Nissan newcomer the Juke is definitely no joker on the road
Nissan Juke 1.6 Ascent DiG-T
Price as driven: £15, 695. On sale in the UK from September.
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- Nissan has had phenomenal success with its Qashqai crossover car, which blends a sports utility vehicle with a coupe. Now, its new and cheekier brother, the Juke, looks like being another hit for the Sunderland factory.
- When you see a Juke, you will realise how brave Nissan’s bosses were to give such a radical design the go-ahead. Despite its imposing styling, the Juke is a full 20cm shorter than a Ford Focus hatchback.
The new Nissan Juke due out in September- The Juke combines the lower body of an SUV with the top half of a sports car and it works — even in white.
- Ununusual lights mean the Juke is as distinctive at night as during the day.
- The cabins of some cars look bland, but the Juke’s is funky, with motorcycle-like instruments.
- Prices, considering generous equipment levels, are good — starting at £12,795.
- Nissan offers the Juke with a choice of two 1.6-litre petrol engines, one of them a lively 187bhp turbo, which dishes up 0-62mph in eight seconds and 134mph top speed, and a 108bhp turbo diesel.
- The non-turbo petrol version still has 115bhp and can reach 112mph.
- emissions are 147g/km, which means an annual £125 road tax for the cheapest 1.6-litre Visia model.
- A four-wheel-drive system you don’t normally see this side of a £106,000 Porsche 911 Turbo should help keep you mobile if we get another snowy winter.
- Features include parking sensors and electric tailgate option on plusher versions.
- Proven Nissan quality and reliability. Warranty is three years/60,000 miles.
- Demand should keep second-hand values strong. Nissan already has 1,000 orders two months before the car goes on sale.
- British-built, the Juke will help maintain jobs.
- The styling is not to all tastes.
- Not as sporty to drive as hype claims.
- Steering wheel only adjusts for rake, not reach. Ride lumpy.
- All-wheel-drive version (£19,995) is available only with automatic transmission, which is buzzy.
- The diesel engine is noisy; petrol versions better.
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