Nissan Juke Review
Our overall rating:
The Nissan Juke is the SUV that kick-started the trend for jacked-up small cars.
Designed as an alternative to more conservative hatchbacks such as the Ford Fiesta, it has been a huge success thanks, in part, to its distinctive looks.
The Juke combines these looks with tempting prices, strong resale values, lots of on-board technology and reasonable fuel economy — features that have helped it remain a big seller, even though many other car makers have followed in its footsteps.
Today, the Juke faces competition from a varied selection of cars that includes the Renault captur, Vauxhall Mokka and Citroën C4 Cactus.
Cars in this market have a tough brief to fill. They need to be compact, and take up no more space on your driveway than a conventional hatchback, but they also need to be practical enough for families.
This last area is one where the Juke is far less impressive, because it’s really quite cramped in the back.
Would the Nissan Juke or even a Used Nissan Juke make sense as your next car, then? Read on over the following pages for everything you need to know before buying one, including which engine and trim to choose.
Driving
What it’s like to drive, and how quiet it is
Nissan Juke performance
The Nissan Juke comes with a wide variety of petrol engines but only one diesel. The entry-level 1.6-litre petrol is fine around town but has to be worked very hard on the motorway. A more powerful version is offered, but it’s only available with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT gearbox, which doesn’t suit it.
We’d recommend the 1.2-litre turbo petrol, instead. It’s badged DIG-T 115 and its extra power and torque make it easier and more relaxing to drive. More powerful DIG-T 190 and DIG-T 218 versions are available, the latter in the sporty Nismo model, but they’re a bit too punchy for the Juke and can overwhelm the front wheels.
The 1.5-litre diesel has a reasonable amount of mid-range power, but it can be sluggish. Its saving grace is that its low emissions make it the best choice for company car drivers.
Nissan Juke ride comfort
The Juke’s suspension is too firm and jittery. Even though it was tweaked in 2014 to try and solve this problem, the ride remains fidgety. Even at low speeds, the car jars harshly over sharp-edged bumps and crests, and when negotiating speed bumps in town. Hit a bump at higher speeds, and things get very unsettled. Top versions come with larger alloy wheels that exacerbate this problem.
Strangely, the sporty Nismo version actually rides a little better than the standard car. It’s firmer but body roll is reduced as a consequence, so you don’t get thrown about as much.
Nissan Juke handling
The Juke’s steering is quick to respond around town, making the car feel darty and nimble at low speeds. However, it weights up inconsistently as more lock is applied in corners, robbing the driver of confidence. All but entry-level Visia models come with variable steering that has three different settings, but all this really does is add more resistance to the wheel’s movements.
The front tyres also wash wide quite easily through faster bends, while the rear of the car doesn’t feel particularly stable during high-speed direction changes — not a desirable quality in a small family car.
The high-performance Nismo version is, again, a slightly sharper car to drive with less body roll in corners, but it still lacks the grip to compete with conventional hatchbacks such as the Ford Fiesta.
Nissan Juke refinement
There are quite large differences between the various engines. The diesel is grumbly and fairly intrusive at most speeds, while the short gearing in the entry-level 1.6-litre petrol means high revs and lots of noise on the motorway. The 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre turbo petrols are smoother and quieter, although you’ll have to get used to a bit of turbo noise at low speeds.
Road noise is perfectly acceptable as long as you avoid the larger wheels. The manual gearboxes have a tight, narrow gate that can make smooth changes difficult, while the clutch has a fairly heavy action, too.
Unless you really need an automatic, we’d avoid the CVT ‘box on offer. It’s noisy and doesn’t feel particularly positive, flaring and holding the revs high when you accelerate.
Interior layout
The interior layout, fit and finish
Nissan Juke driving position
Getting comfortable in the Nissan Juke won’t be easy for everyone. The front seats are relatively supportive but the backrest adjusts via a plastic handle, with stepped adjustment that means you’ll struggle to find the perfect position.
The steering wheel can be moved up and down, but not in and out, so, if you have short arms, you’ll have to slide the seat forward to reach it. Consequently many drivers will find their seating position is a compromise and not as comfortable as it should be.
All the major controls are clearly labelled, though, but the climate control switches are a little confusing at first.
