Nissan Juke (10 on) - Review

Review by Parkers on
Last Updated: 18 May 2011
There's not many gaps in the car market but Nissan is determined to find them. The 'crossover' is a relatively new concept in the car industry and the Japanese firm has decided that this is where it's at. Nissan started its crossover campaign in 2007 with the Qashqai - a 4x4/hatch combination - and has followed it up with the Juke which is purportedly a sporty 4x4/supermini. Yep, it has a high riding position and there is a four-wheel drive set-up on the top-powered petrol version, but let's get real, you're not going to be using your fancy new Juke for farm work. Essentially, this is a cut-price boutique item aimed at young go-getters who, inevitably, want 'something different'. Nissan says it was initially aimed at young adventurous, sporty young men, but on reflection realised young women will also be attracted by the funky, unconventional design. Whatever, it's big draw will probably be the price. The entry level model will set you back a very affordable £12,795 and with that you get a funky looking car, a decent engine and plenty of kit. In that respect it makes much more sense that buying a bog-standard Ford Focus, which is a little larger, or top-spec Fiesta that's a little smaller. There's three trims available for the Juke - the Visia, Acenta, and Tekna - and two engines to choose from: the 1.6-litre petrol in either 115bhp or 187bhp power outputs, and a 108bhp 1.5-litre diesel. Prices range from £12,795 to £19,995.
3.5 out of 5

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3 out of 5

Comfort

The high driving position is a boon and the steering wheel and seat adjustments are flexible and comprehensive enough to yield a comfortable driving position within seconds. Once on the road the Juke can get rather bouncy on uneven surfaces and the seats don't offer enough side support when you take tight corners at speed. Still, the Juke's no bone-shaker and it's infinitely better than sitting in a MINI for example. It's pleasant enough to spend time in, and if you are regularly making jourrneys that last under an hour you will emerge from the driving seat feeling pretty relaxed. The firm ride might start to irritate on longer trips though.

3.5 out of 5

Practicality

It depends how you want to view this car. There's plenty of front and rear-seat leg- and headroom but you'll find there's not much room in the boot. You can fold the seats down to make a larger flat loading area and there is extra space underneath the bootfloor. With the rear seat ups it does have more bootspace than a MINI, which is not that difficult, but less than a Peugeot 207 or Ford Fiesta. If you regularly travel with two or three passengers this'll be the car for you, but if you need a load-lugger for sizeable shopping trips where you really don't want to go through the aggro of putting the rear seats down, go for an alternative. If you need a plethora of cupholders you'll like the Juke, but if you want a central storage compartment, again, you'll have to go elsewhere.

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How does the boot space compare?

416 litres
285 litres
270 litres
Nissan Juke (10 on)
207 litres
3 out of 5

Behind the wheel

The idea behind the Juke is that it's supposed to be a bit funky, but, aside from the motorcycle fuel tank-inspired central console, it's somewhat conservative inside. The dashboard is a large, cheap-looking hard plastic affair and the layout isn't exactly a paragon of futuristic design. The climate and driving control buttons are a little flimsy too - a quick prod with an index finger can move them off their axis, which is hardly reassuring for future use and abuse. leather covered centre armrest with white stitching, illuminated chrome-plated sill protectors for the front doors, velour floor mats and 17-inch alloys.