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The Nissan Cube Boxed Out By Its Imitators

Columnist Mark Phelan says that the Nissan Cube, which rolled out in Japan in 1998 and quickly became a cult favorite around the world, had the "so-weird-it's-cute looks some dog breeds have" (though he's not naming names). But he's not coy at all about the fact that Japanese automakers blew their chance to make it big in this country.

The third-gen Cube is the first to make it to the U.S. because the Nissan brain trust felt that we have a hankering for larger vehicles and don't cotton to small cars. Meanwhile, other "defiantly boxy" brands such as the Honda Element, Kia Soul and Scion xB made their mark here.

"The Nissan Cube had its moment. Unfortunately for Americans, we couldn't buy it then," Phelan concludes. "Unfortunately for Nissan, now that we can, we've seen and driven better."

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