Guys and girls, take a look at the Cube, Nissan’s latest car-creation, which images hit the web only a few hours prior it’s official US unveiling, that is about to happen at L.A. Auto Show, tomorrow.
Due to go on sale in US late next year, the Cube is Nissan’s answer to the striking Kia Soul, Scion xB and Honda Element. It was developed with similar philosophy as afore-mentioned boxy cars and is also primarily targeting the same group of consumers. All of these boxy cars were developed to attract gen-Y crowd.
Although Scion xB has dominated generation-Y crowd’s car market for years, and it is considered to be the main competitor for Kia Soul, the Nissan Cube should not be excluded from the “race”. It sports an attractive boxy shape and most likely, it will attract it’s fair share of customers attention. Let’s just hope it doesn’t steal many from Kia Soul, but rather from Scion. [Source: Newcar ] UPDATE: A few more official images added.
So, what do you think of the Cube? Does it look attractive enough to mess with the “big boy” Scion xB and upcoming Kia Soul?
More Nissan Cube images:
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November 18th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
EEEEEWW! Why bother?! They just can’t let Kia have their own market, so they slapped together the ugliest thing they could, and put it on sale. Who in their right mind would be dumb enough to buy that piece of ****?!?!
November 18th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Well, it’s not main competitor, but one of many that are already on sale or will soon hit the market.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Well, if they don’t change that rear door for North America, it is sure going to create a helluva blind spot
November 19th, 2008 at 12:38 am
@Greg, the Cube depicted above is simply an update to the Cube that’s been on sale elsewhere for several years. As nice as the Soul is, it is certainly not as original as you think. If I’m not mistaken, the Cube also predated the original xB. They’ve actually got some interesting features like 3 rows of seats in some models (for teeny people, but 3 rows indeed).
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@W. Wilson - I’m surprised at the rear door as well. It’s blatantly set up for RHD where that wouldn’t be a blind spot at all. It seems to me that it would be an expensive effort to produce a version where the entire rear had to be revised to support LHD variants. I’m hoping they address this, but I guess we’ll know for certain soon enough.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:53 am
I wish we could edit posts after posting them but anyway…
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No one should really worry about another competitor in this market. This is a segment that is currently underserved and has plenty of room for growth. Currently, I’m seeing more and more new xB’s on the roads here in western WA. As much as I like the new xB (I own one ;)), I’d like to see some variety. Bring on the Souls and Cubes! I welcome them a lot more than Tahoes, Yukons and Expeditions (I won’t even mention how tired I am of seeing lifted pickup trucks…).
November 19th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Yuuuuukkk!!!!!! That car has taken the fugly mantle away from my previous ugliest car the SsangYong Stavic, well almost anyway.
November 19th, 2008 at 2:05 am
Good Lord! That really is a terrible looking car. It still brings up the question, how can Nissan create a car (even if i dont personally like it) as great as the new GTR, but still put out rubbish like this?
Anyone notice the 370Z in the behind it?
November 19th, 2008 at 2:31 am
but…the cube is thinked like a keicar…not a crosser…
November 19th, 2008 at 3:23 am
Cube or Pube? man that is one UGLY vehicle
November 19th, 2008 at 3:53 am
How is that even a Kia Soul competitor? Who would be dumb enough to buy one, let alone drive one! With good looking vehicles in that class (i.e. Soul, xB) how could this even sell?
November 19th, 2008 at 6:22 am
The Cube already has a cult like following and its only been available in Japan since the lauch of the original in1998. That’s right the Nissan Cube is the originator of this segment, the Toyota bB or Scion xB came after the Cube. Though the Soul looks better this looks good as well. Very creative..
The LHD markets will get the back door area switched around accordingly and NO the Cube is NOT a Kei car nor is the Soul really a “crossover” these are wagons or mpvs if anything. This shares its platform with the Versa which is bigger than the Rio which the Soul gets its platform from.
November 19th, 2008 at 7:50 am
i like the cube. i dunno anything about it other than its been around forever & like someone above said - its got a cult like following. i’m wondering where the taillights are gunna be. they’re nowhere visible on the rear. anyways… thats my $0.02.
