Nissan Juke review
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. Discover the details in our full Nissan Juke review.
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Pros
- Stylish design
- All trim levels are well equipped
- Good to drive around town
Cons
- Rivals can be more plush
- Not the best infotainment system
Interior
Our rating: 6/10
Compared to the otherworldly exterior, the Juke’s interior can feel a little underwhelming because it’s so, well, normal.
Tech and features
That’s good, as it means all the controls are easy to find. The centre console on some models has a multimedia touchscreen with another screen beneath it for ventilation.
The driver’s instruments sit in their own pods. The newer Nissan Juke gets a touchscreen mounted high on the dashboard and the option of digital instruments for the driver.
As standard on the original car’s Visia trim, you get air-con, sports seats and six airbags – pretty good going for entry-level models.
Acenta has Bluetooth, a USB port and climate control, and Tekna gets the touchscreen with sat-nav and a better audio system, a reversing camera and leather upholstery. N-Connecta adds a DAB radio.
The newer Juke gets air-con, cruise control and DAB as standard, with higher trims adding heated front seats, climate control and more.
Driving position
It’s fairly easy to find a comfortable driving position in the Mk1 Juke, although the steering wheel adjusts only for height, not reach and rear visibility isn’t the best for parking because the pillars are thick.
This is where parking sensors or the reversing camera available on some cars can help. The Renault Captur is a bit better in this regard.
There’s enough space in the original Juke’s front seats, but headroom for rear occupants is a little tight. Again, the newer Juke is more spacious in the rear seats.
Performance
Our rating: 6/10
Handling and ride comfort
The Juke is actually a very easy and friendly car to drive, with light steering and a good view of the traffic ahead and to the side.
Rear visibility isn’t so good, which is why parking sensors are so useful. A firm ride means the Juke’s body doesn’t lean much round bends, which helps to inspire confidence on twisty country roads.
Engines and power
Most cars come with turbocharged 1.2 and 1.6-litre petrol engines which offer spritely – and in 1.6 Nismo guise, hot – performance.
There’s also a slower, non-turbo, 1.6. There’s just one diesel on the Mk1 Juke: a 1.5 dCi.
Early versions of the Mk2 Juke get just one engine: a 1.0-litre turbo petrol.
Practicality
Our rating: 6/10
Storage solutions
Practicality isn’t the original Juke’s strongest forte. You get a pair of cupholders for front-seat occupants. The glovebox, however, can’t take much and the door bins are pretty narrow, so travel light or stick everything in the boot.
Boot space
Speaking of which, cargo capacity is a distinctly average 354 litres on front-wheel-drive Jukes (less on 4WD versions). You’ll get your holiday bags in here, but not if you’re going camping for a week.
At least the rear seatbacks are split 60/40 and fold flat to yield a total more acceptable volume of 1189 litres (422/1088 litres in the newer Juke).
Most models (both Mk1 and Mk2) have an adjustable height boot floor that can be raised to give you a flat loading space with the seats down, which boosts practicality and makes loading larger objects easier.
Running costs
Our rating: 7/10
Fuel economy
If fuel economy is your priority, go for the diesel engine, which can give you around 60 mpg. It’s downhill from there, with the 1.6 petrol giving you economy in the high 30s at best – and that’ll be when it’s paired with the CVT automatic gearbox.
The 1.2 petrol tends to return figures in the high 40s, although if you work it hard that’ll drop into the 30s.
The verdict
Interior
6/10
Performance
6/10
Practicality
6/10
Running costs
7/10
We love how Nissan took a huge gamble with the Juke’s styling – it paid off big time because the Japanese firm not only sold cars by the boat load-it also spurred other car makers into making lots of rival small SUVs.
The Juke is perfect for new drivers, couples and young families who aren’t too fussed about the boot’s average capacity.
It's a great all-rounder, but it lacks some of the finesse and polish of its rivals.
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