Nissan

Looks like my timing just plain sucks.  The local Nissan dealership was, like many others, low on 2011 models and had yet to receive many 2012s.  They didn't have a single Versa on the lot.  They did have a few others that I wanted to check out, so I made do with what was available.


Cube

I've been dreading this one.  It's a box-on-wheels, so in theory it should be very roomy and easy to get in and out of.  The price is right and the mileage is acceptable (though borderline).  But even though the Cube should be a good candidate on paper, I really didn't want it to fit.  I know looks shouldn't count for a cheap commuter car, but this thing is desperately ugly.  With its bizarre proportions and drastically asymmetrical styling, the Cube is the Lyle Lovett of the car world.  No me gusta.

Hey man, words hurt.

Getting in was as painless as I had feared.  There was a massive amount of room in the cabin.  I was terrified I might actually have to buy one of these monstrosities, right up until I closed the door.

Hallelujah!  Saved by a crippling design flaw.

It seems whatever mental defect made the designer think the Cube looked good also affected his ability to utilize space.  Despite acres of room in the cabin, they made the seats far too narrow for someone as wide as myself.  With the door closed, I was pushed by the door panels far enough to the center that I couldn't put the seat-mounted armrest down.  I also felt as though I would fall out of the thing just sitting there.  This is especially silly when you notice the foot-or-so of space between the two front seats.  There's nothing there - no center armrest/cubbyhole thingie.  Just an empty space where a non-impaired engineer would have put the seats. 


Sentra
I expected the same from the Sentra that I got from the Civic, Corolla  and Focus - difficult entry and exit, marginally comfortable once inside.  I am very happy to have been proven wrong.

Ingress/egress was not as effortless as some of the boxy models, but it was much easier than most of the other sedans I've tried.  There was plenty of room in the driver's seat, and though it wasn't as roomy as the Fusion, I definitely felt less cramped than in any of the other compacts.  There were no gewgaws on the dashboard poking me in the legs.  It was as if they built this car with large people in mind.

I won't bother going into any more details here because I already know the Sentra will end up getting reviewed in detail in the final showdown.  I look forward to a test drive and more thorough inspection.


Juke
Fail.  The highish ground clearance was helpful in getting in and out, but the low roof pretty much negated that small benefit.  Inside, with the seats all the way back, my knees were still pressed uncomfortably into the dash.  Head, hip and shoulder room were also in short supply.  This was all-around the least comfortable car I've tested so far.  The Juke is for small people only.