Just as American drivers are seeing small as beautiful and inexpensive to gas up, Nissan will import an ideal example of utility and finesse in miniature — the Cube.

I've spent several days with a Japanese-spec, right-hand-drive Cube, and if Nissan doesn't foul up the U.S. version, this car could fly off dealers' lots like hot rolls being passed around the Thanksgiving table.

The new Nissan goes on sale in spring. No details have been released and pricing won't be announced for some time. The Cube will debut at the Los Angeles auto show Nov. 21-30.

By American vehicle standards, the Japanese Cube is a mere snack. It's just over 12 feet long and almost as wide as it is tall. In comparison, the Honda Fit is 14.7 inches longer, the Mini Cooper Clubman is 8.2 inches longer. The Scion xB outweighs it by 556 pounds and is 20 inches longer. A Smart fortwo is just shy of 9 feet long.

The Cube is a small footprint but has big features for the user. The Japanese version could make a U-turn in an alley (almost). It has command-of-view seating, which did not make the car seem vulnerable in traffic. And the little engine kept up with freeway speeds, but a one-way, 60-mile daily commute might be taxing on driver and car.

Pricing in Japan, where the Cube has been on sale for several years, ranges from about $11,000 to $14,000 when the yen is converted to dollars.

The test car had a 90-something-horsepower, 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission. It is front-wheel drive with a cleverly simple option for four-wheel drive. Fuel mileage estimates are possibly as high as 40 mpg on the highway and in the high 20s around town, but those figures may have little bearing on the model that will be sold in the United States.

A battery-powered model was shown in concept form at the New York auto show, but no plans for alternative drivelines have been announced.

With a face like Bender, the boozing robot on "Futurama," Cube is as cute as a cupcake. And it has some character lines.

The dark-tint rear glass wraps around the left rear roof pillar to the side glass and a quarter-panel window. That's a big help with over-the-shoulder views, from a right-hand-drive position. The right rear quarter is solid. But will Nissan flop that design for left-hand drive?

The five-seater has comfortable room for four, with a squeeze for the center-rear position. Headroom is voluminous, even with the sunroof. The rear bench is raised and has fore-aft adjustment to expand cargo space. The seat backs recline or fold flat forward for cargo, but not for sleeping. The flat floor is good for foot room. If the front passenger seat folded flat forward, there would be room for a surfboard or snowboard.

Storage areas are carved throughout — from hooks, hangers and tiedowns to compartments, shelves, cubbies, pockets, nooks and slots. Cup holders pop out of multiple areas.

With its durable fabric, appealing plastics and secure assembly, Cube did not seem cheap. Features included fog lights, automatic air conditioning and Nissan's Intelligent Key for the door locks and starter.

Packaging is everything in this small space, which includes the optional four-wheel-drive system. It's for traction in bad weather, not trail riding. The simple e.4WD system sits at the rear suspension, and an engine-driven generator powers the rear motor and 4WD control unit. The electronic, on-demand system can be activated as needed, and sensors monitor wheel slippage and cue traction at the rear unit. The system is lightweight and doesn't require a space-robbing driveshaft tunnel through the back-seat floor.

Dual front air bags and traction control are among the safety features. But if Nissan has to add curtain air bags and other crash/safety protection to meet U.S. regulations, Cube could end up as bloated as the current Scion xB.

No matter what happens to the U.S. model, Cube will be innovative.

There are lots of these little cars in Europe and Asia that could make the transition to the United States were it not for the concern our federal government has for driver safety and air quality.

Because the EPA will not bend to European or Japanese standards (and for that matter the Europeans and Japanese won't bend to U.S. standards), there likely will be expensive re-engineering and other costs just to get the cars to comply and be available for sale, said Jack Nerad, automotive analyst at KelleyBlueBook.com.

"Given the volumes the car companies expect from small cars, that is too much to pay," he said.

But Nerad, for one, is not convinced that Americans are going to, finally, fall in love with small cars.

"Yes, there was a run to small cars this spring and summer, but already we're seeing some return to pickups and SUVs," he said. "Americans like larger vehicles and, importantly, they can afford them."

And for those Americans thinking outside the box, there will be a Cube.

SPECS BOX

Nissan Cube with e4WD

Body style: subcompact, five-passenger box, with optional all-wheel-drive

Engine: 97-horsepower, DOHC, 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 16 valves per cylinder

Transmission: four-speed automatic

Acceleration: 0-60 mph, 13.8 seconds, by Edmunds.com

EPA fuel economy estimates: 26 mpg city, 40 highway; 87 octane recommended

Fuel tank: 10.6 gallons

DIMENSIONS

Length/wheelbase: 146.9/97.2 inches

Width/height: 66.8/66 inches

Curb weight: 2,530 pounds

PRICING

Base: $10,800 to $14,000 USD, in Japan

Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at mark.maynard@uniontrib.com.

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