It shared the same platform as the Nissan Micra (known as the March in Japan and Southeast Asia), as well as the same 1.3 L inline-four engine.

A slightly longer three row model, the Cube Cubic (stylized as Cube³) went on sale in September 2003.

They come with optional 14 or 15 inch wheels and the Autech versions (Rider, Cube3 and GT models) with chrome styling and special seat covering.

'[citation needed] Design cues include a water-ripple motif that appears in the headliner and is repeated in details like the speaker covers and cup holders.

These include multicolour appliqués that can be placed around air vents and window switches, utility hooks and elastic bands in different colours, variable colour LED accent lighting for the footwell and cup holders, and a sculptured piece of colour-coordinated shag carpet that sits in a shallow well on the top of the dash.

For North America, it uses the 1.8 L four-cylinder engine of the MR family, it produces 122 hp (91 kW) and 127 lb⋅ft (172 N⋅m) of torque.

As a result of power shortages in Japan caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the 2012 Cube made a delayed appearance in the United States in January 2012.

[citation needed] New paint colours were available: Pearl White, Brilliant Silver, Gun Metallic, Cayenne Red, and Bali Blue.

[7] The Cube was discontinued in the North American market at the end of the 2014 model year, due to poor sales.

[9] Nissan provided visitors at the 2008 LA Auto Show with a brochure featuring the car using augmented reality technology by Total Immersion.

The marketing campaign, called 'hypercube', picked 500 Canadians to compete for 50 Cubes by showing their creative talents.

[11] A recall was announced in the United States by Nissan on July 21, 2010, that affected 46,000 MY 2009 and 2010 Cube vehicles for failing to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 301, "Fuel System Integrity",[citation needed] due to excessive fuel leakage after a rear-end collision.