Doing the same thing is going backwards in the new car business so good on Nissan for breaking new ground with the all-new Juke compact SUV priced sharply from $21,990.
Quirkily styled and funky inside, the designed-in-Japan-made-in-Britain Nissan Juke has been selling up a storm in Europe. And the Juke’s launch adds extra luster to Nissan’s comprehensive Australian SUV/Crossover lineup which now stretches Juke, Dualis, X-TRAIL, Murano, Pathfinder and two versions of the Patrol.
But as we said, doing the same thing is going backwards so stand-by for Nissan to roll-out an all-new Pathfinder later this year, a supercharged Pathfinder early next year plus the all-new X-TRAIL. And the Dualis? Well its all-new model is coming too and being renamed Quashqai to bring it in-line with international market nomenclature.
And if that’s not enough, Nissan is set to launch the all-new North American designed Altima mid-size sedan (the road-going version of its V8 Supercars racer) and a sporty SSS version of the Pulsar sedan. Good time to be a Nissan dealer….or new car buyer.
Nissan Juke Overview
Three model grades, two engines, three transmissions and two suspensions set-ups – Nissan’s Product Planning Department must have had sleepless night about this one.
Entry-level Juke ST runs a naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine driving the front wheels via either a five-speed manual transmission or XTRONIC CVT automatic. Mid-grade ST-S is the sporty version and it scores the turbocharged 1.6-litre powerplant, driving the front wheels only via a six-speed manual transmission.
Range-topping Juke Ti-S is also powered by the turbocharged 1.6-litre, but drives all four wheels via an XTRONIC CVT with manual mode and Nissan’s Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive system.
All Juke models ride on 17-inch alloy wheels but the range-topping Ti-S we drove was fitted with Continental tyres (Bridgestones for the others). All Juke models also run McPherson strut front suspension but then things change – a Torsion Beam rear for ST and ST-S models or a multi-link rear for the all-wheel-drive Ti-S.
Nissan Juke ST-S and Ti-S models gain a five-inch colour screen, satellite navigation and six-speaker audio while premium Ti-S adds leather seats (fronts heated).
The full lineup is
Juke ST 2WD manual $21,990
Juke ST 2WD automatic $24,390
Juke ST-S 2WD manual $28,390
Juke Ti-S AWD CVT automatic $32,190
Nissan Juke Engine
Mid-grade Nissan Juke ST-S and range-topping Ti-S share the turbocharged, direct-injection 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine (code-named MR16DDT) with Nissan’s sporty Pulsar SSS. Maximum power is 140kW at 5600rpm and peak torque of 240Nm is delivered between 2000rpm-5200rpm.
All models run Nissan’s driver-select Dynamic Control System (varies throttle, steering and CVT shifts) with ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Eco’ modes. Depending on the mode you get different display information on the dashboard with a boost display in ‘Sport’.
Nissan Juke Ti-S employs the excellent XTRONIC CVT automatic transmission with manual mode and drives all four wheels via Nissan Torque Vectoring All-Wheel-Drive system. This latest 4WD development comes straight from the World Rally Championship and splits torque 50:50 front/rear and also side-to-side across the rear axle and with information from various monitors (including Yaw Sensors) can increase torque to the outside rear wheel to counter understeer.
Entry-level Nisan Juke ST runs a naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine (86kW/158Nm) and drives the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission or XTRONIC CVT auto (but a version without manual mode).
Nissan Juke ST-S is a six-speed manual/front-wheel-drive only.
Nissan Juke The Interior
At first glance inside it looks like the Nissan Juke has digested a Moto GP motorcycle. Don’t be alarmed it’s yet another piece of hip, modern design from Nissan – this time for the centre console (the gear-shift seemingly poking-out from the bike’s fuel tank).
Front seats are height adjustable and while the sporty three-spoke steering wheel (leather-wrapped in Ti-S) looks great, it is only height-adjustable (no reach adjustment surprisingly).
We did prefer the leather seats of the Nissan Juke Ti-S but it must be said the cloth trim in both ST and ST-S was a nice, modern design which looked great.
The rear seat provides reasonable leg-room but that sloping roofline does hinder head-room a tad. It split folds 60/40 for cargo versatility.
