2009 Nissan Cube
November 20, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Love it or hate it, the all-new 2009 Nissan Cube has arrived. Characterised by its non-traditional design, Cube offers excellent space utilisation thanks to a wider track and longer wheelbase that pushes the wheels as far in to each corner as was practicable.
Along with its stance, the exterior appearance of Cube has been freshened up with wider headlamps and grille, shorter tail section, bar-type taillights and reduced crease lines to simplify styling character.
“The designers, engineers and planners’ effort and passion in creating the next generation Cube was unheard of – perhaps only exceeded in recent memory by that of the Nissan GT-R development team,” explains Pierre Loing, Nissan’s European Vice President for Product Planning. “They were constantly drawing, cartooning, adding thoughts and ideas, which is how the image of the bulldog emerged and evolved. This was not a traditional development process.”
To further improve visibility, the A-pillars are positioned outward and more upright while the front door windows use a ‘photo-frame’ design to, you guessed it, frame the face of those in the front seats.
The asymmetrical warp around side and rear window is also aimed at improving visibility by eliminating the blind spot seen when changing lanes or reverse parking.
“This ‘geometric circle shape in the square’ rear window is Cube’s signature,” said Loing. “Though there are D-pillars on both sides of the Cube, the visual effect of the narrower passenger-side pillar is quite remarkable in the overall appearance, a look aided by the asymmetrical back door.”
Cube features a refrigerator door styled rear opening, which makes it possible to open or close it even if parked tight against other cars in parallel parking spaces or when backed in against a wall or other obstacle.
Inside the Cube an inspired, open cabin promotes a curved theme, the feature of which is Cube’s iconic ‘water drop’ decor which can be seen in the cup holders, climate control panel, and most especially, the head lining. This design cue is said to be inspired by ‘the calming way that ripples move outward from a drop in water’.
The comfortable Cube seating includes individual driver’s and passenger seats, along with a ‘lounge sofa’ style sliding rear bench seat which can be adjusted to three positions and is positioned higher than the front seats, theatre style, enhancing rear passenger comfort and visibility.
Other interior features include the ‘floating pod’ instrument panel with asymmetrical light blue and white gauges, said to represent the white moon and the blue earth, which are designed to make it easier to distinguish between the speedometer and the tachometer.
For better personalisation, Cube features what Nissan call ‘Magic Rubber Bands’. These colourful rubber straps (red, yellow, orange or silver) slip into cutouts on the door armrests to secure items such as maps, name tags, photos, towels or small stuffed animals.
Cube will be offered with both 1.5-litre diesel and 1.6-litre petrol powertrains, though “not as yet” for us down under.
Print it: 
Kinda kooky looking; I’ve always been a fan of the Japanese box-cars like the Toyota/Scion bB/xB and Suzuki Wagon Rs. The really lurid paint jobs that come on the Cube are interesting too =p
Imagine that box driving around your local area in bright (and I mean seriously bright) orange or pink =o)
I like the ripple roof lining. Thats about it though. It might gain a following, like Mini. Someone will start a Clube Cube.
I like the water droplet ripple effect… and hmmm.. those wheels remind of the micra.. which seems to be very popular nowadays.
The styling is definately pretty out there! I don’t really know what to make of it. How do the sales of these things go over in Jap land?
The Japanese absolutely love them! They have their own clubs and everything for this thing (and other micro box cars).
Personally, I puked.
My god its ugly.
What’s with the ugly cars coming out of japan nowadays?
Does Nissan understand what ugly means??? Well this is the meaning in picture form…….lol
i had a VR commodore with a similar roof lining, except it wasnt meant to look that way, it was just falling down.
Yeah these are everywhere in Japan. Black with big chrome wheels looks pretty good.
Humm… I think this new cube is cool car.
When I saw first generation cube in Japan, I was so impressed design and I really love it.
Guys, you must accept reality. This is the future of car design.
GTR is ugly, New Z will be ugly for somebody…. This is new black, and part of new Nissan design.
(Hey, better than any current and future Honda any way.)
If you don’t like it, your aesthetic is out of date. Or your brain cells died too many and you are getting cranky !!!
This car was designed for young generation (first time car buyer), probably under 30.
Personally I like this silver colour, but there are lots of fancy colourful body colour.
