Nissan brings back the Cube hatchback with updated design and retro decor

Let's say right away that we are not talking about the new generation of Cube, but about modernized used hatchbacks of recent years of production.

The Nissan Cube was discontinued at the end of 2019; it has no successor and, alas, is not yet in sight, despite the fact that the Cube’s design is deservedly considered a classic of the JDM subculture. By the way, in the first generation of the 1998 model, the Cube was an unremarkable subcompact hatchback with a high body, and acquired cult status in the next two generations thanks to its spectacular cubic design and asymmetrical glazing.

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At its best, the Cube found 130 thousand buyers annually, but the attempt to turn a purely Japanese model into a global one was unsuccessful: in the USA and Europe, sales of the “cube” turned out to be modest, not least because of the sloppy chassis and modest technical characteristics. Nevertheless, in their native Japan, the Nissan Cube is loved and remembered, the Nissan company itself understands this very well and takes advantage of it: its subsidiary trading company Nara Nissan today launched for sale a limited batch of twenty used third-generation Cube hatchbacks, which received a number of technical updates and retro decor in the spirit of last year's Nissan Cube Refreshed & Retro, shown at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The “serial” version of the concept was named Nissan Cube Retro Renovation. We put the word “serial” in quotation marks, since we are not talking about industrial production, but about a kind of factory tuning, with each of the twenty cars configured for a specific buyer. If the experience with the pilot batch turns out to be successful, in the future Nissan may release new batches of refined used Cube and other iconic models.

For the pilot batch, Cube units in good technical condition, with moderate mileage and not involved in any accidents were selected. Many worn parts have been replaced with new ones, including windshield wipers, headlights, rubber seals, carpeting, and scratched or worn plastic interior parts. Next, the buyer is offered several levels of cosmetic upgrades, including new wheel covers, a new asymmetrical grille, two-tone vinyl body wrap with decorative stripes and crosses, a roof rack and bright seat covers that resemble the texture of old leather.

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At full price, the Nissan Cube Retro Renovation costs about 2.3 million Japanese yen ( 1.38 million rubles translated at the current exchange rate), that is, at the level of the new Nissan Note, which, in fact, today occupies the Cube niche, but has a much more ordinary design.

In our opinion, Nissan companies It would be useful to bring the Cube back into the lineup — for example, as a small, angular electric crossover, but so far nothing like that has been announced in its public plans.