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It might be all too easy to dismiss the Nissan Cube as a copy of the original Scion xB that’s a few years too late. It’s similar in size and profile to that now-iconic box and offers a similarly commodious interior package.

However, as the xB got significantly bigger and lost its uniquely Japanese charm with the latest generation, it left many Japan-o-philes cold. Much of what was fun, unique, quirky, and so uniquely Japanese about the original was lost on the new model. Fortunately for Nissan, this may represent an opportunity for Cube.
This is actually the third generation Cube in Japan but the first for the US market. With Generation Y buyers continuing to stream into the marketplace, there is definitely market space for an efficient, fun, and high-on-utility small car that stands apart from the crowd. As the Cube is about the same size as the original xB, it’s diminutive on the outside but Tardis-like inside. It also has a fun, quirky look about it that could only come from Japan (and is certainly distinct from the xB). What other cars on the market have asymmetrical profiles? Yes, it’s true: the Cube has different styling on either side.

With the world shrinking daily thanks to the internet and globalization, there are now distinct opportunities for vehicles that don’t fit the American stereotype. Not everyone wants an American-style 3-box sedan or a high-riding SUV anymore. The Japanese have always had home-market cars that might look bizarre to American tastes, but many young (and young-at-heart) consumers embrace new and unusual concepts. For them, Cube might be just the ticket.