Nissan’s latest is wrapped up in a cute little cube
The Nissan Cube, popular for a decade in Japan, arrives here later this year.
The Cube first appeared in 1998 in Japan. Besides its snub nose, modern contours and crossover appeal, the Cube has a high roof and collapsible back seats, allowing a driver to bring along a bicycle or two, according to Nissan Korea. The inside of the vehicle features around 20 separate compartments. In Japan, more than 10,000 units are sold every month.
Kia Motors used the vehicle as a benchmark when developing its compact SUV the Soul. In fact, the Cube is already a cult hit in Korea among devotees of cute cars for its boxy look.
In the last two years about 2,400 Cubes have been sold here through specialty importers. Since they were not retooled for Korea, the vehicles sold here so far have driver’s seats on the right side. In Japan, cars drive on the left side of the road, as in Britain, while in Korea they stay to the right, as in the United States.
The Cubes that will come onto the Korean market later this year are of the same model that will be exported to the United States, so the driver’s seat will be located on the left side.
The news comes just after the launch of the third generation of the Cube, which first appeared in Japan in October. The vehicle is equipped with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine and a continuously variable transmission.
Nissan is proud of the Cube’s fuel efficiency ratings, which come in at 16 kilometers per liter (38 miles per gallon).
“Nissan is making adjustments to certain areas including the location of the brakes so as to meet Korean standards,” said one Nissan Korea official who declined to be named.
The price of the version of the Cube that is to be sold here is expected to be around 25 million won ($20,000).
By Kim Tae-jin [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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