Nissan Juke visibility
This is one area where the Juke really struggles, particularly when compared with boxier rivals such as the Kia Soul and Citroën C4 Cactus. Its shallow rear screen, small windows and thick pillars make it tricky to see what’s behind you. Fortunately, Acenta Premium models and above have a colour reversing camera.
A 360-degree Around View monitor is standard on Tekna models, and optional on Nismo RS and Acenta Premium versions. It gives the driver a bird’s eye view of the car when trying to park in a tight spot. It’s a great feature if you find parking a chore.
The view of the road ahead is otherwise much better than from a conventional hatchback, with the higher seating position enabling you to see farther.
Nissan Juke infotainment
When it comes to infotainment, there are clear distinctions between trim levels. Entry-level Visia goes without Bluetooth and even a USB connection, while for steering wheel-mounted audio controls, you need to step up to Acenta.
Not surprisingly, top-spec Acenta Premium and Tekna versions are much better equipped. Their features include a 5.8-inch touchscreen media system with sat-nav, a DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and an upgraded stereo system.
The sat-nav is fairly responsive to inputs, while the menus in the media system are simple and easy to navigate. Pairing your phone is a fuss-free process, too.
Nissan Juke build quality
The Juke trades on its striking exterior, so it’s a shame its interior isn’t as smart. A lot of the plastics are hard and scratchy to the touch, particularly lower down in the cabin.
The climate controls are a bit clunky and, curiously, they also double as the driving mode switches — a novel idea but not very intuitive.
The lids of the glovebox and armrest cubby feel flimsy, too. On the cheaper versions these things won’t be so much of a problem, but if you’re paying for a more expensive Tekna or Nismo model, they’ll be disappointing.
Space & practicality
How it copes with people and clutter
Nissan Juke front space
Every model in the Nissan Juke range comes with driver’s seat height adjustment as standard. However, the low roofline and high driving position mean it feels a little more snug inside than, say, a Citroën C4 Cactus or Kia Soul. There is just about enough elbow room to avoiding brushing your passenger by accident — but only just.
The glovebox is a reasonable size, and there are two large cupholders in the centre console. The door pockets are not particularly long, but are shaped to take water bottles. There’s a small shelf with a grippy rubber base in front of the gearstick, which is perfect for your mobile. Taking all these features into account, it’s unlikely you’ll struggle to find space to stow your accessories.
Nissan Juke rear space
People in the front of the Juke enjoy relative comfort but those in the back who are above average height, do not. The roof is steeply sloped, so head room is really tight — even for teenagers — and the narrow, tinted rear windows and dark roof lining make you feel even more hemmed in.
The interior is too narrow to sit three across the rear bench in any sort of comfort, and the doors don’t open very wide. They cut into the wheel arches, too, so climbing in is tricky.
On the plus side, there’s a pair of useful, bottle-shaped door bins, and the central tunnel doesn’t obstruct the foot wells too badly, even in four-wheel-drive variants.
Nissan Juke seating flexibility
Some of the Juke’s rivals, including the Fiat Panda Trekking, come without a split folding rear bench, forcing you to choose between carrying passengers or extending the loading bay. Not so, the Nissan. All versions have this feature as standard.
Getting the seats to fold is fairly easy, and best done through the back doors. All you have to do to drop the backrests is push a few plastic buttons. The seats aren’t particularly heavy either, so repositioning them isn’t a struggle. However, unlike the Renault Captur, the rear bench doesn’t slide forwards and backwards to increase storage space or leg room.
The front passenger seat is not height adjustable.
Nissan Juke boot space
One of the biggest improvements made to the Juke during its mid-life refresh was the increase in the size of its luggage area. Barring the four-wheel-drive versions, every Juke now comes with an adjustable boot floor, and in its lowest setting you can just about fit a set of golf clubs or a buggy behind the rear bench.
If you fold the back seats down, the false floor removes the deep lip in the load bay, but the seat backs don’t quite fold flat.
The shape of the opening, the rake of the back seats and the intrusive plastic side panels also limits what you can fit in.
Verdict
- Plenty of scope for personalisation options
- Punchy but frugal 1.2-litre petrol turbo engine
- Strong residual values
- Practicality and interior quality are disappointing
- Some rival have better fuel economy and CO2 figures
- It isn’t particularly good to drive
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