Without actually looking at a Nissan Juke you might think this SUV is the same as most of the compact crossover versions that have littered the market for the past few years. Consumers have made it clear they don’t want to drive minivans unless they have to and would rather have a large menu of SUVs to choose from. The Juke shows up with a style that might have many diners selecting this beauty from the long list of other compact crossover SUVs. The look is one that is sportier than others and offers a feeling of the next generation of vehicle to be released.
Offering some great all-weather performance and a look that simply shouts style and fun the Juke offers an appeal to the younger buyers or those who want to feel younger. This peppy little SUV offers a great deal of Nisan features to be enjoyed and makes a great choice as a first, last or now SUV. For 2015 the Juke adds some great exterior style with projector-beam headlights, a new grill, a redesigned rear, and some great exterior colors for owners to choose from. The Nismo RS adds a dose of power, handling and other performance upgrades along with Recaro front seats.
Driving the Nissan Juke, whether new or used, instantly gives a driver the confidence and control of a vehicle that has a sporty suspension and an available all-wheel drive. With a quick steering response and a stiff sport induced suspension this SUV drives more like a sports car than an SUV and allows an aggressive driver to stretch out their desire to see what this beauty can do. For those action junkies among us who don’t have the money to go to the luxury models, the Juke is a great choice for some fun and capability.
There are two engines to choose from on the Juke, depending on just how much power you feel is needed to have some great play time in this fun little SUV. The first is a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that brings in 188 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is found in all models except the Nismo RS and is connected to either a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a manual depending on the control desired. The fuel efficiency of this powertrain comes in at 28 city/34 hwy mpg for the front-wheel drive manual, 28 city/32 hwy mpg for the front-wheel drive automatic and 26 city/31 hwy for the AWD automatic.
The second and more powerful engine is a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that is found in the Nismo RS. As the same size engine this version adds a more powerful turbocharger bringing in 215 horsepower for the front-wheel drive manual and 211 horsepower for the all-wheel drive automatic. Both versions have 210 lb.-ft. of torque. The fuel numbers for this version of the Juke engine show up with 25 city/31 hwy mpg in the front-wheel drive manual and 25 city/29 hwy mpg for the all-wheel drive automatic.
On the inside the Juke takes some cues from the Sentra, but has a style all its own. The cues come in the form of the amazing amount of features which are aboard this great little SUV. Offering smooth finishes throughout the SUV and a console that resembles a motorcycle fuel tank the look is unique and exciting. The driving controls can be changed through the Sport/Normal/ Eco modes with just the push of a button giving the driver the feeling they desire. The rear cargo space is a bit small at 10.5 cubic feet which can be expanded to 35 cubic feet when the seats are folded down.
On the outside the Juke gives you a look that you are either going to love or be appalled by. For those who put their nose up to these looks, they can keep on moving, but for the rest of us this SUV looks great and shows up with a completely different look than most others. To start with the headlights are set in two separate spots with uppers and lowers sandwiching the grill. Fog lights peak out from underneath giving the vehicle a look of having six eyes across the front. The hood is large and long with a low angle to the roof giving a sporty look, but the belly of this beast offers off road features that are meant to protect the Juke from damage. Overall, this may be an SUV better seen than discussed it’s an awesome vehicle to behold for those of us who enjoy these looks.
The base model S of the Nissan Juke offers a decent amount of standard features to enjoy including air conditioning, a six-speaker audio system, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, keyless entry and push button starting. Moving up to the SV model adds a higher grade of cloth upholstery, a power moonroof, automatic climate control, the I-CON multifunction controller, satellite radio, a USB port and privacy glass. The SL trim puts even more in the Juke with a navigation system, leather upholstery, heated front seats, fog lights and auto on/off headlights. The Nismo model shows up with some model-specific stylings to go along with more power and Recaro racing seats.
The optional features for the Juke are based on trim levels with almost no stand-alone options. There is Tech Package offered which adds a navigation system, NissanConnect and all-around-view cameras to the SV model. A Cold Weather Package adds heated front seats and outside mirrors to the same model. The only other real options are the AWD and the engine power desired.
At the base model S the price to own a Nissan Juke comes in around $21,000, which is extremely affordable for such a fun vehicle. At the top end the Nismo RS will ask for a price of $31,000 giving a large range to work with. The Juke SL comes in at $26,000 or $28,000 with AWD for those who want more features but don’t want to go all the way to the Nismo RS.
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