Small car but, it occupied 4 adult comfortably.
(Well, obviously not family with 6′4″ tall father and 3 over 6′ children.)
its design is purposely savvy and “kooky” as someone pointed out.
I like it, its a genre of vehicles that are meant to be designed aesthetically this way.
Also, the wheels… err… the point of having 30 cent steel wheels with 5 cent hub caps is… well, the after market. If you buy one of these, then you have to fork out another grand on 17s from one of the many wheel manufacturers these days….
one reason why some manufacturers… ahem Toyota comes to mind, purposely design wheels very conservatively.. along with the whole car haha… welll basically is to allow the customer to change the wheels accorrdingly..
An example… the VW Golf GTI, I love everything about it except the wheel design…. personally i rather order one with steel 14 inch wheels and hub caps then spend a grand fitting in “better” suitable wheels….Enkeis, Work, or Weld or even the pricey BBS look much better on them than the “boring” factory fitted ones.
to all of you who hate the car it is aimed at under 30s.I am 17 next year and have decided this is the car i must have it is so cool.Hopefully it comes under 20k and if it doesnt come here then i will et a kia soul.also the jap interior is better as it has a column shifter and bench seat in the front
well, I’m over 20. hell, I’m also over 30. And this car is ghastly in my opinion, so the theory that it’s aimed at the ‘younger’ generation seems spot on.
this is not a car for middle aged men going through mid life crisis….. for youngsters this car is funky and will sell heaps.
I’m over 40 (just!) and drive a new lux sports car (is there really such a thing?). I’d drive a cube any day, but only if it was short distances, and only if it was safe. I reckon that they are ace for around town.
I looks like the have just put some fibreglass cover on a golf cart.
It works very well for jammed packed cities. I’m not sure if it’s stable on the freeway going 100km/h.
I’m already 26 but I still think it’s cool. It’s different and the interior is a mint. Great visibility and easy to park. Although I’d buy this for my wife and let her drive it while I sit as a passenger :p
It is weird looking, but not SsangYong ugly.
I’m sure there is a market for this in Japan and I wouldn’t be entirely upset with it if I lived inner city.
I’m under thirty and I don’t like it. I just find it to be undesirable and a bit ugly. I do like the ceiling but the rest of the interior just looks cheap and boring. I’d rather a Micra (and I’m not a girl). I hate the little bump on the back of it and the bonnet looks too low for the roof on the side profile. I think Nissan need to redesign this car completely. The rear lights and bumper are ghastly and the front looks dated. Very popular in Japan though. And I usually like small cars. I’d much rather wait and get a Citroën C3 Picasso.
I hear the Wiggles have placed an advanced order for a red one.
its adorable! I want one! With a 1.5 4 banger and a CVT tranny (which i THINK, not 100% sure is available on overseas spec Micra/March’s) would go like a dream. Better than a Yaris and more interesting than a Mazda2.
The japanese just love this concept.
I like the way its designed to fit into things like a shipping container as much as shipping container shape things will fit in it.
Hey WVB, Next time I feel the urge to drive into a shipping container I’ll make sure I do it in a Nissan Cube. Can’t think of a better place to hide such an ugly set of wheels.
thats ugly to the max
I’ve seen a heap of these cars on the streets of Tokyo. It’s not pretty but I commend them for being bold.
I do not deny the brilliant levels of usability that this car offers in the inner city.
However this car is SsangYong ugly and dare I say it even uglier. Just because the Japanese think its funky and cool does not mean it is! A few design quirks will not save this little Monkey bum.
The Nissan Micra is also a brilliant little car, but I have a little upchuck in my mouth every time I see one and this car is the same.
I know this is only my opinion but to me nothing in this car design gels well together, especially the roof ripples. It looks like a train wreck of random design quirks thrown together one night when the Saki was in plentiful supply.
Oh and I’m 26 by the way!
To the ugly sayers. If car designers around the world were to design car for Australain taste, they would be in the same position as Ford,GM and Chrysler right now!
James – you clearly have a wheel fetish. Ha Ha
I’m an oldie (45) but reckon this is is up there on the cool board. Pity Nissan for not bringing these to the UK. I have seen an older imported one running about locally.
Looks worst than the previous version but i like it’s water drop roof.