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Does the e-4 WD even work that well?

13855 Views 13 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Woody, 
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From what I have read, the Cube will be marketed in the US with both the 2WD and with the e-4 WD. I think the latter is only availabe with the CVT type transmission. I read the CVT is crappy on cars with small engines but works well on 6 cylinder cars like the Altima. The e-4WD seems to be a bit flunky anyhow, I read elsewhere that is only works from a dead start, and it shuts itself off as soon as the car leaves 1st gear. So is it really even worth the extra cost and maintenance? I am beginning to think the 2WD with the 6 gear manual and traction tires is the way to go here. The car already is going to have traction and stability control anyway.
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tanksow said:
From what I have read, the Cube will be marketed in the US with both the 2WD and with the e-4 WD. I think the latter is only availabe with the CVT type transmission. I read the CVT is crappy on cars with small engines but works well on 6 cylinder cars like the Altima. The e-4WD seems to be a bit flunky anyhow, I read elsewhere that is only works from a dead start, and it shuts itself off as soon as the car leaves 1st gear. So is it really even worth the extra cost and maintenance? I am beginning to think the 2WD with the 6 gear manual and traction tires is the way to go here. The car already is going to have traction and stability control anyway.
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Hello Tank,
I was wondering where you read about the e-4wd system? Are you sure this was for the US market and not Japan?
The system is meant for going in areas where it might be slippery, but it is not like what we would see in a typical Subaru
or Jeep. I believe your right about it only being available in CVT but a sunroof is also needed for this market as well.
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Woody,

I googled the Nissan e-4WD and it brought up a blog which was discussing the Nissan Tilda which is the non-US version of the Versa. Apparently it has the e-4WD and someone questioned whether they could add this feature to the Versa. The response was that is wasn't worth the money, and a lot of drivers in Japan were getting stuck in the snow with this apparatus because they thought it worked like a real 4 WD system. The blog then stated about it working only from dead start and the system shuts itself off at some designated kilometers/hour which was roughly the start of 2nd gear. I am thinking that may be why it has to be paired with the automatic CVT because that way it would shut itself off before the car goes past low gear.

It is a fact that the 4- WD system diverts engine power to run the rear wheel drive generator, and it may be for that reason that it has to shut down because maybe the car can't run past a certain speed with the reduced engine power. Anyhow, it would be obvious enough on a test drive to find out when it shuts off and if it would really be of any benefit, I usually have to drive in at least 2nd gear to get around here in the snow. If I am going to have to carry around a set of chains anyway because the 4WD may not work in anything more than a flat parking lot, may as well just invest in a top grade set of traction tires as those may prove more useful.

Regarding the sunroof, since the sunroof is already on the 2nd generation model Cube based on numerous photo shots I have seen on the web and is an easy factory install and I would think it is a given that there is going to be a higher option model which would include a sunroof. I just hope any high option doesn't also require to have the CVT transmission. Maybe it is okay, but if they have been using mainly the manual transmission in the Cube up until now I am sure not going to go buy a car which they just slapped in a new CVT transmission for the US market and then have to deal with all the new quirks to be worked out.
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tanksow said:
Woody,

I googled the Nissan e-4WD and it brought up a blog which was discussing the Nissan Tilda which is the non-US version of the Versa. Apparently it has the e-4WD and someone questioned whether they could add this feature to the Versa. The response was that is wasn't worth the money, and a lot of drivers in Japan were getting stuck in the snow with this apparatus because they thought it worked like a real 4 WD system. The blog then stated about it working only from dead start and the system shuts itself off at some designated kilometers/hour which was roughly the start of 2nd gear. I am thinking that may be why it has to be paired with the automatic CVT because that way it would shut itself off before the car goes past low gear.

It is a fact that the 4- WD system diverts engine power to run the rear wheel drive generator, and it may be for that reason that it has to shut down because maybe the car can't run past a certain speed with the reduced engine power. Anyhow, it would be obvious enough on a test drive to find out when it shuts off and if it would really be of any benefit, I usually have to drive in at least 2nd gear to get around here in the snow. If I am going to have to carry around a set of chains anyway because the 4WD may not work in anything more than a flat parking lot, may as well just invest in a top grade set of traction tires as those may prove more useful.

Regarding the sunroof, since the sunroof is already on the 2nd generation model Cube based on numerous photo shots I have seen on the web and is an easy factory install and I would think it is a given that there is going to be a higher option model which would include a sunroof. I just hope any high option doesn't also require to have the CVT transmission. Maybe it is okay, but if they have been using mainly the manual transmission in the Cube up until now I am sure not going to go buy a car which they just slapped in a new CVT transmission for the US market and then have to deal with all the new quirks to be worked out.
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Hi again,

It looks like you did your research and have done a great job explaining how effective or ineffective as you put it, the AWD system.
The gear ratios might be very different without model since a larger engine will be installed for N. American market, which might mean that the AWD might do a better job. This is my guess, and I am in no fashion an engineer but the Japanese are genius for coming up with really cool things, hence the Cube.
As far as your comment regarding a 5 speed, I believe this is the first Cube to have one, but I can be wrong again. I really wish
we had the column shifter on ours, maybe next time.
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This was something I was curious about and did quite a bit of research on. The E-4WD was designed to help in those "Ooohhhh, almost made it in the driveway" type moments, and it was never intended to function as an AWD system, or to be used on the highway/etc... It is also NOT a form of hybrid or anything of that sort. It is merely a little extra oomph on those rare occasions when you might need it. I usually just back up and get a little better run at it myself.

CVT transmissions use less horsepower to operate than a normal automatic transmission and thus are very fuel efficient. A real CVT transmission, however, does not shift and engine RPM tends to remain in the same "ideal" range. This, apparently, does not sit well with the average driver, so most commercially available CVT transmissions mimic shifting and the such. Read all about it here: http://cars.about.com/od/thingsyouneedtoknow/a/CVT.htm

And lastly, I too was really hoping for the column shifter... and the bench seat. A little bit of a retro feel, to some extent. :)
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Yes, that is what I thought the Cube was all about retro ---not really being based on any particular retro design, but retro in feel.
As if you were sitting in a classic but without the fins or chrome. Those cars also has posi-traction, which something like e-awd.

My other consideration, for something BOXY would be the Honda Crossroads if the Cube doesn't listen to our requests, but that is another story if it actually makes it here.

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ummmmm, thats not a nissan.....unless the H is the new nissan emblem, lol
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Take a look again : )
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its even at a honda dealership.....what am i missing?
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In Japan, but rumor has it that this might replace the again Honda Element.
I am a major Cube fan, but this is a really cool alternative to what's out there.
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Snowstorms here are not real frequent but cause a driving mess for all the hilly terrain. The traffic cops will close the steep access roads from the main arteries to my house and only let cars with 4WD or AWD up the hill until the plow gets there because they get stuck on the hill. If this cube 4WD set up could make it up these few hills to the house, and could stay up to about 20 MPH that would be good enough and worth the extra expense. Anything less than that it would be a waste of money. Front wheel drive with traction control is good enough the rest of the time.
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With out the E-4wd system will we @ least get a spare tire?
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The spare tire is for the deluxe model I think the base model gets a patch kit and a couple of flares
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I wonder if it was also convenient for Nissan to miss out on the Detroit Auto Show due to a non-inclusive array of options: AWD/real spare tire.
I can just picture Archie Bunker, saying Wip-te-doo about this...

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