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A 1.6-litre petrol engine with 109bhp is the sole choice for Cube buyers to begin with. It does a decent, if uninspiring, job of propelling the Cube along, covering 0-62mph in 11.3 seconds to put it on a par with the less powerful versions of the Fiat 500 and Mini that rare its closest rivals. The five-speed manual gearbox has an easy and light shift and is the best bet for most drivers as the CVT (continuously variable transmission) blunts performance and economy. Unless all of your driving is confined to stop-start city traffic, the CVT is not worth the £1200 needed to add it to the Cube. Otherwise, the Cube builds speed easily and cruises along at the motorway maximum with little wind noise, which is a revelation given its boxy shape. Road and engine noise are also kept at a more than acceptable level for calm progress on any journey.

The Cube takes most driving duties in its stride to make journeys uneventful. There’s none of the verve found in a Fiat 500 or Mini, but then this is part of the Cube’s appeal: it’s a tranquil place to be when getting from A to B. The suspension copes with most ruts and ridges efficiently, it goes round corners without too much lean or any unnerving characteristics, and the steering is light. Steering is one of the Cube’s only stand-out driving features, in fact, as it has an incredibly compact turning circle to make city driving a cinch and parking a Cube remarkably simple as it slots into almost any bay, helped also by its slab-sided shape making it easy to judge the extremities of the Nissan. On the motorway and faster country roads, the soft suspension copes well with bumps. There’s no thrill factor for keen drivers, but the Cube sticks to its mission of providing comfort and a very individual driving experience.

Finding fault with the Cube is a pointless exercise when it comes to the way it’s put together. Every inch of the car exudes a sense of the Cube being made with care, attention and, perhaps, just a little more love from the Nissan factory workers than a Plain Jane Micra receives. All of the cabin materials feels solid and of a high grade, while the exterior is a lesson in tight panel gaps. Underneath the unusual looks, the engine, gearbox and suspension are all standard Nissan fare, so there’s absolutely nothing to sweat about here as Nissan enjoys one of the best reputations in the world for how strong and long-lived its cars are.

It may be an oddball among the ranks of superminis and small family hatches on offer in the UK, but there’s no shirking when it comes to the Cube’s safety kit. Six airbags are standard across the range, along ESP stability and traction control. An alarm and immobiliser are also included and Nissan has a sound track record when it comes to resisting thieves and protecting its occupants in the event of an accident, though the Cube is yet to be submitted to a Euro NCAP crash test assessment.

Nissan’s designers were inspired to create the Cube’s interior by Jacuzzi pools and 1960 jazz club lounges, so it’s no surprise to find it major on comfort. The tall, flat sides of the Cube’s exterior create masses of headroom and allow for an upright seating position front and rear that makes it ideal for long trips without inducing back ache. The view out is good in most directions, though the Cube’s asymmetric styling that puts more glass along the passenger side and wraps around the rear nearside corner doesn’t quite create the perfect vision when the driver looks over his or her shoulder. This is due to the large pillar that is set into the glass, but overall the Cube is better to see out of than many small hatches. The rear seat is a 60/40 split and tip design and the whole rear bench can be slid back and forth to vary passenger and boot space. As for the boot, it’s a decent size and the large rear tailgate offers excellent access.

The Cube is an acquired motoring taste and one Nissan reckons will find 1000 buyers for in a year. This means the Cube will be a relatively rare sight on UK roads and this should help bolster used values. There’s also the advantage that the Cube isn’t a Mini, so its rarity value is all the more welcome. Prices for the Cube are reasonable, though slightly more than for an equivalent Fiat 500, though the Nissan offers notably more space. There are two version of the Nissan: the entry point Cube and the Kaizen model. The starter model comes with air conditioning, cruise control, alloy wheels, keyless entry and ignition, and a large glass sunroof, so it’s got everything you really need. The Kaizen ups the ante with climate control, satellite navigation, a rear parking camera and USB port for your music. Given its price, the Kaizen is great value for money when compared to a Mini equipped to the same level. The Cube also works out well for running costs as it returns 42.8mpg with the manual gearbox (40.3mpg with the CVT ’box), while carbon dioxide emissions of 151g/km (159g/km for the CVT) are acceptable if not particularly impressive. Servicing should not be expensive at Nissan dealers, while a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty is standard.

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