in-cabin microfilter), power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, power outside mirrors, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cloth seats, 6-way manual adjustable driver’s seat, 4-way manual adjustable passenger’s seat, 60/40 split-fold reclining/sliding rear bench seat, 2-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system (with auxiliary MP3/WMA audio input jack), variable intermittent front windshield wipers, intermittent rear window wiper and 15-inch steel wheels (with bolt-on wheel covers and all-season tires).

For those buyers selecting the S trim, additional standard equipment includes premium cloth seating surfaces, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted cruise and audio controls, 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with auxiliary MP3/WMA audio input jack, Bluetooth HandsFree phone system connectivity and an iPod interface system. In addition to the CVT, upgrading to the SL trim adds automatic on/off headlights and 16-inch split-spoke aluminum alloy wheels (with all-season tires).

Three packages are available for the various trim levels of the 2012 Nissan Cube. The 1.8 Base trim can be configured with the Cargo Version Package, which includes a rear bench seat (with LATCH system), rear seatbelts, rear head restraints and visor vanity mirrors. The SL trim can be upgraded to the Preferred Package, which adds the Nissan Navigation System (with 5.0-inch color touchscreen monitor), XM satellite radio (with NavTraffic and a 3-month trial subscription), Rockford Fosgate 8-inch subwoofer and amplifier (with 6 upgraded speakers), USB connection port for iPod and a rear-view camera monitor). A special Indigo Limited Edition is available to buyers of the S trim as well. Individual upgradeable options include a rear roof spoiler, splash guards, aerodynamic kit, sport kit and 3 different sets of wheels. Not all options are available for all trim levels.

As far as safety and security features go, the 2012 Nissan Cube is fully equipped. The Nissan Advanced Airbag System—with dual-stage supplemental front airbags with seatbelt and occupant-classification sensors, driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental airbags and roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental airbags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection—comes standard in all trims, as do front-seat active head restraints, an energy-absorbing steering column, tire pressure monitoring system, power-assisted vented front disc/rear drum brakes (with antilock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist), vehicle dynamic control with a traction control system, a vehicle immobilizer system and a vehicle security system.

Several current owners of the 2012 Nissan Cube note the vehicle’s style is not for everyone. However, its unique styling does lend itself to a roomy interior and a surprisingly lively handling vehicle. While the Cube will never win any drag races, many owners concur that its comfort and competent handling make it a good choice for city driving or short-distance highway runs.

Competing in the affordable small car market against the likes of the Kia Soul and Scion xB, the 2012 Nissan Cube finds itself being outpriced slightly by the competition. Ultimately, styling and brand loyalty will likely determine how well the Cube handles the competition.