November 19th, 2008 at 8:44 am
click my name… the soul’s got some stiff competition. the link on my name is a good article on the cube with 41 hi-res pix. very interesting car. i like it. i still plan to go with the soul or koup.
November 19th, 2008 at 8:44 am
click my name… the soul’s got some stiff competition. the link on my name is a good article on the cube with 41 hi-res pix. very interesting car. i like it. i still plan to go with the soul or koup.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Honestly, in those pics the Cube looks like it escaped from 1991 Eastern europe. It isn’t flashy at all. I think they should have called it the “Emo”. It looks a little sad……not engaging anyway. I like the pale bluish color, and maybe they look a lot better in person…..some cars do. Something seems to be missing though. Maybe it too plain.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I have added some official images, where Cube looks better. Previous shots were of low quality, but these are ok.
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So, what can I say about it…It’s boxy. And in continues the design story which it adopted from the first generation Cube. It looks funky and very different, but IMHO, not as good or elegant as Kia Soul. Even more, it seems to me like there are ten different styles mixed together. Especially inside.
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For me, Kia SOul wins!
November 19th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
It´s look like the car of the PAT THE POSTMAN…….
November 19th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
JoshyLofty, the taillights are hiding in the bumper.
November 19th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I’m sure there will be some people who will buy this. Everyone has different tastes. I guess this is for ppl who want something more wacky-looking!
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I look at the rear as a new approach to the convetional symetrical design autos always follow but I guess this is not for me. Even though I like this new approach and the overall design, I think I’ll feel stupid driving one. Maybe this un-symetrical design will catch on in the future… like the BMW’s swept headlights have now.
November 19th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
This by far is the UGLIEST vehicle I have seen.
November 19th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Bancho, thanks! i figured it out when i found the link i linked you guys to in my last comment. i really do like the cube, i’m gunna check it out when it comes out just for sh!ts & giggles but not much else. i’ve already pretty much 100% decided on the Soul. like i’ve said, its either the Koup or Soul for me. but the couch-like interior of the Cube and the dash & all are too cool. the sunroof and the funky toyish style are DEFINITELY tokyo-inspired. i think it’ll do well which is good. i’d like to see these on the road. just not in my garage. but it does stand a change (albeit small) to land a spot in my garage.
November 19th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
The only thing that I really like about the Cube is it’s large sunroof, other than the car looks like a space-ship on a small vheels.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
OK after looking at this for a few minutes I think…….nope still ugly, though not as bad as original xB (I think it has no style and looks like a brick)
November 19th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
It took all the uglyness out of the Kia Retona Cruiser.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
If I had to choose one thing I liked about the Cube, it would be the engine. Nissan makes a great engine. Although, Kia beat out Nissan for reliability in CR’s tests.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:18 am
I actually like the Retona. It looks like a wrangler kinda. It is a lil on ugly side but not ugly like the Cube thing that nissan wants to unleash onto the public
November 20th, 2008 at 2:56 am
The Retona/Rocksta definitely looks like a Jeep. Good military vehicle from Kia. Made at the same plant as the Soul and Sportage.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:07 am
its really a box. fed ex need some boxes for their cargos….
November 20th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Hey, Bancho, you live in western Washington, do ya? I was born in Seattle, raised in Edmonds and spent scads of years in Everett, Stanwood and then we eventually moved from Burlington, WA, in 2003, to move to Missouri. What part of the fair state of Washington do ya hail from? BTW-the Nissan Cube lies in the same ballpark as the Scion xB to me. Funky, weird boxy vehicles for those that are intent on making some kind of statement, or for those who don’t appreciate good car body design! They want something beyond different…there will be a following in America for the Nissan Cube, definitely a niche-type rig at best, though.
November 25th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
To bad they never had LHD “Figs”…
May 14th, 2009 at 4:41 am
I TEST DROVE KIA SOUL AND THE CUBE TODAY. BOTH CARS ARE NICE BUT I PREFER THE CUBE. THE CUBE FELT A LITTLE HEAVIER BUILT.
January 18th, 2010 at 3:17 am
it’s sooooooooo ugly I saw it on the street and it made me laugh