Three Boxes, One Show

If you kept up with our coverage of the L.A. auto show or were there yourself, you no doubt noticed a couple new boxy cars — the 2009 Nissan Cube and 2010 Kia Soul — vying for the sort of Gen-Y attention Scion achieves. Both employ left-field styling, near-infinite customization options, splashy marketing hype and frugal drivetrains — a combination some analysts have said bodes well for the uncertain financial times ahead.

Over at Scion’s booth was a 2009 xB. We’ve spent considerable time in that car, but not alongside its latest competitors, so we climbed around all three back-to-back for an impromptu comparison. These being show cars, we presume most cosmetic issues — like how well the buttons fit — will be smoothed out by production time. That still leaves plenty of room to rate other areas, from styling and seating comfort to cargo room and overall value. We came up with eight off-the-cuff categories to name an initial winner.

Read on for our thoughts, and add your own in the comments section.

Styling

• 1st Place: Nissan Cube

Not long after Nissan introduced the Cube, a twentysomething woman crooned from the driver’s seat: “Everything is round! So adorable. I like it.” We aren’t quite as smitten, but the Cube definitely takes the most risks — from the wraparound rear window to the circular climate controls and uber-plush seats — and, save the awful swing-out tailgate, we think it pulls most of them off.

• 2nd Place: Kia Soul

The Soul is the most conventional-looking of the three, with a slicked-back windshield and modest roofline. The nose is a bizarre amalgamation of bug-eyed lights and plastic inserts, but the tail brings everything together nicely. Inside, the dash is attractive, if conventional. In the weird wars, it looks like Kia played it safe.

• 3rd Place: Scion xB

Novelty counts for something, and the xB’s is starting to wear off. It’s still kooky as ever, but compared to the ever-adventurous Cube and cleverly packaged Soul, the xB manages to look awkward and … well, ordinary.

Honda Insight Concept: Video

Kelsey Mays checks out Honda's answer to the Toyota Prius. The Insight concept is bound for production in the near future, so Mays runs down what to expect when the new hybrid goes into production. Plus, it somehow has something to do with Dennis Quaid's career. Sorry, but you'll need to watch the video for an explanation.

2009 Nissan 370Z: Videos

The sequel to the 350Z comes with increased horsepower, serious braking ability and a V-6 engine that's nearly as quick as some cars with two more cylinders. Kelsey Mays sees another viable option in the 370Z for sports car fans, as described in the video above.

In the video below, Mays takes a look at the interior of the 2009 Nissan 370Z and finds a reason not to eat cookies in the car. He also explains the new syncro rev match option. What is the syncro rev match option? To find out, you'll have to watch the video.

2010 Ford Mustang: Video

The 2010 Mustang retains the look of the previous model, but not without some updates and significant styling changes. A shorter grille, redesigned taillights, and the option of a backup camera are just a few of the exterior changes Mike Hanley highlights in the video above.

In a second video, below, he highlights a few of the car’s improvements, like a soft-touch dashboard, Ford’s Sync system and electronic stability control. Are these new tweaks and improvements worth the wait until the fall of 2009, when the '10 Mustang will hit dealerships? 

Amid the Storm, Boxes Look Good

At last week’s auto show, everyone from the executives to the cab drivers circling the Staples Center knew that behind the confetti was an industry on the verge of meltdown. Car shoppers are trading in pricier models for less expensive ones, or putting off purchases entirely as new-car loans dry up faster than the Colorado River. Yet two introductions, the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul, seem poised for this sort of reality: Like the Scion xB, both have offbeat styling and roomy cabins — and if their presumed mid-teens prices hold true, either one could represent a whole lot of car for the money.

At the show, I queried a few experts to hear their thoughts. The prevailing sentiment: a cautious thumbs-up.

“People are changing decisions; they’re buying less of a vehicle right now,” J.D. Power and Associates forecasting director Jeff Schuster said. “It’s not necessarily because of gas prices. In the past it was, and there’s a pretty good chance that it will be in the future. If you look at the vehicle type, it does offer a very flexible configuration. So you get good passenger space, good height for taller buyers that normally may not fit into a smaller vehicle.

“Even when you’re in a down market, people still want to identify with a vehicle they want to buy, and these types of vehicles offer that.”

IHS Global Insight analyst Tracy Handler agreed.

2010 Lincoln MKZ: Video

In the past, the Lincoln MKZ has lagged behind its luxury sedan competitors and left our reviewers lukewarm. At the L.A. auto show, Kelsey Mays found reason to be optimistic about the prospects for the 2010 MKZ, which gets key improvements and new safety systems, like blind spot warning and cross-traffic alert.

Auto Show Faceoff: 2010 Camaro vs. 2010 Mustang

Two iconic American muscle cars are on hand at the Los Angeles auto show: the long-awaited 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, which can be preordered now and will hit dealerships next spring, and the redesigned 2010 Ford Mustang, which debuted at the show. So how do these two sports cars — both throwbacks to an earlier time in terms of design but possessing modern technology underneath — measure up to each other? Let's run through the requisite categories.

Styling

Chevrolet was wise not to tinker too much with the Camaro’s design, which was a hit when it debuted in concept form at the 2006 Detroit auto show. The production Camaro is low-slung and muscular, like the Mustang, but features sharper angles overall and a gaping black grille that gives the coupe a little more aggressiveness than the Ford. None of these observations matter all that much, however, as muscle car fans will more than likely separate themselves according to brand allegiance.

Winner: Toss up

2009 Nissan Cube: Video

The 2009 Nissan Cube has Kelsey Mays impressed, and not just because of its expected, relatively low starting price and fairly decent gas mileage. The Cube melds a unique, some might say "hip," look to everyday functionality.

2010 Mazda3: Video

David Thomas couldn't drive the 2010 Mazda3, and Mazda has yet to announce a price for its popular compact sedan, but he likes what he sees so far. Improvements include an all-new design, slightly better gas mileage and a screen that’s integrated into the dashboard for the navigation system, which Thomas notes is a major interior improvement.

2008 L.A. Auto Show: Winners and Losers

The media days have ended and the L.A. auto show is open to the public through Sunday. Below, our editors deliver their verdicts on which new vehicles warrant a closer look as you scour the show floor before or after Thanksgiving dinner. Make sure you mark your map and don’t miss the winners. Heck, even the losers are worth checking out, if only to see them for yourself. 

2009 Nissan Cube

David Thomas: Loser
I wanted to like the Cube, but it just stood out as a funky, boxy version of the Nissan Versa. Sure, it has a unique look and more standard features, but it won’t get better mileage, it doesn’t seem to offer much more utility — beyond a roomier backseat — and you know it will cost more. Add the sideways-swinging rear door and there really isn’t much that would convince me to pick this over another boxy car.

Kelsey Mays: Winner
The barn-door tailgate may be a deal-breaker for city drivers — as such a design well should be — but the Cube still delivers a compelling alternative to the Scion xB or Kia Soul. Interior quality stands out versus those two, as does all-around visibility. The rear seats are adjustable, too; Kia’s and Scion’s are not. Plus, if Nissan’s estimations hold true, gas mileage should easily beat the xB’s 28 mpg on the highway.

Mike Hanley: Winner
The Cube is one odd-looking vehicle that'll stand apart from pretty much everything else on the road. Even though I'm not a huge fan of its looks, I think it'll do just fine because it will attract buyers the same way the original Scion xB did: by offering unique styling and room for friends at an affordable price.