Is the Nissan Juke a good car?
See if the Nissan Juke is a good car in our breakdown of the model and how it compares to rivals
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By Tia Harrison-North
Last updated: 2 June 2025
If you’ve got your eye on a certain Japanese SUV, you might be wondering – is the Nissan Juke a good car?
If the sheer amount of them on UK roads is anything to go by then you can expect great things. The Nissan Juke is spacious, comfortable, reliable and easy to drive.
Sam Sheehan, our motoring editor, gave it a three-star rating out of the full five stars. He said: “Is the Nissan Juke the most distinctive car on our roads? Quite possibly. Nothing else looked like it when it appeared in 2010, and nothing does today.
“Well, apart from the 2019 Mk2 Juke, which toned things down a bit - but it’s still pretty in yer face.”
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Is the Nissan Juke a good car?
Look at the reviews and you’ll see there’s plenty of good to be said about the Nissan Juke.
It’s not a Porsche – but it’s not meant to be. It’s a functional SUV that’s great value and easy to live with.
It was awarded a full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2019, with a 94% adult occupant rating and 85% for children.
The Juke seems to be getting better with time, as every new generation brings improvements. Models from 2020 are some of the best, as they’re more spacious and comfortable.
Is the Nissan Juke a good SUV to buy?
The Nissan Juke is a good SUV to buy if you’re not looking for an off-roader or anything too flash. It’s sensible and practical, with great value trims.
Boot size varies a bit depending on the model, so keep that in mind if you want an SUV with plenty of space. Juke models from before 2019 have a 354-litre boot (the same as the Juke HEV) and second-gen models from 2020 onward get a larger 422-litre space.
It’s a smaller, five-seater SUV with no options for a seven-seater (as of 2025) so keep that in mind.
Nissan Juke 2010 – 2019
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The first generation of Nissan Juke is known as the Mk1 and made quite a splash when it launched. The unique shape has become sharper and less rounded since then, but it’s still a very recognisable car.
There was a choice of 1.6-litre petrol engines – a 91hp and an 114hp – or a 1.5-litre dCi diesel with 106hp.
Boot space in these early models was seriously compact with just 251 litres of space.
2014 saw a fancy facelift for the Juke, adding a 1.2-litre engine with 112hp and 103 litres of extra boot space.
You could also pick from several trims, such as the Visia, Acenta and Tekna in ascending spec order. The N-Connecta trim was added in 2013.
Nissan Juke 2019-present
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The newer generation of Juke is where Nissan really made improvements. The bubble shape was chiselled into something still Juke-ish, but much more in line with other market leaders like the Evoque.
At launch there was a 1.0-litre DIG-T turbo petrol engine that offered 113hp, and you could choose between a six-speed manual or seven-speed twin-clutch auto gearbox.
The trims were updated, starting with the Visia that added a 4.2-inch colour screen, Bluetooth and cruise control.
The Acenta was the next step and added a larger eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a rear-view camera.
Then there was the N-Connecta, with keyless entry, ProPilot for automatic models, and satnav.
The Enigma followed and added 19-inch alloys, fog lights and snazzy metallic paint options.
The highest spec Tekna model gave us 360-degree cameras and plenty of safety systems, and the Tekna+ topped all that with two-tone paint options and contrasting bumper and side skirt colour inserts.
Nissan Juke vs. rivals
The Nissan Juke is in a popular market, so there are plenty of small SUV rivals.
You can read our full guide on the best cars similar to the Nissan Juke, but we’d recommend Dacia Duster, Ford Puma, Hyundai Kona, Toyota C-HR and Peugeot 2008 for a worthy alternative.
The Nissan Juke has had some reliability concerns over the years, so choosing a solid brand like Toyota with the C-HR might be a good choice.
The Dacia Duster is superb value and feels luxurious and high quality, if that’s something that appeals to you.
Nissan Juke vs. Qashqai
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One of the biggest rivals to the Nissan Juke is its own sibling – the Nissan Qashqai.
You can read our full comparison review of the Nissan Juke vs. Qashqai, but the summary would be that the latter is better if you want space and practicality. The Juke is definitely a more compact choice.
Both cars are impressive, and you won’t be disappointed with either, but the Qashqai’s 504-litre boot might be tempting to some larger families.
Discover used Nissan Juke cars for sale
Deciding if the Nissan Juke is a good car will depend on your needs, but there’s no denying that it’s comfortable, great value, attractive and easy to drive.
Take a look at our full range of used Nissan Juke cars to find your perfect model.
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