The new Nissan Cube will be unveiled the morning of November 19 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the automaker has begun the buildup to its arrival. The Cube now has an official website, where you can count down the days and see more on the Cube art cars that design students prepared for the '08 New York Auto Show, among other things. Nissan's covering all the bases, also getting the Cube set up on Facebook and other social networking sites in the meantime.
We like the Cube a lot, and hope the new version keeps the character of the current Japanese car intact while delivering power and fuel economy geared to appeal to the U.S. buyer. We don't think Nissan's going to botch this, so and shoppers looking to get their geek ought to have a strong candidate from Nissan. Not that it'll be without competition -- the Scion xB, Honda Element, and Kia Soul will all be vying for peoples' attention, too. Let the geekmobile deathmatch begin. Thanks for the tip, Turkey Pie!
[Source: Nissan]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kumail @ Jul 20th 2008 11:43AM
nice to see that we are getting one here. those 1st gen xB owners will be happy. :D
ML @ Jul 20th 2008 11:48AM
This car is cool(!). It makes the Scion look lame.
zamafir @ Jul 20th 2008 12:11PM
Pity. The last time I seriously considered this car was a few years before the Scion brand existed, it was unique, would have been pretty cheap, quirky and arguably fun. Today, however, the market has evolved substantially. waiting much longer then you should, like SMART did, to enter the US market is fine if you have a quirky niche vehicle that you won't have issues selling, but the CUBE missed it's window of opportunity by quite some time.
Though looking at Nissan's current overall lineup, I'm not surprised.
Tom @ Jul 20th 2008 12:32PM
Though I have thought the Cube might one day replace my 2005 Scion xB (because I definitely wouldn't buy the new xB), I see so much in the Cube that Nissan would have to change.
First, I absolutely hate side opening back doors. Half of the time the door will probably be in the way.
Second, BENCH SEATS??? Are they kidding me? Properly shaped and better looking individual bucket seats are a must if I'm going to consider a Cube.
Third, Nissan certainly picked the right upholstery for bench seats. I believe my grandmother's old sofa has upholstery almost exactly like the Cube's. SICK!
Fourth, build quality seems to be lacking in those pics. The seam gaps looking at the rear of the Cube with the door closed reveals inconsistencies from the right side to the left side.
Tom @ Jul 20th 2008 12:42PM
I guess I will keep going....
Fifth, are you kidding me--a column mounted shift lever?
Sixth, bizarre design....Because of the front bench seat, Nissan had to put in some very cheap looking dash mounted cup holders. And in the back seat, because there is no center console, the back seat has a built in cup holder below the center section of the seat....ah, what if someone actually wants to sit in the center position in the back seat??
6b...the exterior might be ultra cool, but why does the interior look like it was designed for 80 year olds?
Tom @ Jul 20th 2008 12:48PM
6c....What's up with that really low glovebox? It appears in the picture that there would be no way to open it if someone was sitting in that seat.
On the positive side, the gauges look great and I like that weird area in the back with the hook...looks like a place to stow an umbrella or hang a shirt.
ZetoSanNi @ Jul 20th 2008 4:31PM
7th, bench seats=bowchicawowwow
=]
JD @ Jul 20th 2008 6:06PM
We get it, you don't like it. It's ok, we don't want another blog post here on why you don't like the cube.
Throwback @ Jul 20th 2008 12:32PM
It will be interesting to see how much this costs. I wonder if Suzuki has looked into bringing over their next gen Wagon R. It's a huge seller in Japan and there are a lot of JDM fans in this country.
RayJ @ Jul 20th 2008 12:51PM
One thing is for sure I hope that dash is in concept form because it looks straight out of the Nissan 1980's early 90's.
Rocketboy @ Jul 20th 2008 1:23PM
If the next one is up to MINI quality/standards, I think I might have to test drive one. I just need a stick shift, I can't do automatics.
zamafir @ Jul 20th 2008 6:05PM
mini quality? are you serious? mini rates just above jeep in quality at the very bottom of the list. anything you buy is up to mini's 'standards' (save a jeep).
Spule4 @ Jul 20th 2008 1:24PM
Terrible website, cannot find any data on the car or decent photos?
Alex Nunez @ Jul 20th 2008 1:29PM
That is because it is a teaser site...
Tom @ Jul 20th 2008 1:47PM
I have to wonder about that Cube website. If you click on CUBE PRESS, there's a link to an AutoWeek story but Nissan actually spelled Nissan as Nisan.
AngeloD @ Jul 20th 2008 3:28PM
The poor visibility due to the huge rear C(?) pillars would stop me from buying this thing.
I have never seen so many visibility and ergonomic compromises made in a vehicle just for the sake of styling. This is worse than the FJ Crusier.
Why would anyone buy this instead of a Honda Element?
Alex Nunez @ Jul 20th 2008 4:11PM
Read the review again.
The thick pillar is only on the driver's side, meaning, it's in a spot the driver can't see anyway. The $64,000 question is whether Nissan will flip the asymmetric layout in the LHD version that's going to be sold here. If it does, there'll be glass back there so the driver can see out.
If not, then you can bitch about the blind spot.
Atomicbri @ Jul 20th 2008 3:48PM
The Cube will be an excellent addition to the Nissan range and I feel for Scion. They lost out to me on their redo of the xB, too rounded, too van-like, not as unique as it once was. I hope Nissan saw the error of Toyota's ways and does not botch up this redo of the Cube. Can't wait to see the finished product.
spots @ Jul 20th 2008 5:04PM
OK, I want one... first Nissan I've seen in 30 years that I'd even consider owning- IF the gas mileage is there, as in well north of 40 mpg...
I LIKE the bench seat- don't mind the column shifter, though I'd prefer a manual. Don't need 4wd, either- and I wonder if the back seat is removable?
And that color! It's just freaking AWESOME!
Decontent it, Nissan- put a 1.2L 4 banger under the hood with a 5 speed manual, and keep the price under $15k- hell, make the rear seat an option- I have no use for the rear seat- and I'M THERE.
Maybe you'll listen better than GM does (i.e. the Beat).
cowboy bob @ Jul 20th 2008 5:28PM
Fuel filler door is on the wrong side. I will refuse to consider any vehicle with the door on the right hand side of the vehicle.