Fans of cubism art will love these five cube shaped cars on carsales
Is it hip to be square yet? I'm asking for a friend...Art is very subjective with some artists never reaching their true popularity until many years, decades or even centuries after their death. The same could be said for car design.
With the hundreds of car models that roll on and off our site daily, there are some which have stood the test of time, while some others are yet to reach their peak. The following five cars are victims of their controversial cubism style designs which has not seen them reach their true renaissance yet. Cubism was created and pioneered by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. He wanted to challenge conventional and realistic forms and show a new way of reflecting the modern age. Much could be said for cars which were designed with a cube-like shape. The cube-shaped car's time may come soon, and you could be the one to pioneer it. Here are five to look out for.
Skoda Yeti
It may have a weird name and a weird shape, but the Skoda Yeti was a more conventional offering than the seriously confronting Roomster from the Czech brand ever was. The Yeti was on sale in Australia from 2011 until 2017 when it was replaced by more conventional and not so cube-like SUVs. The boxy compact SUV became well known for its big windows, doors that open wide and a mountain of interior space. The upsides of being a little bit boxy in a curved car body world. It never sold in massive numbers but had a dedicated following of adventure types keen to pack as much outdoor and adventure gear inside its high roofline as possible. The sightings of a Yeti may be a lot rarer these days, you may still be able to spot one out in its natural environment, inner-city and suburban streets.
Kia Soul
Deliberately quirky and polarising, the blatantly boxy, love it or hate it Kia Soul does all the things a regular small car does, with a little more pizzaz. Is it hatchback? Is it a SUV? Who knows!? What we do know is that it fits fairly and squarely in the cube car box. While it was a hit over in the USA where cube car design seems to tick all the right boxes, in Australia where curved and sporty non-boxy cars rule, Kia is left Soulless. There are still plenty of them kicking around so if you do want a half hatch, half SUV then a used Kia Soul might be what you’re after.
Toyota Rukus
In 2010, Toyota announced a shakeup to their traditional car lineup, the Rukus. It was touted as an urban utility vehicle with head-turning styling that projects an aggressive appearance aimed at bringing young, urban trendsetters into the Toyota fold. The press release at the time even suggested that "It will be a case of 'Rukus' by name and ruckus by nature" with hopes that the very different, boxy shaped car would become an instant icon and stir up the small car market. Although it was packed with all the features you’d expect from a Toyota plus some funky colours and accessories, the boxy car never really took off.
Fiat Panda
Who doesn’t love pandas? They’re cute and cuddly and so chill (except for that one that trashed that office).
Well, if you haven’t picked up on the continuing theme of unloved cars from this listicle yet, the Fiat Panda did not receive the same love and admiration its mammal namesake did in Australia. The Fiat Panda has long been one of Europe's most popular cars with its tall and boxy but practical five-door body and signature Italian flair added in for good measure. You can still get the Panda love in Australia with a handful of them available on carsales when they were sold here between 2013 and 2015.
Nissan Cube
When we think cube-shaped cars, only one truly comes to mind due to the fact it was named after what it truly is. The Nissan Cube become a cult classic in its home country of Japan where boxy Kei cars reign supreme. Many Cubes have made their way down under over the years thanks to custom importers and fans of all things Japan. Just looking at it, the Cube doesn’t instantly fill you with confidence when it comes to aerodynamics and fuel economy but for standing out from the crowd and potentially parking in tight spots, the Cube is your car. The styling like most art is very subjective indeed.
Find your own cube inspired Nissan Cube on carsales today
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