ROAD TESTS.....2011 Nissan Cube & 2012 Nissan Maxima

     We pull 2 Nissan's from the EverythingCarz garage today; the 2011 Cube and 2012 Maxima. I just returned from an overnight road trip from LA to Mammoth Lakes in both vehicles and can honestly say the Cube is NOT a long distance vehicle by ANY means whatsoever but the Maxima absolutely is! 

Cube SL

     First, we'll start with the Cube. The vehicle tested here, a brand new 2011 SL with only 35 miles on the clock came equipped with the Preferred Package plus a few other optional accessory items. While I personally like the Cube's quirky overall design I still think anyone over 30 looks kind of funny behind the wheel. The 120 horsepower 4-cylinder moves this 2800 pound toaster along at a decent pace or at least it WOULD move it along if the loud & whiny hamsters operating the CVT didn't sap the life out of it. If you don't care at all about the new car you're shopping for coming with a navigation, or thumping bass from its subwoofer, or starting with a key instead of a push button, then you owe it to yourself to test drive both the 6-speed manual and CVT equipped Cube's. I guarantee, depending on your particular situation of course, that you'll go for the manual. On the positive side, the Cube is very easy to park, has a user friendly optional navigation, and gets great gas mileage but is best used as an around the town commuter car for the 20-something crowd.

     Pricing begins at about $15,750 including destination charge for the "S", & tops out at roughly $21,350 including destination charge for the "SL" w/ Preferred pkg and a few other optional accessory items.

     EPA estimates fuel mileage to be 27 MPG city and 31 MPG hwy. I averaged 29 MPG combined on my trip to Mammoth based on an average speed of 75mph and using the A/C for about half the trip 

+

• Rockford Fosgate Audio
• Idiot Proof Navigation
• Pretty Good Visibility

_

• ONE front seat armrest for the driver only....WTF?
• Underpowered
• Bulldog face...STUPID!
• Cardboard Seats
  
  

TEST VEHICLE:

2011 Nissan Cube SL     $21,350

Pearl White
Light Gray Cloth

120 hp 4-cylinder
Front Wheel Drive
16” Alloy Wheels

Automatic Headlamps

Automatic Temp Control

Preferred Package ($1700)

Rear Cargo Organizer ($180)

Roof Spoiler ($360)

          Maxima SV Premium

     Now, the Maxima. The vehicle tested here, a brand new 2012 SV Premium trim level with only 7 miles on the clock came equipped with the Tech Premium Package plus a few other optional accessory items. Having once owned a 1984 Maxima, I have always been a fan of this car. Nissan has always labeled this car their "4-door Sports Car" and rightly so. It's sporty, roomy, comfortable, serves up plenty of horsepower & torque whenever needed, & I think today's version has got a certain sex appeal about it.

     During the aforementioned Mammoth trip, I found the phone, navigation, and ipod/audio controls all very easy to set-up/use and all were within easy reach allowing me to continue to focus on the road ahead without distraction. The seats & visibility were excellent & my god again with the heated steering wheel feature! I just cannot stress to my readers enough on how much I love this feature! Mammoth was a crisp 34 degrees on the morning we headed out of town & my hands felt great!

     What are the Maxima's downsides? First & foremost (and this applies to ALL Infiniti & upper level Nissan models) the ability to turn off the damn weather alert bitch that comes on EVERY TIME the car is started! OMG is this feature annoying...BUT...not NEARLY annoying as trying to find out how to turn it off within the Nissan/Infiniti rotary dial control pad. Not a deal breaker overall but man do they need to either get rid of this function or at least make it more readily accessible for turning off. Other than that, I think Nissan should work on stepping up the fit/finish and quality of materials when asking $41,000 for this mid-sizer.

 

     Pricing begins at about $32,850 including destination charge for the "S", & tops out at roughly $41,000 including destination charge for the "SV" Tech Premium.
     EPA estimates fuel mileage to be 19 MPG city and 26 MPG hwy. I got 24 MPG up to Mammoth & 29 MPG on the way back based on an average speed of 75mph and using the A/C for about half the trip 

+

• Power & Handling
• Excellent Navigation & BOSE stereo
• Heated Steering Wheel & Panoramic Sunroof
• Impressive fuel mileage
• Trunk Space 

_

• How do you turn off that weather alert bitch?!
• Infiniti G pricing
• Coarse CVT
  
  

TEST VEHICLE:

2012 Nissan Maxima SV Premium     $41,000

Brilliant Silver
Charcoal Leather

290 hp V6
Front Wheel Drive

18” Alloy Wheels

Automatic Headlamps
Fog Lamps

Dual Zone Automatic Temp Control

9-speaker BOSE Audio

Panoramic Moonroof

Power Rear Sunshade

Heated/Cooled Driver Seat
Heated Passenger Seat

Rear View Monitor

Heated Power Tilt/Telescopic Steering Wheel

Heated Turn Signal Mirrors

Xenon Headlamps

Tech Premium Package ($1850)

Carpeted Floor & Trunk Mats ($200)