For a decade now the Juke from Nissan has been at the forefront of the compact SUV market and its latest model is sure to help keep its place at the top of this segment.
Now in its second generation, or ‘Next Generation’ as Nissan prefer to call it, the Juke has sharpened it act both inside and out. Retaining enough characteristics from the previous model, this new car is still unmistakably Juke.
Having worked-off some of its puppy fat, this baby Nissan is now sharp and stylish. It’s interior may be restyled too, but it’s still a little cheaper feeling than rivals.
Having always appealed to a vast array of owners, this next generation model is sure to keep new drivers safe on our road thanks to a wheel in each corner, whilst those of an age to understand common ailments, will be at ease thanks to easy entry and exiting of the cabin.
Priced from £17,860 there is a total of six trim levels available, upon which an abundance of paint options are available, many of which offer a stunning two-tone variant. On the higher trim levels there are even some incredibly bright and funky interiors, as per this test car.
The full Juke range comes well equipped, with the entry level ‘Visia’ featuring LED headlights with daytime running lights, cruise control with speed limiter, lane departure warning with intelligent lane intervention, traffic sign recognition, and DAB radio with Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary connectivity.
An ‘Acenta’ priced from £20,960 adds 17-inch alloy wheels, rear-view camera, NissanConnect 8-inch touchscreen entertainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as NissanConnect services.
An ‘N-Connecta’ priced from £22,960 adds automatic climate control, keyless entry with start button, electric handbrake with auto-hold function, leather steering wheel and gear knob, ambient interior lighting, and NissanConnect navigation with TomTom traffic.
A well packed ‘Tekna’ starts from £24,460 and add 19-inch alloy wheels, Bose Personal Plus audio system, heated front seats with ThermaClear heated windscreen, 360 degree camera system, intelligent driver alertness, blind spot intervention, rear cross-traffic alert, intelligent cruise control, lane keep assist, and moving object detection.
A ‘Premiere Edition’ is priced the same and features a single two-tone paint option, Fuji Sunset Red exterior trim, leather and Alcantara seats, as well as the Bose Personal Plus audio system.
Finally, the car tested, is a top of the range ‘Tekna+’ price from £25,860 which adds a different style of 19-inch alloy wheel, two-tone metallic paint, satin silver front bumper trim, a choice of three exterior trim colour options, and a choice of three interior options.
With an ample amount of trims to suit every owner’s needs, it is surprising to learn that this latest Nissan Juke comes with just one engine choice and, depending on trim selected, the option of a 6-speed manual, or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, is there.
The sole engine is a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, turbocharged DIG-T which produces 117PS, with 200Nm of torque. With a top speed of 112mph, the manual will see 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds with an average return of around 47mpg, whilst the automatic figures are 11.1 seconds with an average return of around 46mpg.
During a week with this next generation Nissan Juke, I found the engine to be more than suitable for the vehicle in which it sits. It’s not fast, but the low down turbocharged punch makes it ideal around town, yet when shown a meandering B-road, copes ideally.
Despite its tall stance, the Juke is surprisingly agile. I would go as far as saying it is one of the best in this class of car, though the 19-inch wheels and low profile tyres fitted to the car tested, does sacrifice some comfort.
The boot offers more space than before, and is more than capable of holding a couple of weekend bags or a large gym bag. Rear seating is still best suited for children on a long journey, though unlike the previous model is now more than capable of accommodating two adults.
Plenty of head and legroom is available in the front of the cabin, even shoulder space between driver and passenger is better than expected. I absolutely adore the Energy Orange interior of this test car, however it may be a little ghastly for some.
The Bose audio system is an absolute must if you can stretch to it, and I don’t recall complaining about the automatic gearbox too much, so it must have returned a reasonable driving experience.
The Nissan Juke comes with a 3-year, 60,000 mile warranty with servicing recommended annually or every 12,500 miles.
Fact File for model tested
Make : Nissan
Model : Juke
Trim : Tekna+
Engine : 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol
Gearbox : 7-speed DCT automatic
Cost : £25,860
Words & Photos: GRAHAM BAALHAM-CURRY
images must not be used in any way without prior written consent of the photographer