Audio is a four-speaker system in ST however Nissan Juke ST-S and Ti-S gain a six-speaker system.
Only the ST-S and Ti-S models offer the safety of a standard reversing camera.
Nissan Juke Exterior & Styling
‘Aggressive’, ‘cute’, ‘hip’, ‘funky’…well the Nissan Juke is all of the above. Let’s just call it head-turning.
From that distinctive front-end through the miniscule side rear windows to the bulbous rear, the Juke is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
And here’s how those looks deceive: when spy shots first appeared, dumbfounded motoring editors lacking any solid information guessed it was a mid-sizer, possibly even a replacement for the Murano or Pathfinder.
Of course, riding on 17-inch alloy wheels, with a an overall length of 4135mm, wheelbase of 2530mm and height of 1565mm, the five-seat Nisan Juke, despite it’s typical SUV high-riding stance (ground clearance 180mm), is certainly a compact SUV.
Nissan Juke On The Road
Nissan sent us on a circuitous route around Melbourne which took in Avalon Airport and north through the Lerderderg State Park. There were no dirt sections but torrential rain meant traction was at a premium in some sections any way.
After trying all three models we actually fell for the six-speed manual Nissan Juke ST-S. The main reasons were the spirited performance of the 140kW/240Nm turbocharged 1.6-litre (one of our current favourite powerplants) and excellent ratio spread of the six-speed manual – the combo almost making the Juke a high-performance hatchback disguised as a compact SUV.
Like the entry-grade Nissan Juke ST, the ST-S really impressed with its suspension. Well country roads in Britain are virtually the same as ours and there’s no doubt Nissan has the Juke’s calibration spot-on – very compliant over bumps but still nicely responsive and sporty enough when asked to ‘press-on’ through some high-speed stuff.
Curiously, the range-topping all-wheel-drive Nissan Juke Ti-S with its multi-link rear suspension and Continental tyres didn’t seem quite as compliant as the ST-S and ST models. Not as harsh as a German SUV by any means but still noticeably firmer and with more intrusion of tyre noise.
Nissan Juke ST with its naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre engine and five-speed manual was no laggard over the twisty stuff but did require steady ratio swaps to keep it humming along.
Nissan Juke Challenges
Some interior plastics are on the hard side and don’t match the quality look/feel of some rivals.
Nissan Juke Verdict
Well the Nissan Juke certainly stands-out from the crowd and it certainly is a crowd in the compact SUV/Crossover segment. A crowd which includes some great vehicles.
Of course the Nissan Juke scores maximum style points and that turbo 1.6-litre is a beauty.
And Nissan has the pricing right at the pointy end of the field.
So despite some credentialed offerings from rivals, if you’re shopping for a compact SUV, “think of England” as they say (well Nissan’s plant in Sunderland a few hours north of London) and put the Juke on your list – you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Nissan Juke The Competition
Considering the ‘Consideration Set’ for the Juke poses some interesting questions. Nissan says design-savvy folk attracted to the Hyundai Veloster and MINI range will be swayed by the funky looks…that might be stretching things but we understand where they’re coming from.
Jeep Compass ($29,000 to $35,500) is definitely in the mix. With its ‘Mini Grand Cherokee’ style, the Compass looks the part but the atmo 2.4-litre’s 125kW/220Nm output is a bit underdone compared to Juke’s turbocharged 140kW/240Nm.
Some say the ASX is the best car in Mitsubishi’s current lineup. You’ll go no arguments form us on the styling (inside and out) and the $25,990 - $34,990 stickers are value-packed. 110kW/197Nm atmo 2.0-litre is a long way shy of the Juke’s turbocharged 1.6-litre but at least Mitsubishi offers a turbo-diesel (110kW/300Nm).
Subaru XV ($28,490 to $31,490) is a Car Showroom favourite in this league. As always with Subaru it’s not the cheapest car in the segment but every one comes with Subaru’s all-wheel-drive traction and obvious quality. The 110kW/196Nm 2.0-litre doesn’t match the Juke but order one in the hip burnt orange paint and the quirky-looking XV almost matches the Juke for ‘urban-cool’.
