2010 Scion Xb vs 2010 Nissan Cube vs 2010 Kia Soul
There are some things that are polarizing like the discussion of politics, Tiger Wood’s marital issues and whether or not boxy cars are cool. The Scion XB started the trend and since the introduction of the first generation (we are now on generation 2) Nissan and Kia have both launched their own takes on the stylistic trend.
It is odd, though, you would think that cars shaped like boxes wouldn’t get much of a reaction from people but they either love them or they hate them. There is no middle ground. But that isn’t to say the Soul, Cube and XB all look the same. Far from it.
The XB sticks to a purely boxy visage whereas the Soul gives the concept a sportily rounded edge and the Cube, well, the Cube is just bizarre. If you look too long at the Cube it might give you a seizure as there are just too many design elements crammed in such a small exterior space. But somehow it manages to look cute in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” kind of way.
Kia Soul Sport
From an exterior styling point of view the Kia Soul is the easiest of this trio to like. Its compact, tidy dimensions make the vehicle look utilitarian and sporty at the same time. This is borne out by an interior with more cargo space than the seemingly larger Cube and a very stylish looking dashboard. But that brings me to my one problem with the Soul Sport. The designers for some reason decided to cover the door panels, dash tops, and the seats in a color that I can only think to call “hooker red.”
The red in the interior is just really too much and threatens to overwhelm the neat, tidy and high quality design off all the controls and dials. If Kia offered an array of interior colors for the trim and fabric I could understand but that red interior alone would be enough to make me not want to buy the car. My suggestion? Blue. They could call it the “Whole in my Soul Edition.”
Scion XB
How on Earth you can take a square and turn it into one of the ugliest cars on the road is beyond me. And why is it that so many owners of this second generation XB insist on painting their cars a shade of blue usually only found on moldy cheese? While the XB may come well equipped and is slightly cheaper than the other two it unfortunately feels cheap on the inside. The seat fabric, for one thing, looks as if it is made out of inexpensive knitting yarn.
Granted, the Scion does have the most powerful engine in this group but is that the point with this kind of car? And besides, it is the 4 cylinder for the Camry so it’s not like it is some sort of racing engine that you can impress your friends with. I really liked the clever use of space inherent in the slightly wacky first generation XB even though it was a bit underpowered. That car was cool. This generation XB is not. End of story.
Nissan Cube
This asymmetrical visual cartoon looks more like a special effect than an actual car but I absolutely love it. It took a lot of guts on the part of Nissan to introduce a vehicle like this in the determinedly conservative North American market. It is such an obvious product of the trendy, hipster ideal of Tokyo’s Ginza District that you wonder how Nissan thought they could sell it here. Well, it’s here and I want one so something must have translated.
The interior of the cube is designed pretty much to serve as a mobile living room on wheels. It is open and airy making it the perfect car to just park and hang out in (making this a great car for teenagers). While many marketing and PR types have directed cars like the Cube at young people it is actually older people that often times buy them because they are easier to get into and out of than sedans and SUVs. Apparently the high roof mixed with wide opening doors is the reason so if you just had your knees replaced the Cube could make perfect sense for you.
I know, the Cube may have the lowest power ratings but come on now what is your rush? This is the kind of car that brightens people’s days when they see it so it just doesn’t help if you go speeding by them in a blur. The Cube has plenty of pep to keep pace on city streets and to even survive the freeway. Plus, it is supremely practical (although cargo space with the rear seats up is smaller than in the Soul or XB).
So who wins?
It may not win on paper but character counts for a lot in life and in these kinds of tests. I would pick the Cube any day of the week, that is until Kia introduces a new interior color in the Soul.
Kia Soul Sport: (Starting at $17,195)
Engine: (2.0 liter 142 horsepower 4 cylinder)
Economy: (24 city/30 highway)
Nissan Cube SL: (Starting at $17,130)
Engine: (1.8 liter 122 horsepower 4 cylinder)
Economy: (27 city/31 highway)
Scion XB: (Starting at $16,420)
Engine: (2.4 liter 158 horsepower 4-cylinder)
Economy: (22 city/28 highway)
