In what seems to be the norm for all vehicles these days, the new Nissan Juke is longer, wider and taller than its predecessor. Thanks to the greater use of ultra-high-strength steel its body structure is approximately six percent lighter and around 13 percent more rigid than the original model.
Juke belongs in the crossover / SUV segment and leans strongly towards the crossover side, having only two wheel-drive – the front wheels. Nissan’s description “urban SUV” suits it nicely.
STYLING
Nissan Juke has always been about styling that takes its own direction. The gen-two takes that even further with the latest iteration of Nissan’s V-Motion grille, broad shoulder lines, a nicely raked windscreen and huge wheel arches. The sculpted flanks and tapered glasshouse give it a semi sporty look. It responds well to two-tone paint schemes.
Four variants are offered: ST, ST+, ST-L and Ti.
INTERIOR
Seats in the ST-L are part-leather accented, while the Ti has quilted leather accented trim with Alcantara.
Pushing to lift its appeal to an upmarket buyer, new Juke has soft-touch materials on the dashboard, door trims and foot-wells.
Cargo capacity is up, now measuring 422 litres (VDA). Rear luggage space is easy to access as it has a lower load lip.
The sporty styling means the sloping rear end limits the size of some bulky items. It’s worth checking this out during your pre-purchase comparison of different vehicles in this class.
The rear seatback has a 60:40-split fold-down function to expand the cargo space by up to 1305 litres (VDA) for larger items.
INFOTAINMENT
Juke has a 8.0-inch touchscreen for access to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
If they choose not to use their phone’s navigation, drivers can access TomTom Maps & Live Traffic on the ST+, ST-L and Ti models.
The front seats in the Ti model incorporate the Bose Personal Plus audio system and each front seat’s headrest is fitted with two of the eight speakers that make up the system. The output is impressive and we loved the tiniest details in our favourite music.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
New Nissan Juke is powered by a turbocharged 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine delivering 84kW of power and 180Nm of torque.
The engine sits beside a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic that can be manually controlled through paddle shifters. There’s no full-manual transmission option in Australian Juke imports.
SAFETY
New Nissan Juke has a five-star ANCAP safety rating. Every model has Nissan Intelligent Mobility features. These include Forward Collision Warning and Intelligent Emergency Braking (including detecting pedestrians and cyclists), Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Departure Warning and Intelligent Lane Intervention.
Automatic LED headlights with High Beam Assist (which increases the field of visibility by about 10 metres), a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Intelligent Driver Alert are fitted to the Nissan Juke ST.
The ST-L adds front parking sensors. The Intelligent Around-View Monitor 360-degree camera system provides a 360 degree bird’s-eye view around the vehicle. It also has Moving Object Detection and Intelligent Cruise Control.
DRIVING
Interior space is good in the front seats, but the rears are somewhat cramped for knee room. A tall driver may have to give up some space to make room for and adult behind them. Keep in mind that the Juke is only 4.2 metres long so you may have to go for one of the larger Nissan SUVs – of which there are many.
The smallish engine gives, at best, enough performance. It works hard if you’re carrying a heavy load and hills can be a bit of a challenge. However, once you’re on the move the dual-clutch system quickly senses the need for a lower ratio to keep the engine on the ball.
New Juke has thicker acoustic insulation applied to more areas of the vehicle, including across the engine undercover, transmission tunnel, the bonnet, wheel arches, floor and dashboard. Thicker window glass reduces exterior noise intrusion.
Engine noise is reduced as the engine sits on stiffer engine mounts.
Nissan’s “Monoform” seats provide improved spinal and lumbar support compared with the Juke it replaces. The side bolsters provide good lateral support.
Handling is nimble enough and feels pretty well suited to the handling / comfort needs of the typical buyer.
The ADR combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 5.8L/100km. Perhaps because we were trying to get some decent performance out of it we used eight to nine litres around town and five to seven litres in the country.
SUMMING UP
Nissan Juke was one of the first urban SUVs to lean in the direction of style and makes an ideal vehicle for city dwellers looking for practical transport. It deserves a high place on your list of possible buys.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Juke ST: $27,990
Juke ST+: $30,740
Juke ST-L: $33,940
Juke Ti: $36,490
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Nissan dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Nissan Juke Ti 1.0-litre turbo-petrol five-door wagon)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 0.999 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Maximum Power: 84 kW @ 5250 rpm
Maximum Torque: 180 Nm @ 2400 rpm
Fuel Type: Premium unleaded
Combined Fuel Cycle (ADR 81/02): 5.8 L/100km
CO2 Emissions: 136 g/km
DRIVELINE:
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4210 mm
Wheelbase: 2636 mm
Width: 1800 mm
Height: 1595 mm
Turning Circle: 11.0 metres
Kerb Mass: 1274 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 46 litres
BRAKES:
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Solid disc
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Five years / unlimited kilometres
