Autos: Hip to be square

H uey Lewis and the News declared it way back in 1987, but it seems carmakers are just now figuring out that it’s “hip to be square.” Diana Cadham of British Columbia certainly thinks so. This past summer she downsized to one of the newest cube-like compacts on the market. Cadham, a 51-year-old health-care worker from Langley, B.C., dumped her gas-guzzling Dodge Nitro for the Kia Soul, a futuristic looking economy car that would feel at home on any sci-fi movie set. “The look of the Soul was absolutely the first thing that attracted me to it,” she recalls. “I like a car that doesn’t look like anything else on the road.” Cadham also found much to love with the fuel economy and roomy interior, which allows her to ferry her Labradoodle to the dog park in comfort. A spacious fuel-sipper with style was also just the thing Stan Hohnholz was searching for. He downsized this summer too, but the 58-year-old Vancouverite set his sights on the boxy Nissan Cube instead. “My partner and I are both over six feet tall, so finding a car that was comfortable was at the top of my list. And after driving a Ford Windstar van for the last five years, I didn’t want to retreat on comfort, but did want better mileage.” In addition to the Soul and Cube, Toyota is introducing a new contender, the Scion xB, which is crossing over the 49th parallel for the first time in 2010. Like the entries from Kia and Nissan, it’s big on style but small enough to squeeze into the narrowest urban parking spots. All three cars are reminiscent of the Honda Element, another angular vehicle that defied the usual labels when it debuted in 2003. Like the Element, the Kia Soul, Nissan Cube and Scion xB are marketed towards a younger target audience. But as it turned out, Honda missed the mark with the Element and the vehicle proved more popular with older buyers who appreciated the practical side of a big box on wheels. The fact that fifty-somethings such as Cadham and Hohnholz love the Soul and Cube suggests those cars may appeal to older folks too. But Petrina Gentile, an automotive writer for the Globe and Mail, thinks the newcomers have an advantage over the aging Element in terms of their appeal to younger buyers. “(These cars) should reach a younger demographic simply because of the price,” she predicts. “They are affordable, functional and cool. There’s so much headroom, seat space and cargo space that they’re perfect for camping or sports.” With such high praise, MoneySense decided to put the Soul, Cube and Scion xB head-to-head to see how these cubist cars stack up. Here’s what we found: Kia Soul (base price $17,145) The Soul definitely has a sense of fun and an almost toy-like appearance. Five models are available with two engine choices, a 1.6L rated at 122 hp or a sportier 1.8L rated at 142 hp. City drivers will require a few more fill-ups a year with the bigger engine, though commuters won’t see much difference in fuel costs with either choice. Since the smaller powerplant is only available with a manual transmission, Canadians who drive automatics will be forced to opt for the pricier models. Our test vehicle was the Soul 4U Retro, which featured the larger powerplant and some eccentric touches, like houndstooth seat fabric and door-mounted LED “mood lamp” speakers that can be set to pulse ominously or keep time to the music. Our mood quickly soured on the gimmicky glow and we turned the feature off. But there is much to admire in the standard equipment that comes with all Soul models, like the six air bags, power windows and locks, power-heated mirrors, AM/FM/CD stereo with iPod and USB inputs, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and heated front seats. Air conditioning and ABS brakes are also standard on all models except the 1.6L. From the outside, the Soul is definitely eye-catching and the overhead liftgate is handy for staying dry while loading groceries or gear into the spacious trunk. But although the Soul beats the Cube on trunk space, the Nissan comes out on top when the rear seats are folded down to stuff bigger items into the back. The inside is spacious for people too, but hard plastic surfaces are everywhere, even on the door armrests, making the interior less comfortable than it could be. The ride is meant to be on the sporty side, but on uneven roads it was bone-jarring for both driver and passengers. Nissan Cube (base price $16,998) The Cube has no sporty pretensions, but its shoebox-on-wheels design is definitely a head-turner. It comes in just two versions, the base S or the more fully loaded SL. Both share the same peppy 1.8L engine that garnered good reviews for the Nissan Versa. Price and practicality are definitely big assets for the Cube, which makes the most of its square shape by serving up more interior elbow room than even the mid-sized Nissan Maxima. And despite its modest cost, every Cube comes with air conditioning, heated power mirrors, power windows and locks, a tire pressure monitoring system, six air bags, ABS brakes, traction and stability control, CD stereo and 15” steel wheels. The SL adds bigger alloy wheels, automatic headlights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, CD/MP3 stereo, and an “Intelligent Key” system that lets you keep your keys in your pocket and start the car with the push of a button. Driving the Cube was pleasant everywhere except on the highway, where its terribly non-aerodynamic shape created a lot of wind noise. City driving is where this car excels, with its tight turning circle and low fuel consumption. Parking was a breeze with its small footprint and the wide, side-opening tailgate was great for loading large boxes into the back. Like the Soul, the rear seats fold forward, but the Cube also features sliding rear seats. If you need a little more trunk space you can slide the back seat forward. Need more legroom for taller passengers in the back? Just slide the rear seats backwards again. The Cube also bested the Soul on interior comfort with softer materials and a smoother ride overall. The only thing we found lacking was the number of storage pockets and bins, though there are far more cup holders in the front than two people could possibly use. Scion xB (pricing to be announced) Although millions of U.S. consumers have been snapping up assorted Scion models since 2003, Canadians won’t get an official look at this Toyota mini-brand until early next year. Canadian pricing has not yet been set, but it is expected to start in the same range as the Cube and Soul. Earlier models of the Scion xB looked very much like a Honda Element that had been left in a hot dryer for too long—but the new model resembles something that might hatch from a mating of the Soul and Cube. The xB comes with the largest engine of our trio, a 2.4L producing 158 hp. Other standard items include a full array of safety features, like ABS, traction control, an anti-skid system and six air bags. The list of optional features and accessories is vast and allows buyers to customize their xB with unique wheels, shift knobs, sport pedals, decals and more. You can even have LCD monitors built into the back of the headrest. Similar to the Soul’s mood speakers, the xB can be ordered with LED light bars under the dash that can be set to glow blue, orange, green or red. We didn’t get a chance to drive the xB, but Lemon-Aid guide author Phil Edmonston says U.S. owners have reported “relatively few reliability issues” and lauded the car’s “good maneuverability and a comfortable ride.” It has one downside though: he says the car isn’t as frugal on gas as its diminutive size might suggest. Between the two cars that can be purchased right now, we found the Cube to be the better fit for anyone looking for an eye-catching and roomy passenger car to zip about the city. If you’re looking for a commuter car, the Cube’s sleeker sibling, the Nissan Versa, would probably do the job better. Or you can wait until the Scion xB hits the road and test drive all three. It’s slated to land at select Toyota dealers this spring. m

Autos: Hip to be square

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Autos: Hip to be square

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